Living like 1 billion others

This Thursday @ 6 p.m. we're going to have our first "Poverty Supper". Beans and rice, and nothing else, will be provided.

The idea behind this is manifold (sorry for the archaic word; it just popped into my head). First, we will be taking donations. We ask that those joining us will donate what they'd normally spend on a family meal. 100% of this will be given away to alleviate hunger. 50% will stay local and be given to organizations like Food for Thought and Cherry Street Mission. The other 50% will go global to organizations like Nazarene Disaster Relief and Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.

Second, we hope that by eating together each week a simple meal of beans and rice we will begin to identify more fully with those in our world in need. Over 1 billion people on this planet, including some in the U.S., subsist on the equivalent or less each day.

Finally, we hope that our own priorities will begin to shift away from the materialism which is so prevalent and insidious in the way it consumes our lives. As we identify with those who suffer around the world we hope to recognize how we can begin living simpler lives which can enable us to better help our brothers and sisters in need around the world. In this way we hope to help further the Kingdom of God here on earth even as it is in heaven.

We hope you'll join us.