Love into Action UMCOR’S World Hunger /Poverty Program |
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by June H. Kim |
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The World
Hunger/Poverty Program has been an integral part of the United Methodist
Committee on Relief’s (UMCOR) mission to enable United Methodist congregations
to put love into action. More than 800 million people in the world go hungry
every day. This fact is difficult to comprehend since we live in a world that
has unparalleled wealth and food production capacity. It is not a question of
whether there is enough food but a matter of accessibility and equal distribution to all people,
regardless of their class, gender, geography, religion, earning power, or
status. The task of trying to
resolve the problem of hunger and poverty is by no means simple. It involves
many layers of socio-economic and political structures and systems that may be
difficult to influence or control. As a church that follows the teachings of
Wesley and Christ, we have a responsibility to share the blessings that God has
bestowed upon us. We must also be of a mind to do this “sharing” in the spirit
of sacrifice rather than charity. Charity is giving out of one’s excess. Sacrifice is giving
when we ourselves may not have enough.
As Christ sacrificed himself for us, so we must strive to follow his
example. The World Hunger/Poverty Program UMCOR’s World Hunger/Poverty Program strategies develop and support
integrated programs that emphasize: ·
Agriculture, rural
development, and food security; ·
Stewardship of
natural resources and the environment; ·
Education, training,
and literacy; ·
Microcredit and enterprise development; ·
Urban agriculture; ·
Leadership
development; ·
Supplemental food
programs; ·
Advocacy to alleviate
hunger and poverty; ·
The mobilization of
resources through United Methodist connections; ·
Eradication of the
root causes of hunger and poverty. HOW TO
COMBAT HUNGER United Methodists can
help alleviate hunger and poverty around the world by choosing to observe,
participate in, and support hunger/poverty programs and activities through
UMCOR and its partners. Observe the Days: World Food Day: October 16th The United Nations
passed the World Food Day resolution in 1979 to set an annual international
observance. World Food Day brings people around the world together to focus on
ending hunger and on the problems of food insecurity.
National Hunger Awareness Day: June 5th National Hunger
Awareness Day, sponsored by
Join Advocacy Organizations: Bread for the World and Bread for the World
Institute (Advance #982325-3) Bread for the World
(BFW) is a nationwide Christian citizens movement
seeking justice for the world’s hungry people by lobbying the nation’s decision
makers. United Methodists churches are encouraged to build a covenant
partnership with BFW and observe BFW Sunday in the fall.
Agricultural Missions, Inc. (Advance #982065-8) Agricultural
Missions, Inc. (AMI) is an ecumenical organization that accompanies rural
peoples in their efforts to address the root causes of impoverishment and
injustice in their communities. Since its founding in 1930, and as a
longstanding partner with UMCOR, the organization has been a ministry striving
to fulfill the Gospel’s promise of abundant life for all. Agricultural Missions
addresses “cutting edge” issues, such as land and agrarian reform, the rights
of indigenous peoples, the rights of small and minority farmers in the United
States, gender equity, sustainable use of natural resources, globalization and
trade, and the use of biotechnology in agriculture.
Work for Hunger Programs Souper Bowl of Caring The Souper Bowl of Caring is a simple but significant youth-
and young-adult-led effort to fight hunger and poverty. The Souper
Bowl of Caring encourages people to give one dollar and/or a canned food item
as they leave worship on Super Bowl Sunday. All collections are sent by the
youth to the kitchen, food bank, or other hunger organization of their choice.
In addition, the youths are encouraged to participate in a “Service Blitz,” in
which they volunteer at a local food bank or charity in their neighborhood. Since Souper Bowl’s inception, youth participants have generated
a total of more than $16.6 million.
Foods Resource Bank (Advance #982493-1) Foods Resource Bank
(FRB) is modeled after the successful Canadian Foodgrains
Bank and is a new “Christian response to world hunger.” FRB is a
nongovernmental humanitarian organization that supports sustainable development
programs which address food security.
UMCOR Coffee Project What kind of coffee
is served in your church? Is it fairly traded coffee? The UMCOR Coffee Project
is a partnership with a Fair Trade organization called Equal Exchange, whose
products are 100 percent fairly traded (coffee, tea, cocoa products). Products
that are “fairly traded” ensure that farmers and workers receive fair pay for
their labor. For every order through the UMCOR Coffee Project, Equal Exchange
contributes a portion of the proceeds back to UMCOR for programs of sustainable
agriculture and empowerment.
Society of St. Andrew The Society of St.
Andrew (SoSA) is an ecumenical Christian ministry
that feeds the hungry all year long by saving fresh produce that would
otherwise go to waste and giving it to the needy. SoSA’s
unique approach is the “Gleaning Network,” a project that coordinates
volunteers, growers, and distribution agencies to salvage food for the needy.
Each year, 35,000 volunteers from churches, synagogues, scout troops,
senior-citizen groups, and other groups coordinated by Hunger Advocates
participate in Society of St. Andrew gleaning activities. They salvage over 11
million pounds of produce for the poor.
“Whose Birthday Is It Anyway?”/UMCOR Christmas
Cards “Whose Birthday Is It
Anyway” is a great resource for people and congregations who are searching for
deeper meaning in the Christmas holiday. Stories,
games, Bible studies, and much more help you, your family, and your
congregation to approach the Christmas holiday from a perspective of faith and
spirituality. You will also find a “different kind of Christmas list,” which is
designed to feed, heal, and educate and to spread the love that Christ brought
to the world. United Methodist churches can purchase UMCOR Christmas cards as
an alternative to ones purchased at a retail store. The proceeds support UMCOR.
Support SA&D UMCOR, through its
Sustainable Agriculture & Development (SA&D) program, supports and
implements sustainable agricultural projects directly, especially in
Put Love Into Action Through the various
partners and projects of UMCOR’s World Hunger/Poverty
program, United Methodists can become advocates, raising awareness for and
being in partnership with those who are oppressed, poor, and hungry. Whether
seeking out and purchasing fairly traded or organically grown products, using
environmentally safe or recyclable items, wearing clothing that was not made
with child labor, or writing letters to Congress, we, as faith-based consumers,
have the power to influence the marketers, multinational corporations, and even
our own government. Adhering to Christ’s call to serve one another, we
recognize that the lifestyle choices we make every day can have an impact for
better or for worse. * June H. Kim is the executive secretary for
World Hunger/Poverty and SA&D in UMCOR.
Date posted: Jul 14, 2003 |
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The Mission Magazine of the United Methodist Church
