wfn.org | [UMNS-ALL-NEWS] UMNS# 221-'Recipe for Hope' campaign targets hunger

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

>'Recipe for Hope' campaign targets hunger

>May. 23, 2008

NOTE: A photo illustration is available at http://umns.umc.org.

>By United Methodist News Service

Bread for the World has created its own recipe to help address the
growing global food crisis.

The "Recipe for Hope" Campaign began on Mother's Day and runs through
Father's Day on June 15. Bread for the World is a partner with the
United Methodist Committee on Relief and the United Methodist Board of
Church and Society in the fight against hunger.

United Methodists also will be among those gathering June 17 in
Washington D.C. to take part in Bread for the World's lobby day. After
morning worship and a briefing on hunger/poverty issues, participants
will speak with members of the U.S. Congress and their staffs on current
legislation for hungry and poor people around the world.

The Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, said there
are "simple but critical actions" that people can take to end hunger now
as part of the Recipe for Hope campaign.

Those actions range from the personal commitment of prayer and fasting
to practical actions such as stocking food pantries, educating others on
the hunger crisis and raising funds for Christian anti-hunger
programs--to advocating for change by writing letters and calling
members of Congress to enact long-term solutions to hunger.

When drought, greed and inaction by world leaders are mixed with
misguided government policies, "a recipe for despair" is the result.
But, Bread for the World suggests, prayer and food for the hungry can be
mixed with "policies that help people to feed themselves and their
families" to "stir one another to love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24)
and create a recipe for hope.

The Recipe for Hope Web site provides weekly "ingredients" for action
and resources for churches, including a bulletin insert, pastoral
"prayer nuggets" and a litany and prayer "for a time of hunger."

Global food prices have nearly doubled in the last three years,
particularly for basic grains like rice, wheat and corn, according to
Bread for the World. The World Bank estimates that as many as 100
million people will join the ranks of 854 million poor and hungry people
who currently do not have enough to eat each day. Hardest hit are the
children--16,000 of whom die daily due to hunger-related causes, or one
child every five seconds.

"As Jesus reminds us, when we share our bread with those who are hungry,
God blesses even our smallest efforts," said Beckmann. "Feeding the
hungry is itself an act of worship."

More information on the Recipe for Hope campaign can be found at
<http://www.bread.org\recipeforhope> www.bread.org\recipeforhope.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.

>********************

United Methodist News Service Photos and stories also available at: http://umns.umc.org

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