Global Hunger Relief is a partnership of seven Southern Baptist organizations to combat hunger around the globe. It is not an organization, but a cooperative initiative involving Baptist Global Response, the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Woman’s Missionary Union, LifeWay and the Executive Committee.
How did it start?
Many resolutions were passed in the 1970s and 1980s by the Southern Baptist Convention, raising awareness of the problem of global hunger and poverty and encouraging churches to become involved in serving those affected. Around 1978, many churches began to recognize a “World Hunger Sunday” and give designated offerings to serve those affected by hunger around the globe.
What types of projects receive the dollars given to GHR?
One-hundred percent of money given goes directly to the hunger projects under the direction of the IMB (80 percent) and NAMB (20 percent). These projects are channeled through the work of Baptist organizations, including Baptist Global Response, IMB, NAMB Send Relief and state conventions. Clean water projects, food pantries, seed and livestock distribution, and many other projects identified and run by our Southern Baptist missionaries and ministry partners receive the donations given to GHR.
Lane and Lisa* use GHR funds to run a nutritional clinic that serves families and starving newborns in a country rampant with malnutrition. Alvin Bagwell oversees the Good Samaritan Food Bank to share the gospel with and feed those on the margins of society in North Georgia as a ministry of the Chattahoochee Baptist Association.
Why should I give to GHR?
About 795 million people are undernourished globally. One in six people in the United States struggle with hunger. And there are Southern Baptists working in a variety of ways around the world to address this crisis. Due to the Cooperative Program, 100 percent of dollars given to GHR go directly to serve those in need. Nothing is taken out for administration or promotion. Because of our partnership, all the GHR projects are overseen or executed by Southern Baptist personnel, so you can know that these critical food ministries are accompanied by a gospel witness.
What is the Global Hunger Relief Run?
A broad coalition of Southern Baptist ministries have partnered together to sponsor a Global Hunger Relief Run, including a 5k and one-mile Fun Run, in Phoenix, Ariz., June 14, in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. One hundred percent of registration fees will go directly to Global Hunger Relief.
Participants will receive a dry-fit t-shirt, gift bag and other race gear from sponsors. On Wednesday morning, runners will take a short shuttle ride from the Phoenix Convention Center to Steele Indian Park, a beautiful park just north of downtown Phoenix. Registration and more information about the GHR Run is available online.
