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An Article for Your Church's Newsletter
Bread for the World is pleased to announce our partnership with JustFaith Ministries to create a new ecumenical version of the JustFaith Christian formation program for adults. This intensive 30-week program invites people of faith into a deeper exploration of the biblical call to compassion and justice.
The JustFaith program is described as "a process that recognizes the complexity of the call to compassion and provides a wide range of compelling resources and experiences to communicate this tradition."
The program features readings, videos, lectures, discussions, prayers, retreats and hands-on experiences.
"As Christians grow in their faith, their commitment to serving their brothers and sisters who are hungry deepens," said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. "We are pleased to enter this partnership, because we know JustFaith is transformative for its participants. Many of Bread for the World's Catholic members have already completed this process and we are happy to be able to help introduce it to a broader Christian audience."
"Bread for the World is a perfect partner for us," said Jack Jezreel, executive director of JustFaith Ministries and the originator of the JustFaith program. "Their network of committed members and member churches provides an immediate link between JustFaith and socially responsible churches across the country. These are exactly the kinds of churches that will embrace a process like JustFaith. In addition, this partnership with Bread for the World will provide an immediate opportunity for JustFaith graduates to channel their newfound passion for justice into critical advocacy work on behalf of our desperate sisters and brothers all over the world."
Jezreel said he has been fascinated for 25 years by what draws people into courageous commitments of compassion and justice. The process of developing the program was informed both by his experiences and his realization that the major Catholic leaders in peace and justice have all had a clear understanding of social teachings and their integral relationship with scripture. Since JustFaith was introduced nationally in 2001, more than 750 parishes and churches have taken part in the program.
JustFaith Ministries recommends that churches attend an introductory workshop, which reviews our call to live the Gospel, describes the program and recruits participants. The one-day workshop discusses the theological tradition on which the program is based, offers stories of the impact of JustFaith, and explains the logistics of how to get started and implement the program. JustFaith staff also provide support to churches beginning the program and are available for consultation throughout the start-up and recruitment phases.
The ecumenical version of JustFaith will be ready for use this fall. Interested churches can contact JustFaith Ministries at info@justfaith.org or (502) 429-0865 or learn more at www.justfaith.org
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Facts: Hunger and the Farm Bill
- Hunger and poverty rates are higher in rural areas of the United States than in urban areas. The latest available figures show that 12 percent of rural households are food insecure, compared to 11 percent of all households, and nearly 14 percent of rural people live below the poverty line, compared to 12.5 percent of all households.
- Just 6 percent of all rural residents work in farming. Most other jobs are in services. Promoting rural entrepreneurship and strengthening infrastructure are essential for a strong rural sector, yet the funds authorized for rural water quality, rural firefighters and other vital services are meager and sometimes not made available at all.
- In 2002, two-thirds of farming households reported that the farm operator or his/her spouse also held a job off the farm.
- One-third of the country's farms receive commodity payments. The top 10 percent of the farms receiving payments got 66 percent of the total (an average of $90,599 per year), while the bottom 80 percent got 17 percent of the total (an average of $2,985).
- The U.S. crops which receive commodity payments (chiefly corn, wheat, soybeans, rice and cotton) generate $53 billion in revenue. But fruits, vegetables and other "specialty crops," which are not eligible for commodity payments, generate nearly as much -- about $50 billion annually.
- An important component of the farm bill is the Food Stamp Program, which serves more than 25 million people each month. Because food stamps are an entitlement – meaning that everyone who is eligible must be allowed to participate – the program has proven to be a rapid, effective response to disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.
- But food stamp benefits generally run out well before the end of each month. This is especially true for rural participants; one recent study found that the monthly food stamp benefits of rural households lasted an average of 2 weeks, 4 days. Raising the food stamp benefit would allow families to purchase healthy food every day.
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Profile: The Lutheran Church of Honolulu
The Lutheran Church of Honolulu, Hawaii, has partnered with Bread for the World for more than 15 years. Carol Langer, who chairs the Social Ministry Committee, helps the congregation work on hunger issues at the local, national and international levels. She keeps church members up-to-date on Bread for the World activities and why we do what we do.
"We observe Bread for the World Sunday by writing to Hawaii's representatives in Congress to support WIC, TANF and other domestic hunger legislation," said Langer. "We also urge support for foreign aid…. Through our letters, we hope to influence national policy toward a more equitable distribution of our nation's resources.
"We also work to raise money for Bread for the World in creative ways," she continued. "We try to have fundraising that's also fellowship. Lutherans are pretty fond of coffee – so twice a year, we sell fair trade, organic, shade-grown coffees and teas and give the profit to Bread for the World. We do a Courtyard Bakery with homemade baked goods, which gives people a chance to gather together while also raising money for Bread for the World's work."
The Lutheran Church of Honolulu also encourages church members to fast one day per week during Advent, and give the money that they would otherwise have spent on food to Bread for the World. Church members provide direct services to hungry and poor people as well -- shopping and cooking for their local homeless shelter, supporting the local food bank, organizing benefit concerts for local agencies, and contributing to Lutheran World Relief. With a heart for missions, the Lutheran Church of Honolulu creatively brings together advocacy and fundraising through fellowship on behalf of hungry and poor people in God’s world.
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Ask Congress to develop and pass a farm bill that strengthens rural communities, reduces hunger and better supports farmers of modest means.
An effective letter has three essential ingredients:
- Be Specific
Since the U.S. farm bill comes up for reauthorization this year, Congress has an opportunity to improve our current farm policy, which provides large payments to some farmers but does little to help most farmers and other rural families of modest means. For example, two-thirds of all farmers receive no commodity payments at all. Of those who do receive payments, the top 10 percent gets two-thirds of all the funds.
- Name the Action
Please improve the farm bill so that it strengthens rural communities and provides better support for farmers of modest means, hungry people in the United States, and struggling farmers in developing countries.
-
Give a Reason
Farm bill reforms would benefit large numbers of people – small farmers, people who live in rural areas and the millions of U.S.children and adults who struggle to put food on the table.
Sample Letter:
Dear Sen. _________ or Rep. _________,
As a constituent, I'm writing to ask you to make needed reforms to the U.S. farm bill. Our current farm policy provides large payments to some farmers but does little to help many other farmers and rural families of modest means who do not farm. For example, two-thirds of all farmers do not receive commodity payments. Of those who do, the top 10 percent receive two-thirds of the money.
Congress should improve the farm bill so that it strengthens rural communities, supports farmers of modest means, enables people eligible for the Food Stamp Program to afford a nutritious diet and enables farmers in developing countries to get a fair price for their crops. Large numbers of people would benefit from these reforms.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Address
Send your letter to:
Sen. _____________
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Rep. _____________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
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From June 9-12, 2007, people of faith will gather in Washington, DC, to launch a renewed movement to end hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world.
Sowing Seeds: Growing a Movement, The Gathering 2007 will bring together thousands of people to build and strengthen relationships, and to learn from one another.
God has made it possible in our time to liberate hundreds of millions of people from hunger, poverty and disease.
Who is part of this movement? Activists with decades of experience joining with emerging leaders and college students. Rural leaders working with longtime urban anti-poverty workers. Parents and children speaking together with their representatives in Congress. People returning from mission trips collaborating with seminary students and faculty.
People reaching out across the religious spectrum – evangelical and Catholic, ecumenical Protestant and historically African American denominations, Latino Christians and other people of faith – to join hands at the second Interfaith Convocation on Hunger at Washington National Cathedral. There, national leaders of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and other faith groups will call on the president and Congress to join them in renewing their national commitment to end hunger.
We'll take all this learning and inspiration to Capitol Hill on Lobby Day, to speak out for the most vulnerable people in our nation and around the world.
Join this movement! Plan now to bring yourself, your family, and groups from your church and community to Washington in June. A limited number of scholarships are available for those who need financial assistance to attend The Gathering 2007. For highlights of The Gathering and to register online, please visit www.bread.org/gathering2007.
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Bread for the World's staff can offer tips on letter writing, brief you on legislation, assist your church's hunger ministry, and put you in touch with others who are working on these issues.
Bread for the World National Office: 1-800-82-BREAD
Church Relations Staff
Regional Organizers in National Office
- Elise Young, Central/Mid-Atlantic Organizer
- Erin Luchenbill, Campus Organizer
Bread for the World Regional Offices
- Mariah Priggen (1-800-447-0-BFW)
Illinois, Indiana and Missouri Organizer
- David Gist (1-800-315-3BFW)
California Organizer
- Matt Newell-Ching (1-888-75-BREAD)
Western Organizer
- Ricardo Moreno (1-800-315-3BFW)
Organizer for Latino Relations
- Tamela Walhof (1-800-363-7BFW)
Upper Midwest Organizer
- Elizabeth Coleman (1-888-BFW-0073)
Southeast Organizer
- Larry Hollar (1-800-619-9239)
North Central Organizer
- Derrick Boykin (1-866-238-0507)
Northeast Organizer
