I’m sure by now if you watch any news on television or internet, you’ve heard there is a devastating famine taking place in the area known as the “Horn of Africa”. Observers are calling this the worst famine in 60 years. What this means is about 12 million people are at risk of dying due to starvation if something is not done soon. By some estimates over 60,000 people have already died…mostly children. This number is almost half the population of my nearest big city, Florence, Kentucky.
I recently watched an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper and U2’s lead singer, Bono, where Bono acknowledged that drought is naturally occurring in the world, but famines are man-made. There is no reason in our globally aware world why so many have to suffer needlessly. He added that it is imperative for relief agencies to make sure the food actually gets to the people. The supplies are coming, but safety, security and clearance need to be given to the aid workers against the often hostile regimes or warlords to get food to the people who need it. As a father of four children, Bono expressed the pain he would undergo if, like so many of these African parents he had to choose which child was weakest to leave by the side of the road to die because the parent is too weak to carry them all to the refugee camp to get food.
I cannot imagine!
As our family has taken on David Platt’s Radical challenge of praying for a different country each day we sit down to do school, I’ve watched as my children’s eyes and hearts are being opened to the plight of the downtrodden around the world. I almost cried last week when Leah (8) while watching me play a game of Farkle (of all things!) commented that she wished I was winning REAL money while playing it. The total was around $6000 and I asked her what she would do with $6000 if she had it. Without hesitation she said, “I’d buy a DSi (not unusual for an 8 year old to say) and then give the rest to the kids in Africa.”
Oh, to have the faith of a child again!
Very early the morning of August 17th Holy Spirit woke me up to pray about a lot of things that were weighing on my mind. During the long conversation with Him, I believe He laid upon my heart a very lofty goal that ties together my desire to serve the deeply impoverished, serve single and widowed moms, involve our children in ministry, and do something…anything about this famine and to become the lion chaser that He created each of us to be. (This idea of courageously battling lions that come before us was planted in my heart by the amazing book In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day based on 2 Samuel 23:20) Holy Spirit grew the idea in my heart of borrowing from World Vision’s 30-hour famine to have our own 24-hour famine and raise funds to purchase food to pack with our local Kids Against Hunger organization in the Cincinnati area.
The plan? Saturday, September 10th, our family will begin fasting at 4 p.m. and continue until Sunday, the 11th when we’ll "Break the Fast" with anyone that would like to join us at 4 p.m.
What do we need you to do? Sponsor us in this endeavor and donate money. Yeah, I hate asking people for money, but this isn’t for us. 100% of all money donated will be given to Kids Against Hunger, with only one exception. If you donate via our blog through Paypal, Paypal does charge fees and that amount will be automatically deducted by them. It’s a convenience charge for being able to use credit/debit cards. When you donate, please specify on Paypal notes or on the memo line of your check “24-hour famine” or “Kids Against Hunger”. We do not solicit donations for Boundless Ministries, our ministry to single moms. It is entirely Holy Spirit led, so please designate if you are specifically giving toward this one-time event.
I said it was a lofty goal…but I don’t think it’s too much for our God to collect the $6000 that Leah wants to give to the “kids in Africa” (although no DSi this time!). Using Kids Against Hunger’s “Miracle Math” of 1 person + 2 hours + $120 = food for one child for a year, (if I’m calculating correctly) $6000 would feed 50! That translates into 18,250 meals for children in Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and Kenya!
Saturday, September 24th Kids Against Hunger is having an African Relief Day (not by coincidence I think!) for packing food. My prayer is that we’ll be there having already given them the funds that are raised through our very brief famine and witness first-hand God’s people coming together to make a difference in the lives of many struggling with long-term famine. In Summoned to Lead by Leonard Sweet, he writes, “We can no longer hide behind the excuse that only the gifted or the privileged can change the course of history. We live in a time when we are not bound by position or geography or circumstances. If you hear the summons--if you know your cause—nothing can stand in the way.”
We’re ready to chase a lion…in this case famine…come chase it with us. Please give today! Better yet, have your family join ours in participating in this 24-hour famine and packing food with Kids Against Hunger. You can contact me for more details at a.barthauer@gmail.com or 859-817-1536.
There is also a detailed 24-Hour Event Page on this blog and on Boundless Ministries Facebook page. To jump start ideas on how to approach people to sponsor you or to have a half-page flyer on hand to describe the event, see this link 24-hour famine half-page flyer
All praise, glory and honor to Him alone!
Angela Barthauer, Director
Boundless Ministries
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Mail cash or checks made out to me at:
Angela Barthauer2265 Flicker Dr, #139
Hebron, KY 41048
Or donate through the PayPal link on this site.
**A complete donors' list will appear on our monthly financials page on this site. All donors and donated amounts will be listed unless you specify your desire to have it remain anonymous**
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