 People in churches across Virginia are discovering and using their unique contributions to address hunger in their communities and beyond. Cindy, who has a passion for raising hunger awareness, developed “Spend Yourself” based on Isaiah 58: 9-11.
“Spend Yourself” began as Columbia Baptist Church’s call to put faith into action. Today it is a partnership of other agencies, churches, and individuals who are passionate about sharing God’s love for the world by sharing the gift that God so generously gave us: life. Through community projects, education and prayer, this ministry’s goal is to give bread for life while also sharing the Bread of Life.
 Shannon, whose passion is to provide fresh, organic food for her food pantry, leads the community garden team for her church in Southwest Virginia. Lydia led her church to plant a potato patch on donated land. Some churches are assisting their communities through soup kitchens and food pantries. Others are networking across the state to learn from one another and share resources to create a long term sustainable impact.
WMUV and Virginia Baptist Mission Board are joining together to provide resources and facilitate networks to tackle the hunger pandemic. Individuals, churches, associations and agencies are identifying issues related to hunger ministries, exploring ways for partnering to develop more relational, sustainable, life-changing ministries. How will you be a part of the next step?
Hunger is a huge issue and seems insurmountable on our own. Scripture tells us that when Jesus began his ministry and faced seemingly insurmountable problems, He withdrew to pray. Hunger is big but God is bigger!
Hunger Prayerwalk/ride:
Choose a day to walk or ride around your community, observing the needs and praying for those in need and those attempting to meet that need. Wouldn’t it be great if every one of the 1400 Virginia Baptist churches in Virginia had a team praying for their community at the same time?!
 Mobile Farmer’s Market: Grow or purchase fresh produce from a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farmer and deliver to families in public housing areas or to your food pantry. For more ideas check out ruralresources.net
Cooking, canning, catering: Use your church kitchen and offer cooking, canning, or catering classes to the community.
Container Gardening: Partner with schools or low income housing communities to teach children how to grow a container garden. For more information see www.ruralresources.net
 Tater Patch: Find a patch of land and grow potatoes to supplement your food pantry. Invite your food pantry clients to help in the garden!
Faith Community Garden: Involve your church and community in planting community garden beds for the purpose of teaching people to grow their own food to supplement the food pantry. Highlands Fellowship church serves as a model in Virginia: peacegardenhighlandsfellowship.blogspot.com. Anathoth Garden of Cedar Grove UMC in North Carolina involves at risk teens in their faith garden: anathothgarden.org
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 Ways to Engage
• Plant a garden and share the produce with a local food pantry, or community shelter. Include a Scripture verse with the food when you deliver it.
• Teach children (at church, in local schools, at a community center, in your neighborhood, at an ‘after school’ program) how to make and sustain a container garden. Help them to find ways to share their produce with others in need.
• Start a "bread ministry" where you visit an apartment complex, offer free bread and ask if there is anything they would like you to pray about.
• Skip your cup of coffee or soft drink for a week or month and contribute the cost to “Loaves and Fishes” at www.vbmb.org/glocal/ hunger-ministries or call 1.800.255.2428, ext. 7264.
• Gather with one or more people around a table that’s been set for supper, but without the food. Instead of eating, share reflections around the time of fasting.
• Pray and reflect on how small changes in your daily life can have an impact on hungry people around the world.
• Hunger Supper - Raise awareness in your church about the issue of hunger by hosting a dinner. See www.wmuv.org and click on Hunger for more information and ideas.
• Participate in the 30-hour famine through World Vision to raise money for hungry children ‘around the world.’ For ideas see 30hourfamine.org
Hunger Dialog:
Three Hours Can Make a Difference!
Why not host a Hunger Dialog in your community or association? A three-hour Dialog includes listening to how churches are addressing hunger, discussing the issues, and networking with others to make a bigger impact. As a host site, all you have to do is provide a meeting space with tables, a blank wall, and if you want, a little food. WMUV will take care of the rest by providing
materials and facilitating the conversation. What a simple, yet effective way to make a tremendous difference!
For more information on Hunger Initiatives, please contact Maria Lynn: mlynn@wmu-va.org or 804-915-5000 ext. 8301.
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