In one week, several students and adults from our church will participate in the 30 Hour Famine. The Famine is an idea developed by World Vision to help students and adults think and act both globally and locally about a real crisis that exists–the global food crisis. Close to a billion people go to bed hungry and everyday 11,000 children die from hunger related causes.
We’re not ok with this.
We’re not ok with this because we believe that God isn’t ok with it either. We believe the Scriptures testify to tangible, real good news for the poor. For some, that is simply getting meals to sustain them everyday. So what we’re going to do is put ourselves in a posture where we begin to feel the basic beginnings of the hunger pangs that so many experience everyday. We’ll be going without food for 30 Hours.
As we’ve worked through the meaning of this weekend, the Scripture that has guided our planning is Isaiah 58:6-7: “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and to hide yourself from your own kin?” Our goal is to go beyond simple empathy and work during this weekend to bring hope to those who have little by sharing the resources we have. Locally we’ll be serving at the Seeds of Hope Food Pantry and putting together bottles of laundry soap for Food Finders. We’ll also be spending time in worship and reflecting on how we can serve God’s mission and the kingdom. We’re also raising money as a part of our global effort. For every $30.00 we raise we can feed a child for a month. Our goal is to raise $2160.00, which would feed 6 kids for an entire year.
There are several ways you can still be involved.
Pray: This will be a very stretching experience for many of our students. Pray that this is not an isolated event, but a time in which they are spurred on to living God’s mission.
Give: Again, every $30.00 will feed a child for a month. Donations can be left in the joy box in the church office or or in the offering plate. Checks can be written to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries with “30 Hour Famine” in the memo.
Donate: We’re collecting water bottles for our laundry soap project. The bottles can either be empty or we will also take full cases of water.
Stay after service on 2/19: We’ll be gathering together for a meal that will include Fox’s Pizza, a salad bar, and fountain beverages. We’re asking that you donate whatever you might spend going out to eat for Sunday Lunch to go directly to our Famine Funds.
Join in the fast: If you are interested in fasting along with us, please contact Pastor Matt for more information.
One of the most exciting times of the year is coming up for Students: Fall Retreat 2011. Our Fall Retreat this year will take place October 21-23, 2011 at Lake Placid Christian Conference Center in Hartford City, IN. The theme of this year’s Fall Retreat is (be)loved. We will take an intentional journey with our students through the stories of God calling people his “beloved” and seeing how God’s acts have shown him to be the definition of love. We’re also going to set a lot of time aside to have fun. We’ll be playing wacky games, getting messy, and most importantly enjoying the weekend away from the normal pattern of life.
