Do people really go to bed hungry?
- Sep 28, 2009 -
We haven’t seen a famine in the news lately. Does that mean most people around the world have enough to eat?
Unfortunately, no. The United Nations reported in June 2009 that 1.02 billion people—one of every six—are acutely hungry every day. The great majority of these people live in grinding poverty on a daily basis, causing them to eat both less food overall and cheap food, which is often less nutritious.
What are Southern Baptists doing about hunger around the world?
Southern Baptist missionaries and their Great Commission partners implemented over 500 hunger and relief projects in 2008. They addressed acute needs resulting from natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes as well as the chronic issues of poverty, hunger, and poor water quality. When possible and appropriate, the Gospel was shared.
One South African who was overwhelmed by the gift of food said, “God sees our need and amazingly, sends people from the other side of the earth to help us.”
But is hunger a problem in the United States?
Yes. You probably have hungry people in your community. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that in 2005, about 11% of American households did not always have enough food for each member to have an active, healthy life. These families might be an older couple with unusually high utility bills or a struggling family in which the adults skip meals in order to feed the children.
What are Southern Baptists doing about hunger in America?
In 2008, over 5 million meals were prepared and fed to the hungry in North America with Southern Baptists’ gifts to hunger relief. Many of these ministries also include components not supported by hunger funds, such as job skills training and after-school tutoring. The Gospel was shared over 785,000 times because of opportunities provided through hunger ministries, with 36,000 people professing faith in Christ!
Lisa, formerly a homeless drug addict who heard the Gospel through the hunger ministry of Rushing Wind Baptist Church in Las Vegas, said, “My life is lived for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am living proof that all you have to do is give everything up to Him and He will change you.”
I see heart-wrenching ads on television for other organizations that will allow me to sponsor a child directly. Why don’t Southern Baptists do that?
Through decades of hunger ministry across the globe, Southern Baptists have determined that the most efficient method of feeding people is to put contributions in a common World Hunger Fund from which missionaries and other volunteers can apply for funding to meet the changing needs in their area. The accounting required to funnel money from one donor to one child would pull funds from actual ministry and stunt efforts to share the Gospel with those who might not be as young and photogenic.
When I give to Southern Baptist hunger relief, how much actually makes it to the field?
When a dollar is contributed to the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund, unless otherwise designated, 80 cents is sent to the International Mission Board for overseas hunger projects while 20 cents is sent to the North American Mission Board to support hunger projects in the U.S. and Canada. Because personnel and volunteers are already in place, and promotional expenses are paid through other budgets, 100% of every gift is used to minister to the hungry in Jesus’ name.
How can we contribute to Southern Baptist efforts to meet these physical and spiritual needs?
Give through your church, designating your offering for the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund. Every state Baptist convention handles these contributions differently, so contact yours to learn how it distributes hunger fund gifts.
World Hunger Sunday is October 11, 2009. For more information and resources, visit http://www.worldhungerfund.com.
Further Learning
Learn more about: Citizenship, Hunger/Homelessness