What do a giant book, a meal of rice and beans, and new words to “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” have in common? They were all part of this year’s World Hunger campaign at Christ Community Church in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

What do a giant book, a meal of rice and beans, and new words to “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” have in common?  They were all part of this year’s World Hunger campaign at Christ Community Church in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

For thirty-four years, the first Sunday in November has been designated as “World Hunger Sunday” for congregations within the Christian Reformed Church.  Over the years, other churches outside the denomination have also joined in this tradition – spending a couple of weeks each year learning about global poverty and recommitting themselves to being part of the solution. 

World Renew supports them in this World Hunger campaign by providing free, educational resources each year. This year, Christ Community Church decided to take the campaign one step further.

“Suan Cronmiller and Dann Cox were retiring as deacons in our church,” said Lauris Fuller, a member of Christ Community Church and a long-time volunteer with World Renew.  “They felt led to pick up this year’s World Hunger Campaign and promote it strongly in our congregation. They invited a few people to partner with them and soon a team of ten came together with diverse giftings to really make this year’s campaign special.”

Over the course of three weeks, the church held several special Sunday services with related sermons, special guest speakers and dramas.  On the second Sunday, Ron and Lauris Fuller joined Pastor Chelsey Harmon at the pulpit.

“The second Sunday of the campaign was very meaningful for me as a preacher. We matched up stories of God at work in Scripture with Go at work today through World Renew,” said Harmon.  “The Fullers didn’t just share from the work that they personally did, but told the larger story of God bringing hope.”

The church also built a giant replica of World Renew’s World Hunger devotional book to display at the front of the church, and hosted a community meal of rice and beans. During the meal, people were encouraged to discuss global poverty by using a series of conversation-starter questions.

“When you give the gift of God abiding, God also abides with you.”

“Let us love others by meeting their physical needs so that they can feel the love of God, so that they can know that God abides in this world,” said Harmon during one week’s sermon as she explained that the simple act of seeing a brother or sister in need and laying aside a part of yourself to respond to that need was a way for others to experience God’s love.

“When you give the gift of God abiding, God also abides with you.”

To help families keep the World Hunger message in front of them during the week, the congregation distributed World Renew’s iconic, orange Peter Fish banks.  They also provided some kid-friendly suggestions for daily family activities and new lyrics to a few common children’s songs that families could sing. During their Sunday School class time, children used World Renew’s annual gift catalog to go “shopping” for items that they could give to someone in need.

“This was a time of reflection and encouragement and a time of prayerfully coming together to respond to the world’s needs,” said Fuller.

Several hundred churches across the United States and Canada participated in World Hunger Sunday on November 2, 2013.  World Renew is grateful for their prayers and support.  To learn more or to host a World Hunger Sunday at another time of year, please visit worldrenew.net/worldhunger.