'Overcome Poverty' Bus Tour to Visit NPU Sunday

ST. PAUL, MN, (October 9, 2004) - Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) President Glenn R. Palmberg will take part in a worship service at North Park University at 6 p.m. on Sunday as part of Call to Renewal's "Rolling to Overcome Poverty" bus tour.

The 11-day, 12-city, tour kicked off Wednesday with a prayer service and pilgrimage to a rally four miles away at the Minnesota State Capitol.

"It is commonly recognized that the Bible speaks of poverty over two thousand times, calling the people of God to continue the prophetic voice of the church to the world," said Jim Sundholm, director of Covenant World Relief and one of several area Covenanters at the St. Paul event. "This bus tour affords an opportunity for the church to stand up and stir up the people of our nation to recognize the call to alleviate poverty in all its forms."

Along with Palmberg's participation, two Covenanters were chosen to be among five "emerging leaders" traveling with the bus tour on its entire route – Cori Morse of Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis, and Gabriel Pinski of Tigard Covenant Church in Tigard, Oregon. Resolutions approved at this year's ECC Annual Meeting in Minneapolis supported efforts by Call to Renewal and Bread for the World as the denomination furthers its attempts to advocate for the underserved in society.

"How a candidate deals with poverty is a religious issue," said Jim Wallis, convener of Call to Renewal and one of Wednesday's speakers. "One of the most central biblical imperatives compels us to uplift those living in poverty, a commitment that unites us across our theological and political differences."

Call to Renewal, a nonpartisan non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., is encouraging churches and ministries located along the bus route to attend their events, ranging from round table discussions to prayer breakfasts. The "Rolling to Overcome Poverty" bus tour schedule is as follows:

• October 6/7 - Minneapolis/St.Paul
• October 8/9 - Madison, Wisconsin
• October 9/10 - Milwaukee
• October 10/11 - Chicago
• October 11/12 - Grand Rapids, Michigan
• October 12/13 - Detroit
• October 13 – Toledo, Ohio
• October 13/14 - Cincinnati
• October 14 - Cleveland
• October 15 - Akron
• October 15/16 - Pittsburgh
• October 16/17 – Philadelphia

To learn more about Call to Renewal, including reflections of the trip by Morse and Pinski, visit the organization's website at www.calltorenewal.org.

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