DO JUSTICE. LOVE KINDNESS. WALK HUMBLY WITH GOD. - MICAH 6:8

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1 DO JUSTICE. LOVE KINDNESS. WALK HUMBLY WITH GOD. - MICAH 6:8

2 SOME 795 MILLION PEOPLE ON EARTH ARE REPORTED TO BE UNDERNOURISHED THAT S 1 IN 9 PEOPLE! IN 2015, 1.5 MILLION TEXAS HOUSEHOLDS WERE FOOD INSECURE 1 IN 6 TEXANS FACE UNCERTAINTY ABOUT HAVING ENOUGH TO EAT 42 MILLION PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH HUNGER IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING 13 MILLION CHILDREN AND 5.4 MILLION SENIORS

The Texas Baptist Hunger Offering invites individuals and churches to give to help end hunger. 100% of your gift goes directly to hunger relief and development ministries.

3 The Texas Baptist Hunger Offering invites individuals and churches to give to help end hunger. 100% of your gift goes directly to hunger relief and development ministries. One of the joys of pastoring Macedonia Baptist is their willingness to share and participate in ministries beyond our walls. The Texas Baptist Hunger Offering has always been one of those ministries. We embrace the statement of We Are Blessed To Be A Blessing. Thank you Texas Baptists for providing for us the marvelous vehicle of being obedient to the Lord s command. Pastor, Jerry Dailey, Macedonia Baptist Church, San Antonio Hunger is a universal need that no one can escape. Feeding is a universal sign of love that no one should be without. Through the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering our love reaches out to those in need. Brenda Rincones, Director of SHINE Girls Ministry, UFM de Convención I have been hungry before, but I also knew I had a meal coming my way soon. Not everyone is as fortunate, even here in Texas. The Texas Baptist Hunger Offering enables those less fortunate to have the same assurance of a meal to come soon. Please give as you can! Thanks. Dr. David Hardage, Executive Director, Texas Baptists texas baptist hunger offering 3

A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE By Ali Corona He may have felt insignificant a young boy walking home with a basket of lunch for his family five small loaves and two fish.

Then the Savior steps into the scene. And He said, Bring them here to me. Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.

And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.

With a glance toward heaven and a heartfelt prayer, Jesus multiplied a few parcels into a feast for a crowd that was hungry for spiritual and physical nourishment.

Jesus blessed the meal and a miracle unfolded. Today, an estimated 795 million people around the world are undernourished. In Texas, 1 in 6 families are unable to put meals on their tables everyday.

4 A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE By Ali Corona He may have felt insignificant a young boy walking home with a basket of lunch for his family five small loaves and two fish. Andrew, Jesus disciple, looked at the meager meal and questioned, But what are they among so many people? (John 6:9b, NRSV). I can imagine the boy wondered, How can I make a difference? Then the Savior steps into the scene. And He said, Bring them here to me. Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children (Matthew 14:18-21, NRSV). With a glance toward heaven and a heartfelt prayer, Jesus multiplied a few parcels into a feast for a crowd that was hungry for spiritual and physical nourishment. All four gospels recount this important moment in history. The sight of the unseen Kingdom colliding with the world must have made a deep impression on each of their hearts and minds. Jesus blessed the meal and a miracle unfolded. Today, an estimated 795 million people around the world are undernourished. In Texas, 1 in 6 families are unable to put meals on their tables everyday. Hunger, both physical and spiritual, is devastating. As followers of Jesus, we are called to care about people who are marginalized, hungry, and stuck in the cycle of poverty. 1 John 3:17-18 (NRSV) states, How does God s love abide in anyone who has the world s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. Jesus used a need and turned it into an opportunity. We have the opportunity to join together to fight hunger through the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering. The Hunger Offering feeds people in crisis and assists families as they break the cycle of poverty in Texas and abroad all in the name of Jesus. In the same way that Jesus took one boy s meager meal and made a feast, we each can offer our bread and fish to serve our neighbors. Let s look at every need as a divine opportunity. May we ask Him to bless this meal and thousands more so all may be filled not only with physical food but also with the deep spiritual food of God s love. Bulletin insert available on order form. 4 texas baptist hunger offering

HOW 25 CHICKENS TRANSFORMED A FAMILY by Kalie Lowrie Soontorn Inthayok is a day laborer and part-time guard in northern Thailand.

While Soontorn works extremely hard, his monthly expenses are often more than what he earns.

He received training on budgeting, preparation and how to care for chickens and was then entrusted with grant money to begin a small chicken farm.

When we first started to raise chickens, we used the eggs for family use in cooking, Soontorn said. Every 3-5 days we collect more than 10 eggs; we have plenty of eggs to fry and boil.

5 HOW 25 CHICKENS TRANSFORMED A FAMILY by Kalie Lowrie Soontorn Inthayok is a day laborer and part-time guard in northern Thailand. The 49-year-old provides for his older sister, who is mentally disabled, and his son. He also overcomes a personal disability to bring home earnings of about $300 US per month. While Soontorn works extremely hard, his monthly expenses are often more than what he earns. Soontorn was elated when he was selected to participate in the Chicken and Cattle Farming Project of Social Development and Service Unit. He received training on budgeting, preparation and how to care for chickens and was then entrusted with grant money to begin a small chicken farm. He used the funds to build a chicken coop on his property, as well as to purchase the needed equipment and feed to care for 25 chickens. When we first started to raise chickens, we used the eggs for family use in cooking, Soontorn said. Every 3-5 days we collect more than 10 eggs; we have plenty of eggs to fry and boil. We do not have to buy eggs at the market anymore. Soontorn s family now has plenty of eggs for consumption and enough to sell to friends and neighbors. Some of the chickens are used for eating, adding much-needed protein to their diets, and other eggs have been shared with his church and neighbors. Participants in the Chicken and Cattle Farming Project are selected based upon greatest need, with preference given to those with disabilities who have need for additional income. Churches recommend people in their communities for consideration and oversee the projects for the three years. The Texas Baptist Hunger Offering supports this project, with 100 percent of the funds given directly to support local families. Without the Hunger Offering, this project would not be able to happen, said Hunter Huff, staff member for SDSU. The lives of the participants are changed forever and they are able to see the love of Christ through the actions, care and love of local believers. The funds are making a huge difference in the lives of many people who society has forgotten. The participants are truly the least of these. Bulletin insert available on order form. texas baptist hunger offering 5

6 EUR NORTH AMERICA Spain $12,000 Texas $268,950 TEXAS Abilene $3,000 Alvin $1,500 Amarillo $1,800 Austin $7,200 Azle $2,100 Bowie $1,200 Brownwood $1,200 Carrollton $1,200 Center $1,200 Clint $3,600 Corpus Christi $1,200 Dallas $22,600 Decatur $1,500 El Paso $6,900 Farmers Branch $2,400 Fort Worth $14,200 Freer $900 Garland $2,100 Goliad $3,300 Grapevine $2,100 Houston $46,300 Huntsville $1,800 Irving $900 Livingston $1,200 Lubbock $4,200 Mesquite $2,100 6 Mexico $36,900 Dominican Republic $13,800 Guatemala $5,400 Honduras $8,200 Venezuela $3,000 Peru $21,300 SOUTH AMERICA Mineral Wells $1,200 New Braunfels $2,400 Odessa $6,000 Rio Grande Valley $25,500 Rockwall $3,000 San Antonio $24,550 San Marcos $6,300 Seagoville $1,500 Texas General $49,600 Waco $11,200 Weslaco $2,100 texas baptist hunger offering Sierra Leone $9,000

7 ASIA Poland $5,100 EUROPE ain 000 Slovakia $4,200 Moldova $2,100 Romania $6,000 Macedonia $1,500 China $15,000 Turkey $9,000 Greece $3,300 Syria $5,000 Lebanon $28,200 Gaza $3,000 MIDDLE EAST Nepal $6,000 Myanmar $3,600 Sudan $15,000 AFRICA India $28,100 Thailand $5,400 Ethiopia $12,000 eone 00 Kenya $14,600 Sri Lanka $9,000 Indonesia $27,050 Uganda $9,000 DR Congo $36,300 Mozambique $18,000 TEXAS TOTAL $268,950 INTERNATIONAL TOTAL $381,050 TOTAL $650,000 Bulletin insert available on order form. texas baptist hunger offering 7

TEXAS BAPTIST CHURCHES PARTNER TO PROVIDE WATER FOR STRUGGLING LIBERIAN COMMUNITY By Analiz Schremmer Not everyone has easy access to one of the most basic resources water.

8 TEXAS BAPTIST CHURCHES PARTNER TO PROVIDE WATER FOR STRUGGLING LIBERIAN COMMUNITY By Analiz Schremmer Not everyone has easy access to one of the most basic resources water. About 25,000 people in Brewerville, Liberia have to walk five to 10 miles a day to get drinking water. Sometimes, the water isn t even clean. Tom Howe, pastor of Birdville Baptist Church, in Fort Worth, learned the need at the Lott Carey Mission School (LCM) through the donations his church made to the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering because LCM is one of the recipients. The church was moved by the need in Liberia, and decided to give to the LCM water tower on top of their Texas Baptist Hunger Offering donation. On March 26, Birdville Baptist partnered with a neighboring church, Haltom Road Baptist Church, to host a fundraising walkathon in Birdville Stadium with about 150 people in attendance. Birdville Baptist also hosted two volleyball tournaments and took offerings to help with fundraising. Civil wars beat up the infrastructure in Liberia, Howe said. They would go in and maim everyone there, or kill off the adults. This mission was started to care for orphans. But then it started getting a lot of amputees or indigent people. They wouldn t say no to anybody in need, so it grew from an orphanage to a school and began offering job training--how to get a job without a hand or a foot. All of these people benefiting from the mission suffer from a lack of access to clean water, making them more susceptible to sickness and to the possibility of an outbreak, like the devastation caused by the Ebola crisis The repair/renovation of the water tower on the campus will hopefully ensure a constant supply of clean, purified water which will help cut back on the water-born diseases and skin rashes currently prevalent within the LCM community tremendously, says the LCM Water Tower Project website. It will also help improve sanitary conditions in their school and communities. The final collection goal is for about $56,000, Howe said. As of last weekend [when we had the walkathon] we made it to $37,200. Our king in heaven, Jesus, is appraising how we treat others, Howe said during his sermon before the walkathon. He is watching us. God is going to say, I watched how you treated others, especially the lonely, the hungry, the vulnerable. This is our opportunity to do exactly what Jesus is asking us to do: Take care of somebody in need. Kris Drees, pastor of Haltom Road Baptist Church, said the need for clean water was something that resonated with his congregation. One of our members is an engineer for the waste disposal here in town, so clean water is something that people in our church can get behind, he said. We also have quite a few members who are involved with walking fundraisers and we didn t have any missions or events so we thought this would be a good one for that. Birdville Baptist Church and Haltom Road Baptist Church raised a total of $29,575. Combined with gifts from the Hunger Offering and the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation, Texas Baptists raised $45,575 for the water tower. Bulletin insert available on order form. 8 texas baptist hunger offering

9 With a special donation on Mother s Day, May 13, DONATE ONLINE AT HUNGEROFFERING.ORG Bulletin insert available on order form.

10 IS HUNGER SUNDAY Take an offering for hunger on these 5th Sundays in ONLINE hungeroffering.org WRITE A CHECK payable to your church designated for: Texas Baptist Hunger Offering MAIL A CHECK payable to: Texas Baptist Hunger Offering 7557 Rambler Rd., Suite 1100 Dallas, TX Rambler Rd., Suite 1100 Dallas, TX hungeroffering.org Contact: Ali Corona

11 ORDER FORM ITEM DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE COST QUANTITY Poster 11 x 17 Poster: Bless This Meal* one side/ on other. & Bulletin Inserts/ Hand-out Resources 5.5 x 8.5 Biblical Emphasis: Bless This Meal* Map of Ministries Receiving Funds plus Inspirational Stories* How 25 Chickens Transformed A Family* Water For Struggling Liberian Community* Mother s Day Hunger Emphasis* Texas Hunger Banks Texas-shaped, clear plastic, reusable. $2 each + shipping Offering Envelopes Not for Mailing. Hunger Offering x 5.5 Mother s Day x 5.5 Curriculum Children s Hunger Curriculum** Youth Group Mobilization Curriculum** Periodical THEREFORE: Hunger and Poverty* Video Resources Your Name Hunger Projects & Mother s Day (Download at hungeroffering.org/resources/promotions.) *DO NOT PRE-PAY. You will be mailed an invoice. Church Street Address (No P.O. Box, please) City/State/Zip Contact Phone WAYS TO ORDER: Call Fax baptistway@texasbaptists.org Online: texasbaptists.org/hungeroffering (Click on Resources) Mail form to: Texas Baptists/Order Process 7557 Rambler Rd., Suite 1200 Dallas, TX * Also downloadable at hungeroffering.org/resources/promotions ** Also downloadable at hungeroffering.org/resources/curriculum

12 What a wonderful privilege it is to join Jesus in serving people through the Hunger Offering! Giving to the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering has helped our church be mindful of the physical needs that exist right here in our own great state. In James 2, we re challenged to put our faith to work, doing far more than offering kind words. Put your faith into action and feed people who are hungry! Dr. Darin Wood, Pastor First Baptist Church, Midland Texas Baptists Christian Life Commission 7557 Rambler Rd., Ste 1200 Dallas, TX 75231

YOU WORLD YOUR CHURCH. in the. with.

YOU WORLD YOUR CHURCH. in the. with. Your Passport to YOU in the WORLD with YOUR CHURCH Date issued PLACE Name PHOTO HERE Your church/congregation Your Disciples region or UCC conference As a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)