There is Real Hunger in the World, it's Not Just a Game

I recently volunteered to do a monthly post on my blog in support of a Christian ministry that Tom and I have been supporting for many years - Gospel for Asia.  I first learned of Gospel for Asia, referred to as GFA, through my mother-in-law, who supported the ministry for many years, and my father-in-law continues that support since Mom's death in 2004.  Also, around this same time, someone at our church in St. Louis, gave me a copy of the book "Revolution in World Missions" written by GFA's founder K.P. Yohannan. 

My support to GFA began small, giving bi-monthly through the Combined Federal Campaign, which is the Federal government's program providing employees a way to give to charities of their choosing through automatic deductions from their paychecks.  Recently, we've become more involved, helping to sponsor two missionaries in India, and participating in GFA's annual Christmas catalog. 

Once a month I'm going to depart from the normal focus of my blog and do a Blog for Asia.  The theme will be different each month; this month's theme is hunger.  I won't always be so long winded with the introductions but since this is my first GFA blog I wanted to give some additional background. 

Last night I finished reading The Hunger Games.  I've been living in Germany since September 2009, and honestly, just learned of the books about a month ago.  I'm guessing that most of you back in the States have at least heard of the book, which is the first of a trilogy.  The books are set in a country called Panem, which sits in the remains of what was once the United States of America.  After several people told me how good the books were I figured I'd better check them out.  I plan to start reading book two - Catching Fire - and now have plans to go see the movie with some of my co-workers at the end of the month. 

So, very soon, millions of American will sit in darkened theaters watching this fictitious book come to life on the big screen.  A story of a powerful, greedy Capitol that keeps the twelve districts under its control, requiring annual tributes/sacrifices be made in what is for them entertainment.

As Americans, we are extremely blessed, and I can tell you that I have never known hunger.  But it is real, VERY real.  You probably heard of the recent drought in the Horn of Africa, which impacted more than 13 million people and more than 4 million people in Somalia remain in need of humanitarian assistance.

I was thinking that maybe in the midst of enjoying the entertainment of a well-written book and what I'm sure will be a good movie, let us take some time to consider the real world and the millions of people who know and experience hunger on a daily basis. 

Here are some statistics from The Hunger Project and the UN's World Food Programme.

• 925 million people do not have enough to eat - that's more than the populations of the United States, Canada and the European Union combined.
• 98 percent of the world's under nourished people live in developing countries.
• Hunger is the worst in Asia and the Pacific - with 578 million people suffering from hunger.
• Two-thirds of the worlds hungry live in just seven countries: Bangladesh, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.
• Iron deficiency is the most prevalent form of malnutrition worldwide, affecting an estimated 2 billion people. 
• Iodine deficiency is the greatest single cause of mental retardation and brain damage, affecting 1.9 billion people worldwide.  It can be easily prevented by adding iodine to salt.    
• Malnutrition makes children more prone to illness and stunts physical and intellectual growth for a lifetime.
• Every five seconds, a child dies from hunger-related diseases
• In India, more than two million children die of hunger each year.

India's population is 1.2 billion and India is home to about 25 percent of the world's hungry poor.  Women and children are among the most vulnerable.  According to government of India figures, around 43 percent of children under the age of five years are malnourished.

The sheer magnitude of 1.2 billion people, 25 percent of whom are the hungry poor, is overwhelming and hard to comprehend.  What can I - what can one person do to make a difference in their lives?  Well, how about starting with just one life?  What can you do to make the difference in one person's life.

Gospel for Asia runs Bridge of Hope centers, where children receive a healthy meal daily, get periodic health check-ups, receive classes in reading and writing, and most importantly learn about the saving power of the Gospel and Jesus Christ's love for them.  GFA facilitates a child sponsorship program where you can select a boy or a girl to support and you'll also have the opportunity to exchange letters with the child, gaining insight into their lives and having the opportunity to encourage them.  

One of the things that I really appreciate about GFA is that 100 percent of sponsorship donations, whether you sponsor a missionary or a child through Bridge of Hope, goes to the field.  None of it is used to fund headquarters or other administrative programs.

Please consider where you might be able to save $28 a month - buying less coffee, bringing your lunch to work, limiting the nights you eat out - and put that money to work in a very tangible way in the life of one child.