Community Services League and World Hunger Fund
Benefit at World Hunger Emphasis Worship

Worshipers donated nonperishable items for Community Services League and monetary offerings to the church’s World Hunger Fund at a World Hunger Emphasis Service on Sunday, March 4. The service was held at the RLDS Temple in Independence and was broadcast live via satellite across North America.

The worship setting featured traditional offerings  from many nations.

Community Services League feeds 300 families each month from the shelves of its food pantry. Services are specifically offered to the citizens of Eastern Jackson County with offices in Independence, Blue Springs, Oak Grove, Grain Valley, and Buckner. Worshipers at the March 4 service provided enough food to fill an entire truck. Director of Community Services League Beverly Sheldon stated that the service was “affirming and touching.”

Approximately $1,400 was donated to the church’s World Hunger Fund by worshipers at the Temple. Additional funds were collected in congregations around the world as the church dedicates all undesignated offerings on the first Sundays in March and September of every year specifically to world hunger relief. Since 1980, $6,529,300 from the World Hunger Fund has been distributed in 32 countries around the world, providing funds to alleviate hunger, to educate persons about hunger issues, and advocate on behalf of the hungry.

Joo Kyoun Han gave the invocation.

Persons from many countries brought a traditional offering from their culture to the rostrum and shared in story, testimony, and homily as worshipers explored “Sharing the Abundance,” the reality that if all people more equitably shared the available food that all people would have enough to spare. Congregations joined in the service via satellite from several North American locations including Austin, Texas; Dover, Delaware; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Wabash, Ontario. Alycia Smith, pastor from Fort Wayne, Indiana, said, “The testimonies shared were beautiful reminders of what we can do and the impact we can have, especially together.”