Worldwide power-houses team up to launch global campaign, start>

Contact: Jessica Secord, 616-698-3331

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 11 /Standard Newswire/ -- Despite many victories, the world is still besieged by poverty, pandemic diseases, social injustice, racism, gender inequality and political oppression.

In fact, over half of the world, more than three billion people, live on less than $2.50 a day according to Global Issues. More than 33 million people were estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS in 2007 world-wide, and over 25 million people have died from AIDS since 1981, according to Avert. Adding to these shattering figures, there are 300 to 500 million clinical cases of malaria each year resulting in 1.5 to 2.7 million deaths, according to the World Health Organization.

What impact could 77 million American Christians have on these problems? How different would the world be if the Church became the leading responder to these issues? Why don't more Christians get personally involved?

"Mother Teresa said it best," says Michael Seaton, the creator of start> Becoming A Good Samaritan. "Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin." "For most of us caught up in the hectic demands on our lives the biggest problem is not desiring to be the Good Samaritan--it's acting on that desire! It's starting!" he adds.

Hosted by John Ortberg, and featuring some of the most important voices in Christianity today, start> Becoming A Good Samaritan is designed to help Churches, small groups and outreach organizations of all shapes and sizes inform, train and inspire individuals --- to start> putting their faith into action!

start> Becoming A Good Samaritan was developed in partnership with Zondervan, The C2 Group, World Vision and more than 50 leading social justice voices from around the world. In six dynamic sessions, start> Becoming a Good Samaritan is in a video-interview format and will explore the critical needs facing the world.

Here is a list of voices committed to this ground-breaking project:

Amy Sherman
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu
Bishop Horace E. Smith
Bishop James Jones
Bishop John Rucyahana
Brenda Salter McNeil
Bryant Myers
Christo Greyling
Christopher Crane
Chuck Colson
David Anderson
David Batstone
David Beckman
Dean Hirsch
Denver Moore
Dolphus Weary
Eugene Peterson
Francis Collins
Gary Haugen
Gerald Durley
Heidi Unruh
Jason Russell
Jayakumar Christian
Jim Cymbala
Jim Wallis
Joe Mettimano
John M. Perkins
John Ortberg
Joni Eareckson Tada
Kay Warren
Mary Nelson
Matthew Sleeth
Mike Yankoski
Miles McPherson
Noel Castellanos
Philip Yancey
Philippa Lei
Princess Zulu
Rich Stearns
Rob Bell
Romanita Hairston
Ron Hall
Ron Nikkel
Ron Sider
Sandra Thurman
Scott Sabin
Shane Claiborne
Shirley Mullen
Stanley Green
Star Parker
Steve Chalke
Steve Haas
Steve Stirling
Tri Robinson
Zach Hunter

With sessions titles like The Church and Social Responsibility, The World's Pandemic but Preventable Diseases, Social Justice & Race Reconciliation, The Poor & Poverty, The Environment: Stewardship of God's Creation, and The Disenfranchised: The Least of These and the Lost, the goal of start> Becoming A Good Samaritan is to empower participants to get out of the pews and seize "Good Samaritan" opportunities in real world applications.

The curriculum is formatted in a video-interview format, offering a complete set of teaching tools including; a 6-session DVD, a leader's guide and a participant’s guide. The leader's guide and the participant's guide will serve to facilitate group discussions as well as offer practical ways to get involved. There is also a website, www.JustStart.org with additional interview segments, in-depth white papers on session topics and links to a variety of charitable organizations, which will provide individuals, small groups and other organizations with ideas and ways to implement Good Samaritan activities.

About Zondervan
Zondervan, a HarperCollins company, is a world leader in Christian communications. For more than 75 years, Zondervan has produced bestselling, award-winning and life-changing products by some of the most relevant Christian leaders and emerging voices of the day. The company produces Bibles, including the bestselling NIV Bible translation, books and new media products as well as children's products from its Zonderkidz group. Visit Zondervan on the Web at www.zondervan.com.

About The C2 Group
For twenty years, The C2 Group has provided strategic communication services for local, regional and international clients. The last five years The C2 Group has focused on Christian Curriculum and enterprise-wide web solutions for Christian organizations. The company has worked with Zondervan, The Moody Bible Institute, Assemblies of God, Willow Creek, The Dove Foundation, and many others. The passion is to create powerful experiences through storytelling in both the video and web mediums. With capabilities that offer discreet solutions for video and web initiatives, The C2 Group leverages strengths to provide completely integrated solutions.

About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision provides hope and assistance to approximately 100 million people in nearly 100 countries. In communities around the world, World Vision joins with local people to find lasting ways to improve the lives of poor children and families. In 2008, 87 percent of World Vision's total revenue was designated for programs that benefit children, families, and communities in need.