Have we become complacent about hunger? And now with budget deficits, can the government continue to fund poverty initiatives?
Neil talks global hunger, politics and the faith community with former congressman Tony Hall, now executive director of the Alliance to End Hunger and author of Changing the Face of Hunger.
There are many people in the world that are starving, people that don’t know where there next meal is going to come from but yet this issue does not garner much attention from faith communities.
While the situation certainly requires strong action, it also requires wisdom to avoid disrupting local food markets. Introducing agricultural developments, technology and micro-loans are other key element in combating hunger in the world.
Tony explains that hunger exists not only in third-world countries but also in the U.S., particularly in the working poor who end up running out of money for food near the end of the month after paying their bills.
“The bottom line is we need to have more of a political will, more of a spiritual will to end hunger. We know what to do but we don’t have enough leadership in the world and in our own country to come together to make it happen.”
Faith communities ought to be leading the charge on this issue. Tony discusses how working for social justice is a way he brought his faith into his work as a congressman.
“I began to notice how many verses in the Bible deal with the issue of poverty and sickness and hunger and orphans and widows.”
He has begun to realize that living out his faith is directly carried out by him working to end hunger.
“It’s very clear that God wants us involved with the poor, and that’s the way I could bring faith into my workplace.”
Neil and Tony also talk about Tony’s story and ways the church can get involved.
