Bulletin Statement

Hunger for the Good News

World Hunger Emphasis Sunday

The heartfelt response of the Community of Christ to the Southeast Asia tsunami disaster in the first part of last year was truly remarkable. As has already been reported in the Herald and elsewhere, Oblation and World Hunger funds given so open-handedly throughout the church in response to that disaster amounted to almost a half-million dollars. Several commented at the time that when the good people of the church become aware of a need, especially one with which they can identify strongly, they always respond most generously to that need.

Paradoxically, however, this is both good news and bad news. It is obviously good news, indeed, and a great blessing, that dedicated and caring members and friends of the church are moved to respond so graciously in times of special need. The bad news is that most of the time poverty and hunger, with their attendant disease and death, do not come in sudden, devastating waves. Rather, day by day they slowly and unspectacularly sow their debilitating destruction. And because there is no sudden alarm, we tend to forget that the reality of the need is ongoing and relentless.

The message for today is that, as wonderful and uplifting as our response to the sudden horror of a tsunami may be, the disaster of world-wide hunger rises anew each day. Good brothers and sisters, the purpose of World Hunger Emphasis Day is to sound that alarm.

Wallace B. Smith, president emeritus
Community of Christ

March 5, 2006