Hunger and poverty exist in developing countries, as well as in our country. This issue should stir us to action. Our Lutheran church has been in the forefront in helping hungry and poor people through Lutheran World Relief, especially since WWII.

The ELCA World Hunger Appeal works through Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and Lutheran World Federation (LWF) as well as assisting with domestic concerns and providing education. Our congregation cooperates with these efforts through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as well as locally with both LINK (Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen) and a community food pantry. We see our efforts to help others as a tremendous opportunity to witness to our faith as we follow Jesus’ example.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Lawrence, Kansas formed a Global Concerns Group in 2003 which seeks to educate about world hunger and justice issues. Concerted efforts have also been made to promote giving to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. This led us to working with Bread for the World (BFW), in advocating for legislation that helps hungry people in the U.S. and worldwide. BFW is a Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. By changing policies, programs and conditions that foster hunger and poverty, BFW speaks up to provide help and opportunities far beyond our communities.

Both individuals as well as congregations can be a member of BFW. One person in our group has been a member for over 25 years. Trinity became a Covenant Congregation of BFW, which means we make an annual monetary contribution, participate in the annual Offering of Letters, and advocate for issues of concern. Several people became involved in calling, writing and e-mailing to our senators and congressmen throughout the year. The President of BFW is David Beckman, a Lutheran pastor.

Each year BFW chooses a specific project. In 2006 members focused on fighting extreme poverty, hunger and HIV/AIDS in the developing world. We lobbied the U.S. Congress for significant budget increases in poverty-focused development assistance, in order to keep our nation’s promises to the world’s hungry and poor people.

At the September 2000 U.N. Millennium Summit meeting, 189 countries--including the U.S.--agreed to eight time-bound and measurable goals and targets for combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women by 2015. These have come to be known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Chancellor Robert Hemenway of the University of Kansas, a Trinity member, attended the U.N. Millennium Summit in 2000. We were fortunate to have him talk about these goals during the education hour in the spring of 2006. His interest and concern extends now to a special class he leads at KU that focuses on poverty, as it relates to the Millennium Development Goals.

This year our Offering of 89+ Letters focused on improvements to the renewal of the U.S. Farm Bill. This Bill covers many areas: subsidies, food stamps, nutrition programs, helping rural communities and also helping farmers in developing countries. We are advocating for a just Farm Bill that helps small and average farmers and not just big agriculture companies. This is the third year we have made an Offering of Letters. We write letters one Sunday and bring them to the altar the next Sunday.

Members of our Global Concerns Group also cooperate with three other Lawrence churches on Bread for the World issues. We had a “Hunger Banquet” in 2005 with our ecumenical friends in Lawrence: Plymouth Congregation Church, First Presbyterian Church, and St. John’s Catholic Church. The supper design came from OXFAM, a development, relief, and campaigning organization that works with others to overcome poverty and suffering around the world. During the banquet, we were able to experience something of what the many hungering people suffer. With our BFW ecumenical partners in 2006 we arranged a conversation with Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas in his Topeka office. Plans are underway for a community workshop pertaining to next year’s Offering of Letters campaign. Elise Young, the Regional Organizer for BFW will be working with the local ecumenical groups to organize this upcoming event.

Imagine what an impact we could have as Christians/Lutherans if we had more voices to speak up for the hungry and poor. Join us and others by contacting Bread for the World either at their website: www.bread.org, by telephone at: 202-639-9400 or by mail at: Bread for the World, 50 F Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20001.

Janice Conrad
Global Concerns
Trinity Lutheran Church, Lawrence, KS
November 9, 2007

“Lord, when did we see you hungry?” Matthew 25:37