Bulletin Statement

World Hunger Fund Emphasis Day

September 1, 2002

Statistics related to hunger are sometimes hard to grasp because they are so far removed from the experience of most of us. We read that 800 million people in the world are chronically hungry or that 6 million children die annually from hunger-related diseases. We feel a momentary twinge of sorrow or regret, but it is difficult to sustain the emotion. We have not experienced the hunger pangs personally or held the dying child in our arms. Somewhere in the human community, however, those feelings are very much personified. A family gathers for its one meager meal of the day acutely aware that unless more food can be obtained soon some of their number, usually the smaller and weaker, will not survive.

Since 1979 the World Hunger Committee of the World Church has been administering funds contributed by members and friends to support projects related to hunger relief. Food and potable water production, agricultural development and research, food storage, education of farm workers, nutrition training and other proposals giving evidence of alleviating hunger, directly or indirectly, are considered.

On this World Hunger Emphasis Sunday, members of the Community of Christ are especially encouraged to give generously to support the World Hunger Fund. Even though we seem personally to be blessed almost beyond measure, as King Benjamin’s words remind us, “Are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same being, even God, for all the substance which we have; for both food and raiment…and for all the riches we have of every kind?” (Mosiah 2: 32) In the spirit of compassion attending that scripture, it is my prayer that we may remember the hungry of the world as more than just statistics on this special day.

Wallace B. Smith, chair
World Hunger Committee