Mobilizing the Faith Community
Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation's leaders 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. We are an organization that operates on the principle that Christians are motivated by their faith to address hunger around the world.
Bread also believes that it is the moral calling of Christians to be politically engaged. Practicing faith-filled citizenship is our right under the U.S. Constitution. Hunger is a profoundly political issue and one that should be a top concern of our federal government. We are serving God when we raise issues of hunger and poverty with our government.
Bread works in addressing the causes of hunger and the conditions that allow it to persist. We believe that our federal government has the resources, power, and influence to change these conditions so that we can end hunger in our time. So Bread has positioned itself to address hunger as a global problem through advocacy. Bread connects Christians across the U.S. with their members of Congress in order to build the political will to end hunger.
"We support Bread because it magnifies our voice on behalf of hungry people."
Father James Fetscher, St. Louis Catholic Church, Miami
Collective Christian voice
When we as members of churches and individual Christians across the U.S. speak the same message to Congress about ending hunger, we are more likely to be heard. When we speak collectively, we are stronger, and we speak with a louder voice.
Corporations and interests have powerful lobby groups on Capitol Hill. The message of ending hunger can also be given to decision makers from a powerful lobby group. Its name is the Church, and our lobbyists are Christians exercising their rights and responsibilities as U.S. citizens and residents.
Working with churches
Many Christians belong to a church, a place where they worship and practice their faith. Because congregations are where many Christians gather regularly, and because congregations form disciples for work in the world, Bread uses churches as a launching point for its mobilizing of Christians for advocacy.
As living institutions, serving communities, churches are especially important in telling the story of hunger and fostering change.
Bread can help
Bread can be a resource and partner with you to empower your family, church, social ministry committee, campus group, community network, or Bible study group to raise its voice to end hunger.
"Our parish supports Bread for the World because it magnifies our voice in Washington, D.C., on behalf of poor and hungry people." — Father James F. Fetscher, St. Louis Catholic Church, Miami
Tools
from our Resource Library
For Education
U.S. Hunger and Poverty State Fact Sheets
These fact sheets provide a snapshot of hunger and poverty in the United States and in each state plus Washington, D.C.
Fact Sheet: Hunger and Poverty in Puerto Rico
Even before Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck Puerto Rico, hunger and food insecurity were much more common among Puerto Ricans than among their fellow U.S. citizens in the 50 states.
Before...
Fact Sheet: Fortified for Life. How the U.S. Government Supports Global Nutrition.
Good nutrition is a critical part of ensuring that all human beings can use their bodies and minds to live an active life and reach their full potential.
For Faith
Unity Declaration on Racism and Poverty
A diverse body of Christian leaders calls on the churches and Congress to focus on the integral connection.
Dear Members of Congress,
As the president and Congress are preparing their plans for this year, almost 100 church leaders—from all the families of U.S. Christianity—are...
In Times Like These … A Pan-African Christian Devotional for Public Policy Engagement
This devotional guide invites deepened relationship with and among Pan-African people and elected leaders in the mission to end hunger and poverty.
Sermon by David Beckmann at Duke University Chapel
Remarks delivered October 1, 2017 at Duke University Chapel in Chapel Hill in North Carolina.
Thank you for inviting me to preach here at Duke University Chapel. And I especially want to thank the Bread for the World members who have come this morning.
Bruce Puckett urged...
For Advocacy
U.S. Hunger and Poverty State Fact Sheets
These fact sheets provide a snapshot of hunger and poverty in the United States and in each state plus Washington, D.C.
Fact Sheet: Hunger by the Numbers
In 2017, 11.8 percent of households in the U.S.—40 million people—were food-insecure, meaning that they were unsure at some point during the year about how they would provide for their next meal.
Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2017
Unnecessarily long prison sentences, combined with the lack of rehabilitative programs for people in prison, exacerbate hunger, poverty, and existing inequalities.
Overly harsh mandatory minimum prison sentences have contributed to the rapid increase of our country’s prison population. The...