by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service
According to a June report of the United Nations' Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO), hunger is increasing. World
hunger is predicted to reach "a historic high" in 2009 with
more than 1.02 billion people experiencing hunger every day.
That's 100 million people more than 2008. The FAO attributes
the increase in hunger to soaring food prices and the global
economic downturn.
"Thirty-five years ago the world faced a similar challenge,
rising food prices and decreased income in poorer nations. In
response, Lutherans chose to birth an appeal for world hunger,"
said the Rev. Daniel Rift, director, Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) World Hunger Appeal. "Over that time
the percent of the world's population at risk by lack of food
has been cut in half, and the number of people with adequate
access to food has nearly doubled. That is the good news,"
he said. "The FAO's analysis is that there is enough food in
production to feed the world's population. That too is good
news. The challenge is that the economic crisis and the high
price of food have, as the FAO said, proved to be a devastating
combination for the world's most vulnerable populations."
Rift said the FAO report is a call to action for those who
care for people living in poverty. Lutherans "are well
positioned to respond to the call," he said. The ELCA World
Hunger Appeal is aimed at relief and support for development
that creates sustainable solutions to ending hunger. "Seed
banks, water projects, livestock sharing, small loans and
market assistance are hallmarks of our work," Rift said. He
suggested that congregations continue to respond by adding
some activity this year to examine the current state of the
world's food needs and to benefit ELCA World Hunger. "I
believe this is a matter of faithfulness. The church needs
to be present in bringing daily bread to the world, and the
world needs the church to be present in its time of food
crisis," he said.
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
