CHICAGO, IL (November 24, 2010) – Just in time for the Christmas season, a new on-line catalog provides opportunities to improve the lives of poor people around the world and demonstrate that the Covenant family truly cares.

Covenant Cares offers giving opportunities representing community needs identified by The Department of World Mission of the Evangelical Covenant Church, the Paul Carlson Partnership and Covenant World Relief.

The catalog features a variety of gifts that includes medicines in Northwest Congo, clean water in Bangladesh, school supplies for refugees, Bibles for the Fulani people, health screening in Mexico (accompanying photo), and bicycles that enable the startup of businesses.

The gifts transform the lives of people like one widow in Central Asia. She is trying to raise five children on her own since her husband died several years ago. She had considered herself a good Muslim, reading the Koran and praying five times every day.

When she couldn’t feed her family, she turned to a Covenant World Relief partner program she knew was run by followers of Isa (Jesus). Neighbors had told her she could get help there.

She was enrolled in the sheep loan project. She also was hired to care for project animals during the winter months when they are in the barn.

Now two years later, she has 14 sheep of her own and is able to earn an income that supports her family. More importantly, her view of believers and Jesus has been transformed.

Promotional postcards are available for local churches as well as PowerPoint slides and bulletin inserts. Recipient gift cards for friends and family also are available. All of these can be found at the on-line catalog site.