HourChallenge

I just received this article from The Advocate: A paper and portal serving Christian Reformed social activists…

Washington, DC, December 5, 2008 – Government statistics released today reveal that unemployment rates have reached the highest level in 15 years; while a record 31.6 million Americans are now receiving food stamp benefits, the highest number since the program was started in the 1960’s.

According to today’s figures by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate reached 6.7 percent in November, the highest level since October 1993. With 3.2 million more Americans unemployed than 12 months ago, the need for food assistance has risen. Last month saw the evaporation of 533,000 jobs, the biggest one-month loss since 1974.

Figures released earlier this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that food stamp beneficiaries increased by 17 percent. The food stamp program is now known as SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. “While 10.3 million Americans are unemployed, more than 31 million—one in every ten—Americans now receives food stamps,” said Dr. Jim McDonald, Vice President of Policy and Programs at Bread for the World. “In an economic recession, it is harder than ever for Americans to feed their families.”

Higher food prices are also causing families to turn to SNAP for food assistance. The cost of groceries rose by 7.5 percent over the past year. While an additional 2.1 million households now receive SNAP benefits than did 12 months ago, the value of those benefits will erode over the course of the year as food prices continue to rise.

“Congress should temporarily boost SNAP benefits as part of an economic stimulus package,” said Dr. McDonald. “Every additional dollar in SNAP benefits results in $1.73 in increased economic activity.”

The impact of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike accounts for significantly increased SNAP participation in Louisiana and Texas in September 2008. In addition to those, the states with the greatest growth in SNAP participation are Idaho, Florida, and Nevada. –Bread for the World, www.bread.org

Not for Sale – the campaign of students, entrepreneurs, artists, people of faith, athletes, law enforcement officers, politicians, social workers, skilled professionals, and all justice seekers, united to fight the global slave trade is coming to San Diego in January.

More to come on this soon. We’re planning a couple of the events…let us know if you’d like to help!

Good news for those of us who enjoy a coffee at Starbucks every now and again. The coffee giant will be doubling FT purchases in 2009 to 40 million pounds. This will make Starbucks the largest Fair Trade Certified coffee purchaser in the world.

Fair trade is not perfect, and we can go further, but it at least ensures that strict social and environmental criteria are met, guaranteeing a decent wage for small family farmers, ensuring safe working conditions, and protecting fragile environments.

Almost every page of the Bible speaks of God’s heart for the poor. His concern for the marginalised. His compassion for the oppressed. His call for justice. The Poverty and Justice Bible megaphones God’s voice as never before.

Using the clear Contemporary English Version (CEV) text, The Poverty and Justice Bible highlights more than 2,000 verses that spell out God’s attitude to poverty and justice. And at the core of this groundbreaking Bible are in-depth studies and practical suggestions on what we can do to tackle poverty and injustice in our world today.

You know God cares for the poor. Now, with The Poverty and Justice Bible, you can know how much. Until now this wonderful resource was only available in UK. Now you can pick one up at Renovare.org. siteClick here to check it out.

Lynne Hybels is calling for the church to respond to the crisis in Congo. Click hereto watch the video.

In Congo, where more than 5 million people have died in the past twelve years, the violence has again flared up in the past few months.

“More than 250,000 people have been forced to flee their homes due to heavy fighting….” said Hybels, “In some communities, 95% of women have been raped.”

Many are hungry, have seen their homes destroyed, lost all of their property or are in desperate need of medical care. Outbreaks of cholera are threatening the lives of thousands.

Please join with World Relief by helping to rush emergency food, water and other supplies to the most vulnerable.

The Associated Press reported that one woman said, “We’ve had nothing to eat for three days.” She’d been on the run from the advancing rebel army for five days, but was heading back to her village because she could not find food or shelter. “My only choice,” she said, “is to go home.”

If you have a sec, listen to the post election speech that was recently posted on Bread for the World’s website. It’s just over a minute long.

2008 Presidential Election: What's Next?

And, after that, if you agree with him, consider joining BFTW’s efforts by:

Hosting an Offering of Letters at your church or campus or with your friends in 2009. Learn more »

Ask your church to become a Bread for the World Covenant Church. Learn more »

Organize or join a Bread for the World chapter in your community or campus. Learn more »

Write a letter to the editor or post a blog entry about hunger. Learn more »

Hope to see some of you there!

THE ELECTIONS ARE OVER – SO THEN WHAT?
Tuesday, Nov. 11th 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Ice Cream social at 6:30 p.m.

SAN MARCOS LUTHERAN CHURCH
3419 GRAND AVE, 92069

Purpose of our ecumenical gathering:

+ Encourage newly elected leaders to continue the fight against poverty
+ Keep our Nation’s commitment to Millennium Development Goals
+ Learn how to partner with government, agencies and churches
+ Use our citizenship to “Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly.”
+ Listen, discuss, pray, share and be present to one another in the struggle

GUEST SPEAKER: DAVID GIST, California Regional Organizer for Bread for the World, Offices in Pasadena.

A BREAD for the WORLD EVENT
Thinking Critically, Living Faithfully To End Hunger

For more information call 760-471-8240 or 800-315-3239
email: severinelaine@aol.com or breadca@bread.org Youth are also invited.

The most important political office is that of private citizen.

On October 19th, 129 of us stood up to take action against poverty. The “Stand Up and Take Action 08” event finished with a total of 116,993,629 participants world wide!!

We’ve been working on the market for a few months now, sorry we’re just posting this now. We’d love to see you there.

Hmm, that’s a good question. I ask myself that same thing often. Did I just get to busy? Well, yes, that’s part of it. Did I loose interest? No, certainly not.

I haven’t been spending an hour a day, though, as you probably guessed. I had always planned to write a post explaining why I was slowing down. But, alas, too much time has passed and awkwardness set in. (Don’t you hate that?)

Am I sorry I started Hour Challenge? No. I was always planning to get back to it. The reality is that I started something new. And this something new has been taking A LOT of my time. Too much time if I’m honest with myself and with you all. I plan to talk about it. It also is awkward because it will seem to many to be antithetical to what I have been opposed to in many posts on this site.

Ok, I know, I’m being vague. I’ll get to it. My wife has encouraged me to pull the tail out from between my legs and begin posting again. For now, the activity will be modest. We’ve still been working on the cause so there are updates.

So, here goes again. Another round for those of you who are still interested.