Baptist Churches Rally for Support on World Hunger Sunday

By Jennifer Riley, Christian Post Reporter Sunday, October 12, 2008

Southern Baptist churches across the nation are raising awareness and mobilizing believers to help hungry people on World Hunger Sunday.

Each year, the second Sunday in October is designated by the denomination to remember the ongoing crisis of starvation and hunger around the world. The day is designed to educate congregants on the needs of millions in the United States and much of world that lack basic nourishment.

"Hunger needs have not subsided. Nor has God's love for hungry people diminished," states the Baptist Global Response Web site.

"Yet few Southern Baptists are aware of the tremendous ministry their World Hunger Fund has across the world, helping families survive disaster and famine, providing clean water, improving health and nutrition – and all along helping people discover how to have hope and purpose in life."

On Oct. 12, congregations across the United States will collect offerings for the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund.

Since the fund's inception in 1974, Southern Baptists have given over $230 million through the fund to meet hunger needs both in the United States and overseas. In 2007, more than $5.5 million was donated.

One hundred percent of donations are used to fight hunger through job and vocational training, livestock and sea support, farm improvement, clean water system, home reconstruction, hygiene education, and medical care.

While 20 percent of the fund is allocated for domestic needs, 80 percent goes towards international relief .

Globally, more than 850 million people suffer from hunger and malnutrition, with those affected or orphaned by HIV and AIDS being the most vulnerable to hunger, according to World Vision. Some 820 million are in developing countries, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

Nearly 16,000 children will die each day due to hunger related causes – or about one child every 5 seconds, according to the Baptist Global Response video.

"We pray Southern Baptists will continue to demonstrate that they are a people who care for people in need," the World Hunger Fund site read. "We believe we have barely begun to see all God wants to do to help a hungry world experience the life-changing power of his love."

In America alone, more than 37 million Americans, including nearly 13 million children, live in poverty.