BreadFeed

U.S.-Africa Trade Bill Passes Congress

Fri, 26 Jun 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Bread for the World applauds the 10-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which passed yesterday in Congress.

Bread for the World Welcomes Papal Encyclical Connecting Hunger and Climate Change

Thu, 18 Jun 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Bread for the World welcomes Pope Francis’ encyclical on climate change and echoes his call for global leaders to take action. The encyclical is titled Laudato Si, or "Praised Be." It underscores the collective moral responsibility of the Catholic Church and all peoples to address climate change. It also draws a clear link between changing global weather patterns and hunger.

Faith Leaders Meet With Congressional Leaders on Poverty-Focused Programs

Wed, 17 Jun 2015 05:00:00 +0000

A diverse group of faith leaders from across the country is visiting Capitol Hill today to ask their congressional representatives to prioritize funding for global health, development assistance, humanitarian response, and peacebuilding-related programs in the federal government’s International Affairs budget. The faith leaders are also advocating for an end to sequestration cuts on successful humanitarian and development programs that invest in children and families around the world.

Join the "by faith" roll

Tue, 09 Jun 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews lists a number of men and women, young and old, who had faith in God. As we read their stories, certain traits of their walk of faith are noticeable. There is no doubt that the love of God they experienced in their lives moved them to acts of faith that demonstrated their complete dependence on a loving, caring, and righteous God. Faith taught them to wait on God's time for the answer to their prayers or the fulfillment of a promise. God's love gave them a different perspective of people, circumstances, and the world around them, and faith kept them from losing that perspective. Faith allowed them to stand firm and secure in God's provision. Faith moved them to believe that when we are on God's side, we can aim higher and toward what others may consider the impossible.

Bread for the World Activists Visit Capitol Hill to Advocate for Domestic and International Nutrition Programs

Tue, 09 Jun 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Today, more than 250 people will take part in Bread for the World’s 2015 Lobby Day. Bread activists will advocate for hungry children in the United States and around the world by urging Congress to support the Summer Meals Act of 2015 and the Global Food Security Act of 2015.

Bread for the World Applauds G-7’s Commitment to Lift 500 Million Out of Hunger,Urges Congress to Pass the Global Food Security Act

Tue, 09 Jun 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Bread for the World applauds the commitment of the world’s richest countries to lift 500 million people out of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, and urged Congress to demonstrate the United States’ pledge to this goal by passing the Global Food Security Act.

Climate Change Will Increase World Hunger

Thu, 04 Jun 2015 05:00:00 +0000

The world will not be able to end hunger and extreme poverty without confronting climate change and its threat to people who are poor and marginalized, according to a new analysis released today by Bread for the World. Changing climate patterns will result in more droughts, floods, and extreme weather events, making it even harder to grow and secure food.

Bread for the World to Convene Religious Leaders on Eve of Pope Francis’ Visit to U.S.

Fri, 29 May 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Bread for the World will gather more than 100 leaders of various faiths Sept. 21-22 in Washington, D.C., to reflect on Pope Francis’ teachings on hunger and poverty. They will join Catholic leaders in welcoming the pope to the United States and commit their faith communities to help make hunger and poverty a national priority.

Millennium Development Goals Help 200 Million People Out of Hunger

Wed, 27 May 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Two hundred million people around the world have escaped hunger due in large part to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the United Nations reported Wednesday.

Hunger Continues to Take a Toll on Health of Older Americans

Tue, 26 May 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Almost 5 million older Americans are food-insecure, and chronic heart disease and depression are just two of the health conditions that a lack of nutrition can exacerbate, according to a Bread for the World fact sheet released today. As more baby boomers enter their 60s, the number of food-insecure Americans will rise.

U.S.-Africa Trade Legislation Passes in Senate

Fri, 15 May 2015 05:00:00 +0000

The Senate last night passed the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which could potentially support small businesses and smallholder farmers in Africa, helping to alleviate hunger there by allowing exports to U.S. markets. The bill passed by a vote of 99 to 1.

https://youtube.com/devicesupport

YouTube Help — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 15:23:22 +0000

	https://youtube.com/devicesupport https://youtube.com/devicesupport http://m.youtube.com	From: YouTube Help Views: 33749260 0 ratings
	Time: 03:56	More in Howto & Style

Themes of change, love, and community

Tue, 24 Mar 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Liturgically, the coming weeks are a roller coaster of tone and emotion. We end the inwardly focused Lenten season and move to the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We spend a quiet Maundy Thursday night at an intimate dinner, leading to the disciples' disappointing betrayal and the brutal and tragic death of Jesus on the cross on Good Friday. Finally, however, we move to the mysterious and joyful Easter resurrection.

Lent and the Mind of Christ

Fri, 27 Feb 2015 06:00:00 +0000

In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul exhorts them to “let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). Lent this year is an opportunity to reflect on the things that matter dearly to the heart of Christ. What are the self-interests and attitudes that we can sacrifice in order to be incarnate witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus? How can we “bring good news to the poor…proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19)? In Isaiah 61, the context of Jesus reading the scroll at the synagogue, we find that in doing these things we will have an “everlasting joy.” What an awesome promise!

Be a faithful steward of God's grace

Tue, 20 Jan 2015 06:00:00 +0000

1 Peter 4:10 reads: "Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received." What awesome advice from the apostle Peter! In this letter, he shares with his readers words of wisdom concerning their Christian witness to be good stewards of the manifold grace of God. The grace of God is manifested through the many gifts bestowed to us by God. Each and every one of God's children has been given talents, abilities, and gifts to share the full Gospel with love, compassion, mercy, and justice. The apostle encourages us to serve one another with a commitment to always being prepared to defend the faith, to have a serious life of prayer, and to love one another with a "fervent" love.

Bread for Life: The verdict and the vision

Mon, 29 Dec 2014 06:00:00 +0000

While it is true that public policies at the federal, state, and local levels have reformed some unjust laws, today’s protests and public prayers make it clear that these past victories are only the start of true reform.

Counting Our Days Wisely

Tue, 23 Dec 2014 06:00:00 +0000

So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart (Psalm 90:12). In our modern day, time is a precious commodity. In athletic competitions, milliseconds can be the difference between a gold, silver, or bronze medal. Endorsements and contracts worth millions hinge on those fractions of seconds.

No One Should Be Hungry During the Christmas Season

Sun, 21 Dec 2014 06:00:00 +0000

The WFP has been providing food assistance for 1.85 million Syrian refugees living in the host countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt.

Shutdown averted but does new budget protect the poor?

Fri, 12 Dec 2014 06:00:00 +0000

The $1.1 trillion federal spending bill approved by the House of Representatives Dec. 11 and pending in the Senate avoided a repeat of last year's government shutdown and largely keeps in place social services spending, especially programs benefiting low-income families.

CRS, nonprofits beat back clause in bill that could have cut food aid

Thu, 11 Dec 2014 06:00:00 +0000

Washington -- Catholic Relief Services and a host of other nonprofit agencies that distribute food aid overseas were successful in getting lawmakers to purge a provision in a bill that could have cut the amount of food aid they would be able to distribute in the future.

Senate bill may limit transparency, effectiveness in transporting US-sourced food aid

Fri, 05 Dec 2014 06:00:00 +0000

Fifty percent of all U.S.-sourced food aid must be transported on U.S.-flagged commercial vessels, according to the 1954 Cargo Preference Act, a law designed to help protect the U.S. cargo business against cheaper, international shipping companies.

Group Claims Gender Equality Will End Hunger, Poverty

Sat, 29 Nov 2014 06:00:00 +0000

A Christian aid group says problems like hunger, malnutrition and poverty cannot be solved until and unless women are treated as well as men. The group Bread for the World released a report on hunger this week. It says the number and percentage of hungry people worldwide is dropping. But it says the drop could be greater if governments and societies worked to make sure women had rights and power equal to those that men have.

Empowering women can lead to solutions for hunger, poverty, report says

Tue, 25 Nov 2014 06:00:00 +0000

Washington -- In the fight against worldwide hunger and poverty, a new report found that when women are empowered, everyone wins.

Show the world the Kingdom of God

Fri, 21 Nov 2014 06:00:00 +0000

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. — Isaiah 9:6-7 This is a glorious passage with a glorious promise. There will be a great, perfect government of peace, justice, and righteousness. It will be like that because the Prince of Peace, our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and Everlasting Father will be in charge. No earthly government can accomplish that.

House Agriculture Chief Plans ‘Thoughtful’ Look at Food Stamps

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 06:00:00 +0000

Rep. Mike Conaway (R., Texas), the newly appointed chair of the House Agriculture Committee, is pledging to undertake a “thoughtful” review of food stamps.

Biden Urges Groups to Lobby Congress for $6.2 Billion in Ebola Funds

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 06:00:00 +0000

Vice President Joe Biden urged lawmakers on Thursday to take up the administration’s request for more than $6 billion in emergency aid to deal with the worldwide Ebola outbreak.

An unparalleled opportunity to improve the health of the most vulnerable. Will we take it?

Mon, 03 Nov 2014 06:00:00 +0000

The world stands at a historic juncture of achievement, loss and opportunity. At the dawn of the millennium, global leaders made an ambitious promise to meet the needs of the poor within 15 years. With the finish line of these Millennium Development Goals now in sight, we should celebrate that every day, 17,000 fewer children die of preventable causes, that more than 2 billion people have gained access to safe drinking.

Seeking leaders for justice

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 05:00:00 +0000

We are at a unique moment in history that makes ending hunger possible by 2030. In order to do this, however, the U.S. government must do its part to lead here and around the world in the work of making hunger history. Bread for the World has a plan to do our part to make this a reality. We must win a series of advocacy victories, urge our government to take the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals seriously, and, of course, elect officials who will make ending hunger a priority by 2017. Our texts make clear this month that now is the time for justice and that justice is impossible without good leaders.

Kingdom Values

Tue, 07 Oct 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Jesus said about his disciples: “They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world” (John 17:16). Since we are not of this world, our worldview and way of thinking cannot be like that of those who claim an earthly citizenship. We should comply with the values and virtues of the Kingdom of God. These call for us to love our neighbor as Jesus loved us, through acts of kindness, compassion, service, and making this a priority in preaching and living.

A just and loving social order

Tue, 26 Aug 2014 05:00:00 +0000

I have been part of several conversations in the last few days about how the news seems more troubling than usual. There is trouble in Ferguson, Mo., in Iraq and Syria, in Israel and Palestine, and Ukraine. There are unaccompanied refugee children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and floods, droughts, and earthquakes in the western parts of the United States. We are more aware of happenings around the world because of technology and the internet, but it seems that this only brings us closer to some aspect of injustice. And hunger is front and center. As Bread for the World seeks to end hunger by 2030, we will be working on a variety of issues through the lens of hunger because we are working for an end of hunger that is sustainable and just. The texts this month remind us that God is relentless in working for a just and loving social order. Each week offers us an opportunity to explore aspects of God’s righteousness, whether it is through stories of forgiveness and fair wages or even God’s call through the prophets for repentance.

Let the children come

Thu, 24 Jul 2014 05:00:00 +0000

For weeks, the news has been filled with stories of unnamed, faceless, unaccompanied children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in droves. Americans have greeted them with varied responses, from blocking buses to welcoming children into churches. Our texts this month offer insights into a faithful response to people fleeing danger and hunger in search of safety and security. We are reminded of God’s promise of abundance, God’s steadfastness, God’s miracles, and God’s call for us to be God’s justice-making hands in the world.

Mothers Fight Malnutrition With Education

Wed, 26 Jun 2013 05:00:00 +0000

A group of Peruvian mothers have been trained in early childhood stimulation, leadership, and nutrition. Raissa Vargas is doing what she can to improve life for her daughter.

Myama Against the Odds

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 05:00:00 +0000

When Africa's worst cholera epidemic in 15 years struck Sierra Leone, mothers and young children in Mabella slum found themselves in a breeding ground for the disease.

A Hunger for Advocacy

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Tara Marks sits on the edge of her chair. She looks her senator’s aide straight in the eye and nicely, but firmly, asks him to consider the needs of low-income people.

Calling for Justice

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000

The kitchen of El Milagro Lutheran Church is the nerve center of this busy Minneapolis congregation. A stream of people bustle in and out of the room—to chat, pour themselves a cup of coffee, or drop off food for the post-service lunch.

Heather's Story

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0000

A small desk with a laptop, books, and a chair sits in Heather's living room. Her two children and even her two dogs know not to touch anything on that desk. “That’s mommy’s desk,” says Heather's 5-year-old daughter, Naomi.

Making Cocoa

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 06:00:00 +0000

David Kpan’s cocoa farm is a 20-minute walk from his home, across skinny dirt paths and small streams that lie under a couple acres of lush trees.

The Sweet Taste of Cocoa

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 05:00:00 +0000

If you could use only two words to describe David Kpan’s approach to life, the words on his motorbike’s license plate would suffice: “Patience Pays.”

The Power of the Purse

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Forty women sit on wooden chairs in the hot sun, holding their purses as they wait for their turn to repay their loans.

The Road to a College Degree

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 05:00:00 +0000

“I hope that my story gives people the idea that they don’t absolutely have to be stuck,” says DeEtte Peck. “It is not easy to escape from poverty, but it can be done."

Cell Phones, Composting, and Emergency Feeding Centers

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 05:00:00 +0000

The people of Burkina Faso — a landlocked West African country just north of Ghana — are extremely vulnerable to hunger because of poverty and climate change.

Washington Update May 2009

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:18:06 +0000

No description available

Bread for the World :: Fresh Bread :: May 22, 2009

Fri, 22 May 2009 15:40:47 +0000

No description available

Bread for the World :: Have Faith. End Hunger | Fresh Bread: Washington Update for April 21

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:44:11 +0000

No description available

Bread for the World :: Have Faith. End Hunger | Fresh Bread: Washington Update for April 7

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:40:24 +0000

No description available

Fresh Bread: March 24, 2009

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:35:50 +0000

No description available

Bread for the World | Have Faith. End Hunger :: Update on Washington

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:22:18 +0000

No description available

Bread for the World | Have Faith. End Hunger :: Update on Washington

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:37:42 +0000

No description available

Fresh Bread February 2009

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:08:17 +0000

No description available

March 2014 e-Newsletter

Now that President Barack Obama has submitted his proposed FY 2015 budget, it is worth reviewing the annual budget process – and why it is such a crucial part of Bread’s advocacy work. This article has two web-only bonuses not included in the print edition: a timeline of the budget process and a list of what’s in the “basket” of poverty-focused development assistance (PFDA).

June 2014 e-Newsletter

The U.S. government has been making significant progress on the nutrition front in the fight against hunger in the last few months. Bread has been involved in these positive developments.

May 2015 e-Newsletter

The momentum toward ending global hunger and poverty accelerated recently as a major international development institution committed itself to this goal. More than 30 leaders of faith-based organizations, including Bread for the World, are partnering with the World Bank in a renewed commitment to ending extreme poverty by 2030. This work builds on progress that has already been made against poverty. Since 1990, the number of people living in extreme poverty (on $1.25 a day) has been halved to less than one billion.

July 2014 e-Newsletter

Bread for the World is gearing up to test its elections strategy for the mid-term congressional elections in November 2014. Bread’s strategy will be tested in the 10th District of Virginia, one of the prime battlegrounds in this year’s campaign. "Voting is a sacred obligation,” said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “Giving time and money to candidates who have demonstrated their commitment to reducing mass hunger and poverty is an integral part of good stewardship."

January 2014 e-Newsletter

The devastation wrought by major international disasters in recent years, such as last year’s typhoon in the Philippines, 2010’s massive earthquake in Haiti, and the ongoing crisis in Syria, shows how valuable U.S. food aid is in addressing humanitarian emergencies around the world. These crises also show that, despite the successes of U.S. food aid, reforms are needed to the programs that provide it. Reforming U.S. food aid is the focus of Bread for the World’s 2014 Offering of Letters.

October 2014 e-Newsletter

In September, the U.S. government released figures for both hunger and poverty for the nation. Annual figures look at the previous year, and statistics showed that for 2013, there was a slight decrease in both hunger and poverty. However, Bread believes that too many Americans are still living in these conditions.

June 2015 e-Newsletter

Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., hosted the Catholic-Evangelical Leadership Summit on Overcoming Poverty May 11 to 13. It was yet another way that the national conversation on poverty in the U.S. is gaining momentum and involving the highest echelons of power. President Barack Obama took part in the summit as a panelist on May 12. The event also demonstrates the increasing influence of the nation’s faith community in raising the issues of poverty and hunger and pushing federal decision makers to discuss them.

August 2014 e-Newsletter

Early this year, Congress finally agreed on a budget/appropriations package and passed the long-debated farm bill. Both of these major pieces of legislation included cuts to anti-poverty programs, but total cuts to federal anti-poverty programs since 2011 have come to less than three percent of what the House of Representatives has been seeking. Funding for poverty-focused international development assistance has actually increased over the last several years.

February 2015 e-Newsletter

Jeb, Hillary, Marco, Rand, and others: Bread for the World wants to know: As a presidential candidate, what would be your plan to end hunger? Bread is a member of the Circle of Protection, a coalition composed of more than 65 heads of denominations, relief and development agencies, and other Christian organizations. A group of 100 Christian leaders from the member institutions of the Circle of Protection, including Rev. David Beckmann, Bread’s president, is challenging the candidates who enter the race for president to appear on camera in a video stating how they propose to provide help and opportunity to hungry and poor people in the United States and abroad.

February 2014 e-Newsletter

As we set out on another year of advocacy, here is an overview of what you, our members, can expect in our work together. It will be a busy year of several campaigns and issue themes—some familiar, some new—running at various times and sometimes simultaneously.