It is not unusual for children to come forward to pray at the altar in the
West Main Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn.
So, when 4-year old Brooke Martin joined the throng of children on their knees
during the invitation at the end of one church service in the spring of 2001,
few people probably thought anything about it.
Steven Nelson
SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
It is not unusual for children to come forward to pray at the altar in the
West Main Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn.
So, when 4-year old Brooke Martin joined the throng of children on their knees
during the invitation at the end of one church service in the spring of 2001,
few people probably thought anything about it.
No doubt, most adults assumed Martin was following her older sister and her
friends to the front of the church.
They could not have been more wrong.
Indeed, after several weeks of the repeated occurrence, the church was told
why the little girl was coming to the front.
As it turned out, Brooke was coming to pray for hungry children she had seen
in an advertisement on television.
“I knew we had to do something,” pastor Phillip Lane says. “God
put a burden on her heart, and I believe he meant for us to do something about
it.”
Thus, on the first Sunday in June 2001, the pastor gave out little banks to
the children of the church, asking them to fill them up and turn in their money
on the first Sunday of each month. In addition, the church voted to match what
the children gave.
The first Sunday, about 25 children made their way to the front with the change
they had gathered, including a 2-year old carrying a quarter in each hand.
The children had raised $340.
Each month, the amount grew. After one year, the adults and children of the
church together had given more than $12,000 to the Southern Baptist World Hunger
Fund, enough to provide 80,000 meals to homeless children in Uganda, plus 7,272
meals in the United States.
By the end of the second year, the church had given more than $20,000.
However, that was only the beginning for a church that had little previous
involvement with the World Hunger Fund.
Articles about the churchs commitment to hunger ministry sparked interest
from childrens groups in other parts of the country. Video clips chronicling
the story were shown on local television, resulting in one family sending in
a $5,000 contribution.
A businessman from another Tennessee town saw the story and began supporting
the World Hunger Fund regularly. Then, he says he sensed that God wanted him
to donate a large portion of the proceeds from the sale of his business to the
fund. So far, he has given more than $60,000.
But it is not just the hunger fund that has benefited in the last years.
Lane says giving to all ministries of the church has increased since Martin
began praying. General budget and mission offerings have seen substantial increases,
he says.
People of the church are responding in other ways as well. Several members
have received disaster relief training, the pastor has gone on his first mission
trip and greater outreach is taking place in the community.
Meanwhile, Martin, now 6 years old, continues to pray for those hungry children
in need – as do many others across the Southern Baptist Convention.
And the church continues to support the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund.
The fund is the only hunger ministry known to use 100 percent of all donations
for hunger ministry with nothing taken out for administration or promotion.
In 2002, hunger monies helped fund more than 220 projects in 62 different countries
and provided 3.5 million meals in the United States. Within just the United
States alone, more than 17,500 professions of faith were recorded directly related
to these efforts.
Still, needs remain – needs that only can be met with increased commitment
and gifts.
And it does not take much to make a difference. Indeed, if every Southern Baptist
gave just $1 per month, hunger gifts would multiply 24-fold.
However, for the last three years, overall hunger gifts have declined, even
as needs have increased. A number of factors have come into play – the
sagging economy, wars and famine in Third World countries.
That makes this years world hunger emphasis even more important. World
Hunger Sunday is set for Oct. 12 – and Southern Baptists are being urged
to remember the plight of those in need at that time.
Contributions can be given through ones church, designated for the Southern
Baptist World Hunger Fund.
In addition, the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission has
prepared a range of resources churches can use in promoting the cause of hunger
ministry.
Those include BEAT Hunger retreat materials. BEAT stands for “Believers
Everywhere ATtack Hunger.” The emphasis urges churches to plan retreats
to raise awareness of hunger issues and focus on how church members can “attack”
needs in the community and world.
The effort was launched four years ago for young people. However, it has grown
to involve all church members now. This year, BEAT Hunger weekend has been set
for Oct. 10-12. Persons can gather information about the emphasis and register
for a weekend at www.beathungerweekend.com.
Also, for more information on resources and possible steps to combat hunger,
persons may call (888) 375-2461, visit www.worldhungerfund.com
or e-mail worldhunger@erlc.com. (BP)