Ukrainian Population Displaced by War, Global Hunger Sunday & Content and Community

As the sixth month anniversary of the war in Ukraine passes, one religious leader hopes people won’t forget the humanitarian need in the country.

Send Relief President Bryant Wright says, “The need is still immense.” Wright says nearly one-third of the Ukrainian population has been displaced by the war.

Wright is fearful that compassion fatigue will set in as the war continues.

So far, people have given more than $12 million to help meet the needs of Ukrainians through Send Relief.
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On Sunday, Aug. 28, Southern Baptists will recognize Global Hunger Sunday, and many churches will collect an offering that supports Global Hunger Relief.

In 2021, groups associated with hunger relief estimated that 2.3 billion people faced moderate to severe challenges to obtaining enough food to eat. The total population facing severe insecurity climbed to an estimated 924 million.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the hunger problem in impoverished areas. Of the top 15 nations identified by the Global Hunger Index of 2021 most affected by hunger and malnutrition, 10 are on the African continent.

According to a news report, Ukraine and Russia together account for a third of the world’s wheat and barley exports while Russia and Belarus are numbers 2 and 3 on the world’s list of producers of a key ingredient for fertilizer.

Conflict, displacement and global destabilization have led the malnourished population to grow for the sixth consecutive year.
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Good News for Today is made possible through our friends at The Voice of the Martyrs, a nonprofit organization that serves persecuted Christians around the world. Founded in 1967 by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, VOM is dedicated to inspiring believers to deepen their commitment to Christ and to fulfill His Great Commission — no matter the cost. Find out more and sign up for their free monthly magazine at vom.org/goodnews.
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In a First Person on Baptist Press, Jeff Iorg wonders why are churches trying to replicate these events like concerts or other entertainment events?

Iorg is the president of Gateway Seminary, just outside of Los Angeles. He says church need to learn the discipline of doing what only we can do and doing it well.

He points to content and community as the things church do well.

The content he has in mind is the Gospel. The hope of peace with God through the forgiveness and mercy of Jesus Christ.

The community is relationship with other believers as we share our lives together through the local church.

He writes, “Our community provides need-meeting, support-giving, human connections facilitated by and available to every person who participates in a local church.”

Read the full piece at Baptist Press.