November 3, 1999
GRACE & PEACE:
Texas Baptist hunger offering
does a world of good
___Then the King will say ..., "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink ..." (Matthew 25:34-35)
___Much of Jesus' ministry focused on the poor. Jesus especially emphasized the importance of ministry to human need in his name. Among those needs, Jesus specifically focused on hunger and thirst.
___Baptists believe we should follow the teachings of Jesus in all areas of our lives. ThusBaptists in Texas and throughout the world have provided food for the hungry and water for the thirsty. Many churches minister to these needs. The Baptist General Convention of Texas, through the church ministries department of the State Missions Commission, provides information to aid churches in this type of ministry.
WILLIAM M. PINSON JR. Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___Both within and beyond our state, many ministries are supported by Texas Baptists to provide food and clean water. For example, Texas Baptist Men ministers to tens of thousands each year during natural disasters, not only in Texas but also in other states and nations. Volunteers also assist missionaries around the world as they distribute food and dig water wells.
___Once each year, Texas Baptists focus on hunger in a special way through the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger. The BGCT Christian Life Commission provides undated materials on world hunger, which can be used throughout the year, but urges special attention to the offering during the fall. The annual focus on the offering involves the period during the four Sundays prior to Thanksgiving. This year these Sundays fall on Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, 14 and 21.
___The Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger goes totally to minister to hungry people. One hundred percent of hunger funds are used to help the hungry. To increase the effectiveness of the offering, the money goes for projects that have been evaluated in advance. Baptist entities, such as associations of churches, state conventions, national Baptist bodies and international Baptist entities, carry out these hunger projects. In most cases Baptist missionaries receive and utilize the funds. "Proclaim Jubilee" is the theme for the offering this year, and the goal is $1 million.
___In addition to money, volunteers are enlisted to aid in the hunger projects. Thus a person may give and also go to help the hungry. There are opportunities to perform volunteer service at the ministry sites, and there is the need for learning teams to visit ministry sites to learn, observe and report.
___Materials to promote the offering and information about volunteer service can be obtained from the Christian Life Commission by writing 333 N. Washington, Dallas 75246 or calling (214) 828-5190. Resources include posters, bulletin inserts, offering envelopes, and rice bowls and/or hunger collection jar labels to encourage giving at home.
___Please pray for the Offering for World Hunger. Pray for your church to be generously involved in this effort to be obedient to the teachings of Jesus. Pray for those who will use the funds and work with the volunteers to feed the hungry and share with them the Bread of Life, Jesus.
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