Food Crisis | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Food Crisis

Hunger Isn't History
The world produces more food than ever. So why do nearly a billion people still not have enough to eat?
By Timothy C. Morgan and Isaac Phiri

Urban Orphans Learn to Farm
At the Lazarus Project, the list of prayer requests is long, but food comes first.

Map: Where to Find World Hunger

Hunger Strikes
Spike in food prices shifts attention to market access.

Famine Again?
Why some places suffer food shortages decade after decade.

On the Edge of Famine
Politics hinders aid to 11 million East Africans.

I Never Thought I'd See Anything Like that Again
A famine worse than that of 1984 threatens Ethiopia

Redeeming Sudan's Slaves
Americans are becoming instant abolitionists. But is the movement backfiring?

Famine Toll Exceeds 1 Million
More than a million people have died in North Korea during three years of floods and drought.

Editorial: North Korea's Hidden Famine
The poor and the weak should not have to starve due to the policies of their government.

Funding Shift For Free Food
A reorganization of how New York state funds hunger-relief groups has reshaped the region's food-delivery system for the poor, causing cutbacks in long-established programs - including Catholic Charities and other church groups - while helping other efforts expand. (The Wall Street Journal)
Food program shuts down
It's unclear what creditors and others to whom Angel Food Ministries owes money will be able to recover. (The News Journal)
Angel Food Ministries out of business
Angel Food Ministries is going out of business after 17 years of providing discounted groceries to needy families across the country, citing the economic downturn affecting many of the organization's customers as its downfall. (AP)
U.S. Preacher Visits N.Korea
Franklin Graham, who advocates resumption of food aid to North Korea, meets with Foreign Minister Pak Ui-Chun. (The Chosun Ilbo)
Opinion: Why We're Fasting
The decision was easy after I spoke with David Beckmann, a reverend who is this year’s World Food Prize laureate. (Mark Bittman, The New York Times)
Pastor Starves Himself to Raise Awareness of Hunger
He's vowed not to eat a thing and drink only water until he collects enough food to fill the pantries of McKinney-area food banks in time for the holidays. (NBC, Texas)
Comedian: End world hunger? Sell the Vatican
In a new profanity-laced monologue on YouTube in time for U.N. World Food Day, Silverman suggests that it's time for the pope to "move out of your house that is a city" and use the proceeds to feed the world's poor. (The Associated Press)
More than 1 billion going hungry, U.N. says
"It is unacceptable in the 21st century that almost one in six of the world's population is now going hungry." (CNN)
The Global Food Crisis: The End of Plenty
Only when prices rise do we take notice. And the consequences of our inattention are profound. (Joel K. Bourne, National Geographic)
As Indian Growth Soars, Child Hunger Persists
Even after India's decade of galloping economic growth, child malnutrition rates are worse here than in many sub-Saharan African countries, and they stand out as a paradox in a proud democracy. (The New York Times)

Raising Hunger Awareness

Programs nationwide that Christians use to raise hunger awareness in their congregations and schools.

The following is a selection of programs nationwide that Christians use to raise hunger awareness in their congregations and schools:

The Broken Bread Poverty Meal: A national event is scheduled for World Food Day, October 16. During this meal, a blend of corn-soy porridge is served to participants, who have fasted for one meal before the event. They view evocative story cards that detail the lives of poor children. This helps participants see the connections between aids, poverty, and hunger. See worldvision.org/aoa.nsf/aids/events_brokenbread08

Bread for the World Sunday: This event is held in the fall every year (October 19 this year), with a worship service centered on hunger-related themes. A special offering may be taken. Members may be asked to write letters to lawmakers to encourage legislation to fight global hunger. See bread.org

Crop Hunger Walk: Sponsored by Church World Service, Crop Walk is the grandfather of hunger awareness programs. Many of these walks are in October across the nation. The program marked its 60th anniversary in August. Over the years, sponsors have paid five million people to walk against hunger, raising tens of millions. A portion of the donations is used locally. See churchworldservice.org/crop

Forty Hour Fast: Sponsored by the Presbyterian Hunger Program, this church-based fasting and prayer event typically starts on a Thursday evening and concludes Sunday. Its current focus is on the global food crisis. See pcusa.org/foodcrisis

Thirty Hour Famine: Designed for use in youth ministries, the next national event is in late February 2009. Teens engage in special events and community service projects to raise funds to fight global hunger. See 30hourfamine.org

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