Southern Baptists give $6 million to World Hunger Fund
- Sep 7, 2007 - 1 -
RICHMOND, Va. — On Aug. 15, an 8.0-magnitude earthquake 90 miles outside of Lima, Peru, shook the countryside and left approximately 33,000 people without shelter and food.
Baptists immediately came to their aid. International Mission Board missionaries on the ground and representatives from the United States gathered to feed and comfort the Peruvians.
RELIEF ARRIVES — National Christians work alongside IMB missionaries to distribute rice, sugar, split peas, milk, oil, and other foodstuffs to be used in community kitchens in El Porvenir and Los Pollitos, Peru, in the weeks following the 8.0-magnitude earthquake. International Mission Board photo
OVERWHELMING NEED — South Carolina volunteer Dewey Ogburn helps prepare food intended for flood victims in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Southern Baptist representatives and South Carolina volunteers, along with 50 local volunteers, worked to put nearly 2,000 22-liter containers of food and medicine into the hands of those affected by monsoon-induced flooding in southern Dhaka, an effort funded by the World Hunger Fund and partially funded by the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Approximately 700 Bangladeshis have died over the past month and thousands more suffer from contaminated floodwater-borne illnesses such as cholera and dysentery. Bangladesh is one of the world’s most densely populated countries. Approximately 150 million people—primarily Bengali Muslims—live in an area the size of Iowa. International Mission Board photo
SO MUCH LOST — A young Bangladeshi girl stands at the front door of her house where the floodwaters forced her and her family to spend two nights on the roof. The only homes that are visible are the few built on stilts. Southern Baptist representatives and South Carolina volunteers, along with 50 local volunteers, worked to put nearly 2,000 22-liter containers of food and medicine into the hands of those affected by monsoon-induced flooding in southern Dhaka, an effort funded by the World Hunger Fund and partially funded by the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Approximately 700 Bangladeshis have died over the past month and thousands more suffer from contaminated floodwater-borne illnesses such as cholera and dysentery. Bangladesh is one of the world’s most densely populated countries. Approximately 150 million people—primarily Bengali Muslims—live in an area the size of Iowa. International Mission Board photo
IMB missionary Wayne Brinkley set up community kitchens to feed families in a city a few hours outside of Lima, and a preliminary relief team assessed needs in the earthquake areas to bring relief to smaller communities. Within days a system to feed thousands through World Hunger Funds was organized, and Southern Baptist volunteers were in place to assist in the effort.
A few days later, another disaster occurred on the other side of the world. The area around Bihar, India, was caught off guard in what was called the most severe flood in living memory. Southern Baptist representatives and local believers surveyed the flooded conditions and found about 1,000 families stranded and in desperate need of food.
Once again, World Hunger Funds allowed Southern Baptists to respond rapidly. Food packets were filled with ready-to-eat items designed to provide the maximum nourishment possible. A small group of national Christians banded together to get food to those stranded, who otherwise might have starved before the floodwaters receded.
In three days, because of Southern Baptist giving to the World Hunger Fund, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Cooperative Program, the representatives and national believers packaged and distributed food to families in four of Bihar’s flooded villages.
“Fortunately, through Baptist relief, we have the resources to do something,” said Elvin Trueb,* a Christian serving in Bihar. “Even though there are not a lot of local resources at our disposal, God gave us what we needed and what we’d be able to handle.”
Approximately 187 international hunger relief projects similar to these were carried out in 2006. They were possible because Southern Baptists gave $6 million to help feed millions around the globe. That generous giving has continued into 2007.
Those funds have provided dairy cows to a war-torn area of Central and Eastern Europe to create long-term employment opportunities through milk. A three-month food supply was given to thousands of elderly people in Serbia to help them survive a harsh winter.
Southern Baptist dollars also provided thousands of bags of maize to families in Africa affected by drought and famine.
The World Hunger Fund enables Southern Baptists to respond quickly and strategically to needs around the globe. There are five important characteristics that distinguish it from many other agencies that specialize in hunger relief efforts:
- One hundred percent of each donation goes to a hunger ministry project. This is possible because through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, IMB personnel are already in place to see that those in need are served. No hunger funds are used for administration or overhead.
- All of the projects have an intentional spiritual strategy.
- All of the projects have “on the ground” accountability.
- Southern Baptists are part of the projects from the very beginning.
- Southern Baptists are part of the projects until the end goal is reached, and sometimes beyond. Each project is designed, coordinated, supervised and annually evaluated by IMB field personnel.
Hunger funds are used only for meeting food-related needs, such as assisting people with buying, growing and using food properly, as well as teaching about nutrition and how to avoid malnutrition.
Along with the physical needs met through these projects, the Gospel is shared, Bibles are distributed and local Christians are engaged to meet the spiritual needs of the people receiving hunger ministry.
Your donations to help Southern Baptists continue to fight hunger around the globe can be:
- Given through your local Southern Baptist church
- Sent to your state Baptist convention (NOTE: States vary in how hunger fund gifts are distributed. For more information, contact your state convention.)
- Sent to the International Mission Board, P.O. Box 6767, Richmond, VA 23230-0767
- Sent to the North American Mission Board, 4200 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30022-4176
*Name changed for security reasons.
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1 On Sep 12th, 2007, at 10:07am, Rita Varnadoe wrote:
I am delighted that we can send assistance to places in need. We have just received notice that our food pantry in the West Ashley area of Charleston will not receive any more funds until the 1st of the year. We will observe World Hunger Day but probably will have to give more of our $ to our pantry than to the fund. I realize this is only 1 church but that may be how other churches also have to give this year. Just wondering.