EDITORIAL:
Hunger offering offers practical opportunity for care
___Tables across Texas groaned under the blessings of God's bounty last week. As family and friends gathered for Thanksgiving, we celebrated the old-fashioned way. We ate.
___Just try to think of a time when God's people didn't express gratitude and extend fellowship by stuffing themselves like a Thanksgiving turkey. From Old Testament feasts, to New Testament communal meals, to today's Baptist pot-luck dinners, people of faith have partaken of food.
___Good food reminds us of God's goodness. And fellowship across a table symbolizes God's faithfulness. That's why the Baptist General Convention of Texas appropriately uses this season to remind us of the needs of people who do not have enough to eat and to collect the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger. Many churches--perhaps yours--collected the offering during the four Sundays leading up to Thanksgiving. However, the moment has not passed. You and your church still can contribute to the Offering for World Hunger.
___Jesus spoke often about his followers' responsibility to care for the poor and the hungry. A couple of passages stand out: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked" (Luke 12:48).
___From the gospels alone, you could build a strong case that Christians reflect the reality of their relationship with God through the ways in which they help the poor and less fortunate. So, the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger is more than just another envelope in an offering plate. It is an opportunity for you to express Christian thanksgiving and to demonstrate Christian care.
___So, the hunger offering represents far more than money for missions. It's an opportunity for each of us to express our gratitude for God's goodness bestowed upon us and our obedience to the Lord's commandment to bless others out of our own bounty.
___The 2002 offering goal is $1 million. It will be applied to 56 specific hunger projects. That includes 13 ministries in Texas, each administered by an association of churches; 14 programs across the United States; 28 hunger ministries in other countries; and a $100,000 reserve fund for emergency response.
___At least three facets of the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger stand out:
___ Efficiency. Unlike many hunger appeals, every penny contributed to the offering will be allocated to hunger causes. The BGCT Cooperative Program budget underwrites the administration of the offering, funding the BGCT treasurer's office, which handles the money, and the BGCT Christian Life Commission, which promotes the offering and arranges the hunger partnerships. The budgets of the BGCT's partners--whether they are associations, other state conventions or missions agencies--cover on-site administrative costs of the projects.
___ Practicality. The Christian Life Commission has worked with state, national and global partners to ensure that BGCT hunger funds support ministries that meet specific hunger needs. They are as varied as the circumstances and causes of hunger. Yet they are as specific as hurting, hungry human beings, each one created in God's image.
___For example, $30,000 will be channeled to San Antonio, the poorest large city in the United States. The money will help feed the homeless, provide food assistance to the working poor and underwrite Christian Women's Job Corps, which prepares women for life skills and employment.
___In West Texas, $15,000 will support food ministries operated by the Odessa Crisis Center and the Midland Crisis Center.
___Graffiti Community Ministries in the impoverished Lower East Side of New York City will receive some of the $40,000 allocated for New York. The center provides food and meals to hungry people and first-time jobs to youth and young adults.
___Baptists in Philadelphia will use $10,000 to help immigrant/refugee families purchase food as they set up their households.
___At least $15,000 will help to feed hungry people at San Francisco's Page Center and homeless people in Los Angeles.
___Up to 400 children in Argentina will benefit from $9,000 sent to Pumas del Sur Child Development Center, which serves youngsters at risk of malnutrition, abuse, exploitation and prostitution.
___Sofia Baptist Church in Bulgaria will use $10,000 to build a public bath and clinic for Gypsies who live with no running water, no toilets and little food.
___Small landholders in Indonesia will learn to use better farming methods, thanks to $30,000.
___Families in Burundi will buy pigs to raise and breed because of an $18,000 gift. The "piglet project" will help them become self-sufficient.
___In these and the 47 other hunger projects, Baptists also will be able to share the bread of life, the saving message of Jesus Christ, as they help fight physical hunger.
___ Opportunity. The Offering for World Hunger isn't just about money. Many of these ministries afford opportunities for hands-on volunteer ministry. Besides giving, you and your church can go and be the presence of Christ for hurting people.
___To contribute to the offering, send money to the BGCT Treasurer's Office. To learn more about the projects or to volunteer for ministry, contact the BGCT Christian Life Commission. Both addresses are 333 North Washington, Dallas 75246-1798; (214) 828-5100.
___ —Marv Knox
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
The Baptist Standard
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook