DIRECTOR'S BLOG

Dr. Sam Martin

‘But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.’ 1 John 3: 17 – 18

One day last week I was sitting enjoying a coffee and reading through a newspaper when I came to an article with the heading ‘We’re the lowest of the low.’ It described the situation of so many people in Haiti who are struggling to survive. The article stated that 60% of the people live on $2.00 US a day, or less, and half the country is malnourished.

The writer then shared the story of a 36 year old man who has been searching through waste in a dump since 1994 and he says ‘It is a hell on earth.’ However, he also said something that was and is deeply thought provoking and I quote: ‘Sometimes God is with me. I’ve found good stuff in the trash like ham, cheese, milk, rice, bread…”

My mind went back to the early days in Guatemala where we helped families living on the main City dump. But you know, it seems that as life has moved on, people have forgotten that hunger is still a real problem today, yes in 2018!

The World Hunger Education Service has a ‘Hunger Quiz’, why not take it and then at the end check your answers!

1. How many people are there in the world?

8 billion

7.6 billion

6 billion

2. What is the number of hungry people in the world?

1 billion

815 million

700 million

3. What percentage of the world's population is hungry?

5 percent of the world's population

10.7 percent percent of the world's population

25 percent of the world's population

In Proverbs 10- we read in the 3^rd verse “The LORD will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked” and the wonderful truth is this, “He invites us to participate in this with Him!We become His hand and feet!As we work with Him, He provides all we need and others are blessed.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?' "And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’Matthew 25:34-40 (NLT)

Oh, the answers are:

• 7.6 Billion
• 815 Million
• 10.7%