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July-August 2008
Finding Hope in the Midst of the Global Hunger Crisis
As a result of skyrocketing food prices and soaring energy costs, an additional 100 million people around the world have fallen into poverty and are at risk of hunger. Here in the United States, stagnant wages, lost jobs, and higher gas prices are making it hard for people to deal with higher prices at the grocery store. As a result, enrollment in the food stamp program is at a record high, and food pantries across the country report a 20 percent increase in demand over last year.
Churches from all faith traditions are responding to this global crisis. Individuals and congregations are generously contributing to world relief efforts. They are also gathering food and financial support for hard-pressed food pantries in their communities. Bread for the World's "Recipe for Hope" campaign—from Mother's Day to Father's Day—enlisted thousands of individuals through online messages.
This current crisis is new in that it is touching so many lives both in our own country and overseas. It is truly a global crisis. As Christians, we are reminded of the many stories about hunger in the scriptures. In Genesis, we hear about the great famine that drove Joseph and his family to Egypt.
In Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, the Christians in Judea are faced with poverty and deprivation. Our present-day hunger crisis would benefit from both Joseph's management skills and Paul's zeal in gathering a collection for brothers and sisters in Jerusalem.
During this time of global deprivation, we are sustained by the Gospel's message of abundance and sufficiency. The miracle of God's overflowing love in Jesus Christ moves us to boldly seek both short-term and long-term solutions to this global crisis.
Bread for the World continues its Offering of Letters to win passage of the Global Poverty Act and a $5 billion increase in poverty-focused development, which will enable more hungry people to grow enough food to feed themselves. Bread for the World also is urging Congress to provide supplemental funding to increase our nation's support of emergency food aid, including food that is purchased from local farmers in developing countries.
To help the 35 million Americans —including 17 million children—who aren't getting enough nutritious food to eat, Bread for the World has joined with national church bodies and other hunger organizations. Together, they are urging Congress to provide an immediate boost in food stamp benefits, rather than wait until October when an inflation adjustment would go into effect. It's also urgent to increase funding for WIC, the nutrition program for pregnant women and new mothers, since high dairy prices have meant the program has had to limit the number of mothers served.
The latest information about the global hunger crisis—and about hopeful solutions—can now be found at www.bread.org/recipeforhope.
During this global hunger crisis—by our prayers, with our gifts, and through communication with elected officials—we can help create hope and opportunity for hungry people.
Prayer or Bulletin Announcement
Today we remember those in our own country and overseas who now face hunger because of rising food prices. We pray that our nation’s leaders will take steps to provide emergency assistance in response to the global hunger crisis. Grant that we may be bold and persistent in supporting efforts that will increase agricultural productivity in Africa and other parts of the world.
Penny Wars
Here's a creative way to involve youth in your congregation's hunger ministry
There are many ways to introduce or encourage discussion about issues of hunger and poverty in churches. Often the most effective educational experiences are those that are led by the children and youth of a parish or congregation.
By sharing what they discover through events and activities, the children and youth can inspire other members of their church to get involved in learning about poverty and hunger. When we begin educating youth about world issues, advocacy and how we
as Christians are called to respond to these issues, we begin creating a whole new generation of activists and concerned, engaged citizens.
The youth of Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church in Johnson City, Tennessee, developed an especially effective event to engage their entire congregation. During Lent, the youth council decided to do a penny war to raise money for Bread for the World to help end world hunger.
The "war" pitted a team of middle school students against a high school group. Each team sought to fill their opponent's jugs with pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters worth their monetary value in points. The coins were then counted and converted to points to determine the winner—but all said, together these determined middle and high school students raised over $400 for Bread for the World.
But they didn't stop there! The youth of Munsey Memorial led two worship services around the theme of "Be the Change." The youth challenged the church to take action in ending world hunger and poverty. They brought the Millennium Development Goals to the attention of the church. The entire congregation discussed how the international goals set by the U.S. and 189 other nations could help cut global hunger in half by 2015.
The jars of change (do you get it now?) the youth collected in their penny war were brought forward in the worship service. This change was offered as a symbol to entire the
congregation of what young people can do to bring about positive change in the world.
Thank you, youth of Munsey Memorial, for being the change and inspiring us all!
Bread Bags – Perfect for Bake Sales
White paper "Bread Bags"—11 x 7 inches—are now available free of charge from Bread for the World. If your church is planning a bake sale to benefit Bread for the World or your church body's hunger appeal, you'll find these bags to be ideal for both loaves of bread as well as other baked goods. To order your free bags—in quantities of 100 or less—visit www.bread.org/sunday or call toll-free 1-877-263-5475. Providing your Bread for the World membership number will speed delivery of your order.
Bread Bags are imprinted with the Bread for the World logo and:
Moved by God's grace in Jesus,
the Bread of Life, we urge our
nation's decision makers to end
hunger at home and abroad.
Take Two Minutes Today to Help Solve the Global Hunger Crisis
Rising prices for food and fuel—along with lower than expected harvests in the United States and around the world—have created a global hunger crisis. Communicating with your members of Congress is a powerful way to advocate for long-term solutions to the causes of hunger.
The summer months are an ideal time to make your communication with your Congressional representative face-to-face. Many members of Congress will be spending time in their districts and home states during July and August. Most members of the House of Representatives and one third of the Senators are running for re-election, making them even more anxious to hear from their constituents. Call their local offices to set up a visit. Bread for the World staff can also help you make arrangements.
Given the emergency nature of the global hunger crisis, you may also want to phone your members of Congress. This takes just a few minutes, and your phone call and comments will be immediately recorded.
Putting your concerns in writing is always an effective way to get attention. You and others in your congregation may find these suggestions to be helpful:
- Put your name and address at the end of your letter and on the envelope, so your Members of Congress know that you are one of the people they represent.
- Ask for specific action, using the sentence below or your own words. For example, "Please work to increase poverty-focused development assistance by at least $5 billion." NOTE: When writing to your senators, please also ask them to cosponsor the Global Poverty Act (S. 2433).
- Give reasons why you believe action is urgent. You might cite one or more facts:
- As a result of rising prices for food and fuel, the great majority of the world's poorest one billion people have suffered a serious reduction in their already miserable standard of living. Helping poor countries improve agriculture, nutrition, and education will build long-term solutions to hunger.
- In September 2000, every nation of the world, including the United States, pledged themselves to work together to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Passing the Global Poverty Act and increasing poverty-focused development assistance will be a step toward keeping our nation's promise to help achieve the goals of cutting global poverty and hunger in half by 2015.
- You can find the names of your representative and your senators by visiting www.bread.org/action and then clicking on Find Rep.
- Put each letter in a separate envelope and address it. Send your letter to:
Senator _____________________
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Representative _______________
U.S. House of Representative
Washington, DC 20515
Sample Letter
Date
Dear Representative _____________ or Senator ________________,
Rising global food prices are having a devastating impact on poor and hungry people. The great majority of the world's poorest billion people have suffered a serious reduction in their already miserable standard of living.
While there are immediate actions our nation must take, we also need better-funded U.S. aid programs to help improve agriculture, nutrition, and education. These programs can build long-term solutions for communities worldwide and help small scale farmers improve their yields so they can feed their families and communities.
Please work to increase poverty-focused development assistance by at least $5 billion. [When writing your senators, add the following sentence:] In addition, please cosponsor the Global Poverty Act (S.2433) so that our nation's development assistance will have the maximum impact for those with the greatest need. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Your Name, Your Address
Bread for the World Sunday
Set Your Date! Order Your Resources!
On October 19 and other Sundays throughout the fall, churches across the country are taking time to renew their commitment to ending hunger in God's world. This year's observance of Bread for the World Sunday takes place at a time when a new Congress and new president are being elected. Living in God's grace in Jesus Christ, we have received a great inheritance: the gift of citizenship, a resource to use on behalf of all who are in need.
Worship bulletin inserts and offering envelopes can be ordered free of charge from Bread for the World. A Reflection Resource is also available —with prayers and other worship aids. The Rev. Heidi Neumark, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Manhattan, has written a scripture study which is helpful as a preaching resource or for the adult education hour. Pastor Neumark's ministry for 19 years in South Bronx was the basis for her award-winning book, Breathing Space: A Spiritual Journey in the South Bronx (Beacon Press). She will be the featured speaker at "Come to the Waters," the July 10-13 national gathering of the Women of the ELCA.
Planning suggestions for Bread for the World Sunday are available online at www.bread.org/sunday. Spanish language versions of the bulletin insert and the reflection resource can be ordered at www.bread.org/sunday or by phoning 1-877-263-5475.
If you have immediate questions, please contact church@bread.org or call 1-800-822-7323.
Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. God's grace in Jesus Christ moves us to help our neighbors, whether they live in the next house, the next state or the next continent. By changing policies, programs, and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist, we provide help and opportunity far beyond the communities where we live.
Bread for the World Staff Can Help
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:
1-800-822-7323
Church Relations Staff
- Danielle Mutone-Smith
Sr. Associate for Church Outreach
Regional Organizers in National Office
- Elise Young
Central/Mid-Atlantic Organizer
Bread for the World Regional Offices
- Mike Batell (1-800-447-0239)
Illinois, Indiana and Missouri Organizer
- David Gist (1-800-315-3239)
California Organizer
- Matt Newell-Ching (1-888-752-7323)
Western Organizer
- Ricardo Moreno (1-800-315-3239)
Organizer for Latino Relations
- Tamela Walhof (1-800-363-7239)
Upper Midwest Organizer
- Meredith Williams (1-888-257-0239)
Texas and Oklahoma Organizer
- Elizabeth Coleman (1-888-239-0073)
Southeast Organizer
- Larry Hollar (1-800-619-9239)
North Central Organizer
- Derrick Boykin (1-866-238-0507)
Northeast Organizer
