…until all are fed.

“This is my body, broken for you.” – Jesus

In 2009:
43.6 million people in the US were in poverty. That’s 14%. In the richest nation in the world.  15.5 million  children were in poverty. 

In 2008:
49.1 million people in the US lived in food insecure household (hunger was a daily threat for them).  Homes with children reported food insecure households at twice the rate of homes without children. (Statistics from: Feeding America).

“Let the little children come unto me.”  “I am the bread of life.” -Jesus

There is NO EXCUSE – NONE – for letting people go hungry in this world. 

A very good friend, Bryan Field McFarland is the Hunger Action Advocate for Salem Presbytery.  For most of this year he has been working on a very important music project: an album entitled, “…until all are fed.”

How could an album be “very important” in combating hunger?  Two key ways 1) it raises hunger awareness and 2) it raises money for the hungry. 

It is a powerful album.  Using a variety of musical styles, the album walks you through a journey of worship.  All the while, the powerful lyrics, Bryan’s commitment to doing something about hunger, his sincere sense of reverence and authenticity ride just below the surface of every song evoking not only an emotional response to the issue of hunger but also an awareness that inspires you to do something about it.

To quote a few songs from the album:
“Some possessed by their possessions, 
look for more to buy and keep; 
others long for simpler blessings: 
‘Let my hungry children eat.’”

“On the green, green grass they gathered long ago.
To hear what the Master said.
What they had they shared some fishes and some loaves.
And they served until all were fed.
Until all are fed we cry out.
Until all on earth have bread.
Like the One who loves us each & every one…
We serve until all are fed.”

“May we be bread for a hungry world.”

To quote from the Bible:
“If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.”
Isaiah 58: 10 NRSV 

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?’… And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'”
Matthew 25: 37, 40 NRSV 

“It is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there be a fair balance.” 
II Corinthians 8:13, 14 NRSV 

“How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses to help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.”
I John 3: 17,18 NRSV

A percentage of each purchase of “…until all are fed” goes directly to the Presbyterian Hunger Program.  I hope you will consider sharing this blog post with your friends, by clicking on of the share buttons bellow. I hope you will consider making a pledge.

Feed your soul.  Feed the hungry.