Most Americans may feel hunger is an issue with only underprivileged countries, but the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture food security survey reveals only 89 percent of households in America were food secure in 2001. That means they had access, at all times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. According to the United States Census Bureau, the south has the highest poverty rate and 16 percent of Alabamians live below the poverty level. For a country crowned ‘The Wealthiest,’ any form of hunger and poverty is tragic.
One way the Southern Baptist Convention combats hunger and poverty is through World Hunger Sunday, slated for Oct. 12.
Remarkably 100 percent of all money contributed to the World Hunger Fund goes directly to hunger ministries, with 80 cents of every dollar to the International Mission Board and 20 cents to the North American Mission Board (NAMB).
The money NAMB collects will be used to support ministries such as the Etowah Baptist Association’s Missions Center, which received $12,000 in 2003.
“The food comes in as fast as it goes out,” center Director Keith Jenkins said with a smile. The pantry shelves may be bare, but God’s Spirit is abundant at the Etowah Baptist Missions Center, Jenkins said. He is not concerned about food shortages, thanks in part to money the missions center receives from the World Hunger Fund.
“We do more food than anything and serve over 3,000 families a year. From our standpoint, there is never enough food to go around and we want to be fair to everyone that has a need.”
Located in an old storefront on Walnut street in Gadsden, the building houses a waiting area, four private interview rooms, a pantry, clothing room, storage rooms, a kitchen and offices for the staff and a volunteer chaplain. Plans are also underway for a free health clinic in a vacant part of the center, which is a communitywide partnership involving the Etowah Baptist Missions Center. There is no typical client and no typical day at the missions center. Families walk into the center requesting food, clothes, utility assistance, educational classes, Bible study, seasonal holiday assistance and prayer and spiritual guidance from a volunteer chaplain.
When the need can’t be met, a referral is given to another community resource.
Jenkins believes there will always be people in emergency situations in need of food but Christian’s should work toward lifting people out of poverty.
“The World Hunger Fund goes deeper than just giving. It is the basic answer to the calling to be Christ’s hands and feet and to love all people.
“So many times the people that go into a missions center are looked down upon by the church. They are viewed as lazy and unethical instead of some really good Christian people who have very little to live on.”
He knows there are many things such as layoffs and sickness that factor into a family needing help but he looks at mentoring as a gap that needs to be filled by churches. “We want to teach people how to manage money, how to save and how to care for each other. So many people we see have never had anyone show them how to make good choices in life and just need mentors.”
He adds that serving in the name of Christ is more than a simple calling. “We can help one family at a time and that is not a lot to ask.”
Assistant Director Tina Qualls and Jenkins have both worked at the missions center for seven years and say they have more first-time families needing assistance, most likely due to the economy and local industry layoffs, and those in need of food before food stamps are received.
“Although our churches are great to give food, if we did not have access to the funds our shelves would stay bare. The World Hunger Fund is a great resource for us,” said Qualls.
Qualls said that although a number of young families request help, the elderly are also in great need.
“Many times an elderly person may have to choose between medicine or food. We can give the food so they don’t have to make the choice.”
Richard Alford, associate in the associational/cooperative missions office at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, has the task of distributing World Hunger Funds to associations and churches across the state.
“Although most of the money is distributed to associations, churches that give out food also qualify.” Since there is an application procedure, hunger ministry programs are encouraged to contact his office.
Etowah Baptist Center, other state groups benefit from fund
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