Hunger remains an issue worldwide and Alabama Baptists are working to eradicate that problem in the state and across the globe through the Alabama Hunger Offering for Global Hunger Relief.
According to Jim Swedenburg, state missionary for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, statistics for June, July and August show that 1,348 lunch bags were distributed, 5,136 hot meals were provided and 33,326 individuals were given groceries.
There also were 19,629 evangelistic encounters along the way leading to 139 professions of faith in Christ, he said.
“When I look at the stats I’m amazed at how much is being accomplished,” Swedenburg said. “People come with a physical need and we’re able to meet that need and feed them spiritually for a lifetime. That’s pretty impressive.”
With about 795 million people undernourished globally, the effects run rampant, according to globalhungerrelief.com.
Poor nutrition leads to nearly half (45 percent) of deaths in children; 1 out of 6 children in developing countries are underweight; and 66 million primary school-age children attend classes hungry, with 23 million in Africa alone.
In the United States, 1 in 6 people struggle with hunger; 1 in 7 people access food banks to help meet their needs; and 481 million people live in a food-insecure household.
Global Hunger Sunday is set aside to educate Southern Baptists about the ongoing worldwide crisis of starvation, according to alsbom.org.
When a dollar is contributed through the offering, the first 25 percent, unless otherwise designated, will stay in the state to assist churches and associations with food pantries. The remaining amount is sent to the Southern Baptist Convention’s Global Hunger Fund where it is divided 80 percent to the International Mission Board for overseas hunger relief and 20 percent to the North American Mission Board for the United States and Canada.
Generous givers
In 2015, Alabama Baptists gave 12 percent of all that was given to the Global Hunger Fund.
As far as what to do on Global Hunger Sunday, Swedenburg said, “Just take an offering. It’s that simple. One dollar can provide three meals. … And though Oct. 9 is the suggested convention date for this offering, we receive hunger offerings all year.”
For more information, visit cooperativeprogramresources.org/world-hunger. (Neisha Roberts, Michael Brooks)
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