ATLANTA – Together for Hope, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s rural poverty initiative, brought its perspectives on rural poverty to Bread for the World’s annual Gathering event June 9-12 in Washington, D.C.
As advocates and ministers among the rural poor in 20 of the poorest counties in the United States, Together for Hope leaders contributed knowledge and experience to reduce poverty among the nation’s rural poor.
In a breakout session called "Urban-Rural Connection: Cultivating a Heart for Hungry People," three TFH leaders were key panelists – Frances Ford, who directs Sowing Seeds of Hope in Perry County, Ala.; Chris Thompson, former facilitator for TFH work in South Dakota; and TFH specialist Jeremy Lewis.
"We represented both the diversity of poverty-ridden counties and the fact that rural areas have a higher proportion of persons living in unrelenting poverty," said TFH manager Tom Prevost, who was a panelist in the "Moving Toward Productive Volunteerism in Ending Hunger" workshop.
The four-day Gathering event culminated in Bread for the World’s annual Lobby Day at the U.S. Capitol, where hundreds of participants urged congressional leaders to support the Farm Bill. The bill could mean more jobs in poor counties, assistance for small and mid-sized farming businesses, and less hunger and better nutrition for children, Prevost said.
Among those who met with congressional leaders or staff was Eric Bebber, one of CBF’s Global Missions field personnel serving in Washington, D.C.
"I’ve been a part of faith community my whole life, but using the political process to work for justice was a new experience for me," said Bebber, who helped plan one of the event’s worship services.
"Perhaps [these visits were] a modest reminder that big business and major donors are not the only ones watching, but that people of faith care, act and vote," Prevost said. "It demonstrated to policymakers that there are persons who are watching and active on behalf of the disenfranchised in their respective states and districts."
Held in conjunction with the Gathering event, the second Interfaith Convocation on Hunger brought nearly 1,000 people to the Washington National Cathedral June 11. CBF executive coordinator Daniel Vestal was among the religious leaders gathered for prayer, music and inspiration.
"A broad range of leaders within the religious community covenanted together to make the elimination of poverty and hunger a top priority in our churches and in civil society," Vestal said. "We have theological and political differences, but this is a place where we can agree and work together."
Vestal said the event provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships and build networks with other Christians advocating for social justice.
"I especially appreciated the time we had with other Baptists, particularly American Baptists, in dialogue and conversation around the challenges facing all of us in mobilizing our congregations for action," said Vestal, who co-led a luncheon dialogue with CBF Global Missions coordinator Rob Nash and American Baptist Churches USA leaders – general secretary Roy Medley and International Ministries executive director Reid Trulson.
ABCUSA and the Fellowship will worship together June 29 during both the organizations’ meetings. Among the partnership work to be celebrated is work among the poor.
Bread for the World, a Fellowship partner organization, has included TFH work in its past two editions of the annual Hunger Report, recognizing TFH’s community development work in rural U.S. counties. Bread for the World has encouraged many Fellowship Baptists to participate in its annual Offering of Letters campaign. The letter-writing campaign encourages congressional representatives to consider laws that would help poor and hungry people around the world.
"Bread for the World is a valued partner and is helping CBF learn how we can be more fully engaged in eliminating poverty and hunger in the world," Vestal said.
To read more about the Farm Bill’s potential to reduce poverty, visit www.bread.org/learn/background-papers/2007/farm-bill.html. To learn more about Together for Hope, visit www.ruralpoverty.net.
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.