Mission Initiative: WORLD HUNGER

2008 has been particularly hard for millions of people the world over. High energy prices took their toll, especially among the poor and the working poor. As costs for transportation went up, so did the cost for the most basic of products needed by humanity — food.

Added to the rising cost of food is the impact by disasters — a cyclone in Myanmar, droughts in Asia, and man-made disasters in Africa. In addition, fore-closures of properties in America have closed many family farms in the Mid-west portions of America.

In the face of what is being called the worst food emergency in our life-time, the Commission on Mission/Outreach is calling for the churches and membership of the Conference to place missional priorities on meeting the needs — locally, nationally, and internationally.

Rice, the stable for most of the world has doubled and tripled over the past year. The food banks of North Carolina have been innodated by people needing support — many people who have never needed help in the past. The hard facts of the crisis world-wide exacerbate already appalling and inexcusable realities:
· One out of three children in America go to bed hungry;
· One in four children in America go to school without breakfast;
· A child dies of hunger every five seconds in the world;
· One in four children in the developing countries is underweight;
· American diets of the working poor have shifted to more fatty foods and away from healthy foods.

In this edition of Missions Alive, on the conference webpage, at the District Leadership Conferences, and in the WNCC enews churches and members will be made aware of ways they may be able to end some of the world hunger in the world. Some help will be through “relief” efforts, but it is hoped that most of the help will be through “development” efforts.

For additional information or speakers for local churches, contact the Office of Mission/Outreach. Also, see the Mission/ Outreach Guidebook for Advance Special information