Residents of Mukomansala, Zambia show off their harvest, made possible with better seeds and irrigation.

A woman from Collpa, Kocha, Bolivia sells her extra produce at the local market.

Two girls draw clean drinking water from a well in Haiti.

Youth in Kisunga, Democratic Republic of Congo, stack bricks to be used for a new school room.

Healthy and happy children of a mother working with Mujéres en Acción (Women in Action) in Guatemala. Funds from World Hunger through World Accord have enabled women in rural Guatemala to build better lives for their families.

Children in Pantanal, Nicaragua, are ready to go to school. All photos: Copyright 2007 Outreach International

Hunger and Oblation Needs Continue Long after Hurricanes

The bottom line decrease for World Hunger and Oblation Fund contributions between calendar year 2005 and calendar year 2006 reflects giving trends. Donors are often swayed by national media attention on dramatic stories more than the less publicized chronic needs of the perpetually impoverished. As Jesus told his disciples, “You always have the poor with you and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish” (Mark 14:7).

The planet was happily spared the horrific tsunamis and hurricanes for which the year before last will be most remembered. Natural disasters sent 2005 contributions off the charts; 2006 was a calmer year.

“Numbers are obviously down from 2005,” said Ken Schnell, provider of support services for the World Hunger Committee and disaster relief ministries. Yet Schnell did note a silver lining in these numbers. “Take those disaster relief dollars out and our giving is actually up.”

Feeding the Hungry
As indicated on the accompanying chart, 2006 World Hunger Fund disbursements totaled $583,300. (This year the World Hunger Fund surpassed a landmark $10 million disbursed since its start in 1980.) President Emeritus Wallace B. Smith chairs the World Hunger Committee.

“The support of the World Hunger Fund is strong testimony of the ongoing concern members and friends of the church have for the hungry of our world,” said Smith. “I feel privileged to be a part of a community of believers who put their faith into action in such a generous and meaningful way to help people in need.”

“The World Hunger Committee understands that food should come from the ground and not from an airplane,” said Outreach International president Matthew Naylor. “We commend them on investing in long-term, sustainable change.”

World Hunger distributes grants to local agencies and pantries as well as organizations like Bread for the World, World Accord, and Outreach International. Each upholds the adage that when you give a person a fish, you feed him/her for a day. But teach that person to fish and he/she will eat for a lifetime.

“The support of the World Hunger Fund has allowed us to help thousands of poor children and their families,” said Naylor. “The African country of Malawi is an example where the creation of wells for clean water, goat raising, fish farming, the establishment of a corn mill, and construction of sanitation facilities have enhanced their capability to deal with poverty.”

“The World Hunger Fund allows us to help people experience transformation as a result of their own efforts,” said World Accord president Terry Fielder. MujÈres en AcciÛn (Women in Action) enables women in Guatemala to rent land and grow crops. The rains from Hurricane Stan (October 2005) in Central America destroyed much of their harvest.

“Because the press was filled with the disasters in New Orleans and Florida, our appeal to donors was scarcely heard,” explained Fielder. “But a letter to the World Hunger Committee resulted in a grant. When we announced to the women sitting around the speaker phone that the Community of Christ had answered our appeal for funding, we heard a chorus of voices exclaim, ‘Gracias a Dios’ (Thank you, God). Their prayers had been answered.”

Visit www.CofChrist.org/hunger for more information about World Hunger ministries and how to contribute. Avail your congregation of the helpful resources there including worship bulletins, informative brochures, hunger assessment forms, a community-pantry guide, an Offering of Letters kit, and a free Hunger Meditation DVD for use in worship services.

One of the programs congregations can participate in to help eradicate hunger is the Alan Shawn Feinstein Foundation challenge grant program. Nearly 30 Community of Christ congregations partnered with their communities to raise $375,000 for local hunger programs alongside the Feinstein Foundation. The Feinstein Foundation divides a million dollars annually among hunger-fighting agencies by adding their contributions to yours.

The Riverview, Michigan, Community of Christ congregation has worked with the Feinstein Foundation since 2003. “By joining over 3,000 participating agencies nationwide, we will again be partners in what has become a very successful grassroots campaign to fight hunger,” noted Cathy Williamson of Riverview. “Our donations are then multiplied by Mr. Feinstein’s donations and we are able to provide more food.”

Contact Joyce Carter at feinsteinchallenge@CofChrist.org if your congregation is interested in receiving fiscal assistance from the Feinstein Foundation to battle hunger in your community.

In general, food shortages and nutrition are addressed through the World Hunger Fund. Disaster relief disbursements are a part of both the World Hunger and Oblation Funds.

Assisting the Poor
Oblation dollars are directed toward both short-term relief efforts (a transient family needs a tank of gas for their car) and long-term community improvement programs (Tangible Love ministries).

As indicated on the accompanying chart, 2006 Oblation Fund disbursements totaled $1,287,900. In 2006, 74 percent of oblation dollars met local needs like food and utility bills; 14 percent of oblation went toward disaster relief for rebuilding efforts; and 12 percent was contributed to Tangible Love.

Tangible Love projects represent collaborative efforts between a church jurisdiction and its community, emphasizing basic human needs, environmental concerns, conflict resolution initiatives, or peace and justice. These ministries are as diverse as job training in Chardonierre, Haiti; to English as Second Language classes in Senatobia, Mississippi; to rural family loan programs in China.
“The ministry of Jesus was always to the whole person. Tangible Love also supports ministry to the whole person,” said Apostle Andrew Bolton, co-chair of the Tangible Love Committee. “We seek to express the compassion of Jesus through supporting programs for the hurting as well as peace and justice programs that advocate for system change and justice for the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed.”

Visit www.CoChrist.org./tlove for more information on existing Tangible Love grant ministries or for application procedures.
“As a mission center financial officer and now as a member of the Presiding Bishopric, I have had the opportunity to experience countless times when the Oblation Fund has saved lives,” said Bishop Paul Davis. “In those moments, I always feel powerfully the connection between the contributor and the recipient. It is as if I am given the chance to join two hopeful hands, one hoping for help and the other hoping to give it.”

The world is in need of a restorative spirit, and opportunities to give abound. “Just because there are no hurricanes, we shouldn’t lose our passion for giving,” Schnell reminds us. Weekly Mission Tithes envelopes include provision for designating Oblation and World Hunger offerings, or visit www.CofChrist.org/worldministries to contribute online.

—Dirk Ellingson reporting

January 1–December 31, 2006
World Hunger and Oblation Fund Report

Note:
• Tangible Love: Since 1984, 212 projects have received $3,551,600.
• World Hunger: Since 1980, 657 grantshave totaled $9,737,900.