Fall is a busy time at WPC. I hope you will take time to read about all the activities and programs coming our way in September. And as the school year begins, I know many of our thoughts naturally turn toward children.
I want to take a moment to share one of my passions—and one of the ways I try to “serve God and care for our community in the way of Jesus.”
A Commitment to Ending Hunger
For more than 25 years, I have been involved with and an advocate for Bread for the World, a Christian advocacy organization that urges our nation’s decision-makers to pursue a world without hunger.
Bread for the World educates and equips people to advocate for policies and programs that can help end hunger in the United States and around the world. Right now, their message is urgent: Hunger is rising, while cuts to SNAP and international assistance are affecting millions of children and families.
Hunger is not inevitable. It reflects choices we make about our priorities—and I believe we can and must do better.
From Feeding People to Speaking Up
At WPC, we already do so much to alleviate hunger in our community. We support FISH, Grove Christian Outreach Center, hotel meals, and other hunger ministries. This summer alone, our Summer Meals for Kids program helped provide meals for hundreds of children.
That direct service matters enormously. But Bread for the World reminds us that we can also address hunger by speaking up about the policies that affect families here at home and around the world.
Bread for the World works in Washington, D.C., meeting with our elected representatives and calling attention to our Christian responsibility to feed God’s children. By joining our voices with hundreds of thousands of others, we can have an impact on decisions made on Capitol Hill.
WPC’s Christian Outreach Ministry has participated in this work through Bread for the World’s Offering of Letters, sending letters to our representatives about legislation affecting hunger. It is one way we can extend the work we already do locally and advocate for people far beyond our own community.
Add Your Voice
I encourage you to consider signing up with Bread for the World. You don’t have to make a donation to help—although, of course, you can!
Visit bread.org and sign up for email updates. When an important vote or issue involving hunger comes before Congress, Bread will let you know and provide an easy way to contact your elected representatives.
I truly believe that we can make progress toward ending hunger—but only if we continue to act, speak up, and pray.
At the feeding of the 5,000 in Mark 6:37, when the disciples came to Jesus concerned about the hungry crowd, Jesus told them:
“You give them something to eat.”
That call is still ours.
Peace,
John
