THIS BLOG POST ORIGINALLY APPEARED ON BLOG.FH.ORG. WRITTEN BY DAVE CURTIS.
I honestly love when people ask this question. It either means that people have an intimate passion to make an impact in the lives of the poor in their own communities, OR it provides an opportunity for us to share about why we feel God has called us to love and serve the most vulnerable in really hard places around the world.
Aren’t There Poor Here?
For us at Food for the Hungry, it is NEVER a matter of overlooking the needs of those in our own communities and country. Our offices regularly partner with local charities. Our staff take [personal] time to serve those in poverty in our own backyard. We understand that people live in debilitating poverty here. Our heart breaks for the local poor just as much as it does for the global poor.
But 45 years ago, Food for the Hungry was founded for the purpose of physically and spiritually feeding the most vulnerable in the hardest places around the world. Today, that legacy is an important anchor for us. Staying disciplined to this calling is how we can be the best we can be at loving and serving the poor. Just like Jesus did. That’s the answer.
The World’s Most Vulnerable Poor
Food for the Hungry serves the most vulnerable around the world because we feel God has resourced us and created us to be a global poverty fighting force. For us, being obedient to the call God has placed upon us means staying focused on places like the [open plains of western Ethiopia], or the minefields of Cambodia, or the [mountains of Guatemala]. Our expertise is in partnering with poor communities that have little access to basic social systems, and problem solving with them to connect to resources and adopt ideas until they can sustainably thrive.
A college professor is uniquely and differently equipped to teach compared to a kindergarten teacher. Yes, they both teach. And both are essential for a complete education. But they are best stewarding their God-given talents and resources when they stay focused on their mission and specific talents!
Food for the Hungry exists to fight extreme poverty in the hardest places through meaningful and God-honoring relationships. For us, we do that in far way and hard to reach places around the world. We fully acknowledge that needs exist in our own backyard. And we support the amazing organizations and people who are specially called to be a good neighbour and fight poverty locally. Unfortunately, there is need everywhere around the world. Food for the Hungry focuses on the hard places abroad. That’s something we are VERY proud about!
GIVE WHERE NEEDED MOST
GIVE WHERE NEEDED MOST
