The Good News is Bread
By John Woodall
When people were hungry, Jesus didn’ t say,“ Now is that political, or social?” He said,“ I feed you.” Because the good news to a hungry person is bread.
— Bishop Desmond Tutu
It is estimated that one billion people will go to bed hungry tonight; two hundred million of them will be children. It is a staggering statistic any way we choose to look at it. Hunger continues to be a major problem for our world community and certainly is a matter of concern for those who choose to be followers of Jesus. Here at Westwood UMC we’ ve had a commitment to make a difference in projects both financial and“ hands-on.” Our Mission Team has adopted the focus“ Until All Are Fed” for the program year and they have provided a variety of ways for people to get involved.
Our Food Bag Ministry is simple and straightforward. Interested participants are asked to fill a bag( handy, re-useable ones are available) with non-perishable food items as often as possible. Food bins are in the church narthex to receive the donations. The food is then shared with Loaves and Fishes, a project of the West District of the United Methodist Church of which we are a part. Loaves and Fishes serves as a distribution center for a number of food pantries and feeding programs providing much-needed assistance.
A dedicated group of Saturday volunteers have provided monthly hot breakfasts for People Assisting The Homeless( P. A. T. H) at their Hollywood Transitional Housing Shelter. Sign-ups are taken every month.
New this past year has been participation in Meals with Hope at Kardia United Methodist Church in West Los Angeles. Meals with Hope provides a hot lunch two Saturdays a
8 month. WUMC partners with students at our UCLA Wesley Foundation to prepare and serve the meals.
A new program for Westwood UMC will be the organization and hosting of a Stop Hunger Now event on Saturday, August 3, 2013. Stop Hunger Now is an international hunger relief agency that has been fulfilling its commitment to end hunger for more than fifteen years. Since 1998, the organization has coordinated the distribution of food and other lifesaving aid to children and families in countries all over the world.
Stop Hunger Now created its meal-packaging program in 2005. The program perfected the assembly process that combines rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a flavoring mix including 21 essential vitamins and minerals into small meal packets. Each meal costs only 25 cents. The food stores easily, has a shelf-life of two years and transports quickly. Stop Hunger Now works with international partners that ship and distribute the meals in-country.
In cooperation with seven other United Methodist Churches and Ministries in our area, the goal will be to pack 50,000 meals that can be used for emergency relief locally and globally. Participants need no special skills other than being over four years of age! The Stop Hunger Now organization has devised an ingenious way to mass produce meals at a low cost( 25 cents each). We will provide both the labor and the funds to cover the costs of the meals. I recently challenged the Westwood congregation to provide 75 volunteers and $ 5000 toward the ultimate goal of 150 volunteers and $ 12,500. There will be several opportunities over the next month to sign up and donate. A special website has been created for the event and can be found at http:// events. stophungernow. org / UMCLA.
Working to eradicate hunger is something within the grasp of everyone who follows Jesus. One of the gifts that the Holy Spirit provides is inspiration that motivates everyday people to dream of ways to make a difference. All of these programs supported by Westwood UMC can and do make a difference. Mother Teresa of Calcutta was quoted as saying,“ I never look at the masses as my responsibility. I look at the individual. I can love only one person at a time. I can feed only one person at a time. Just one, one, one.” Each of us has the ability to make a difference – one person at a time.
John Woodall is Westwood’ s Senior Pastor. john @ westwoodumc. org
Photos: Paul Jeffrey, www. kairosphotos. com