Jesus often met physical needs as he shared about the kingdom of God. As His disciples, we are to do likewise. Hunger is a growing, and sometimes invisible, need in our communities. Yet, it is also the most basic need. God can use your family, small group, and church to meet hunger needs in your community. As needs are met, opportunity is earned to share about Jesus – the Bread of Life!
Get Involved
Pray
As a result of receiving God’s generous love, believers should give of themselves to others. (1 John 3:16)
Thank God for His generous nature; ask Him to continue to cultivate that in you, your family and church.
Scripture teaches that one way we love God is by meeting the physical needs of others. (Matthew 25)
Ask God for the opportunity to honor Him by meeting the needs of the hungry in your community.
As believers live generously, the result is praise to God. (2 Corinthians 9:13)
Ask God for a harvest of praise unto Him as believers meet hunger needs in their communities.
Download the slides to share with your church and pray over hunger needs and ministry opportunity in your community.
In Your Community:
Consider these two hands-on projects to help alleviate local hunger. Students, children, small groups, and families could minister through these mission projects.
Collecting food for food banks
Collect canned goods, or volunteer, for the local food bank.
Feeding America has a map of food bank locations and contact information.
Proving weekend meal backpacks
Most public schools have students who receive subsidized lunches. Often, these students have insufficient nutrition over weekends and school breaks. Churches can connect with schools to offer a weekend backpack ministry that sends food home with students facing food insecurity.
Download this ministry guide to learn more about weekend meal backpacks for students.
In the SBCV:
As a convention churches can give cooperatively to fund statewide hunger ministries. Through the SBC of Virginia, church-based ministries around the state receive monetary assistance to purchase food for community relief. These outposts are in underserved areas with a disproportionately high percentage of the population living with food insecurity. Southern Baptist cooperative giving helps these families.
If you’d like to give to Hunger Funds through the SBC of Virginia, your church can send contributions to:
Attn: Hunger Funds
4956 Dominion Blvd
Glen Allen, VA 23060
A giving campaign for hunger funds could make for a great VBS missions offering!
Additional Resources:
Please report your church’s participation in this project below.
If you have additional questions, please call the SBC of Virginia office at (804) 270-1848.
