Florida Baptists called to follow Christ’s example, give to hungry

May 30, 2008

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—With 15 million Americans living in poverty, the plight of the hungry is no longer in a faraway land but at Florida’s backdoor. They are on street corners and in back alleys; they are neighbors and members of congregations.

The passage from Matthew 25 is familiar to most Christians. “For I was hungry and you gave me food.” Yet perhaps few Christians have explored the passage in its entirety to understand the significance of Christ’s words. The Son of Man was preparing for judgment and had separated the sheep on the right side from the goats on His left, giving the sheep permission to inherit the Kingdom. And judgment was based on this—meeting human needs through Christian faith.

Throughout His ministry on earth, Jesus often demonstrated His love and concern for children, widows, the crippled, the downtrodden, the poor, the homeless and the hungry. He exhorted His followers to model their lives after Him, caring and sharing with others.

Florida Baptists follow Christ’s example and exhortation when they give to the Florida Baptist Hunger Awareness Offering.

In 2007, Florida Baptists gave $324,391 to fight world hunger through the Hunger Offering. Twenty-five percent of that money remained in the state to help churches, associations and concerned Florida Baptists feed the hungry in their community.

Those funds enabled Parkview Baptist Church in Fort Pierce to start a new food pantry which ministered to 1,148 families with 3,922 family members in 2007.

“That means with the Lord’s help, we have impacted the lives of almost 4,000 people,” said Pastor Bob Barrett. “As part of the pantry ministry we pray with the people who come, presenting the good news of Jesus Christ to them. In doing that, the Lord had blessed us with leading 44 people to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.”

“Thank you, Florida Baptists for giving,” Pastor Barrett concluded.

Pastor Geraldo Armedariz in Okeechobee uses Florida hunger funds to purchase groceries for the needy in his community, such as Dulce Quesada and her two preschool children. After learning that her husband, who labors in a dairy farm, was jailed for a minor offense, Armedariz brought bags filled with groceries and vegetables to the family.

“We had nothing to eat and no money to buy food,” she said, “until the pastor came.”

Through Florida Baptist hunger gifts, Calvary Baptist Church in Winter Haven is throwing a lifeline out to the needy in their community, providing lunch each week day through local missions. Last year, the church fed 3,349 people.

“Supporting the hunger offering is vital,” said ministry worker David Berry. “We rely on individuals and the church to give so that we can continue to minister to the community.”

Florida Baptist hunger funds totaling $81,097 were distributed across the state and resulted in feeding 111,564 needy persons and 12,328 families. And from this ministry, 2,640 people made professions of faiths and 384 were baptized.

Florida Baptist also fight world hunger when they give to the offering.

The remaining 75 percent of Florida Baptists Hunger Offering gifts was divided between the International Mission Board, which received 60 percent to fight world hunger, and the North American Mission Board, which received 15 percent to fight hunger in the United States. In 2007, Florida Baptists gave $243,000 to support worldwide hunger ministries.

The Florida Baptist Hunger Offering seeks to fulfill the Master’s words, “when you did it unto one of these my brethren, you did it to Me.”

For more information about the offering or to order materials, please contact the Church and Community Ministries Department at 800-226-8584, ext. 3113.