Our Youth are currently raising funds for this year’s 30 Hour Famine, which will take place on the evening of Wednesday, March 6th – the morning of Friday, March 8th. This year’s Famine will be quite a bit different than what we’ve done in the past. This year, instead of staying together and having the encouragement of one another, the Youth will be fasting for 30 hours on their own time – while at school, while at home, etc. In this way, they will experience hunger in the way that children across the world experience hunger – in the midst of everyday life. Needless to say, seeing others eat, being isolated in their fast, and having to deal with the ordinary demands of life will guarantee a difficult Famine for our teens. I ask for you to pray for them.
I also ask that you would contribute to this cause. Our teens are not going without food for 30 hours for fun or to be silly; but rather they are seeking, through their fast, to raise money to feed children who are starving to death. Through World Vision, our donations go a long way. ONE DOLLAR feeds a child for an entire day. The efforts of our Famine don’t just amount to a “food drop” either. World Vision uses these funds to establish ways for families to farm efficiently – with the goal of ending the problem of hunger. As the old saying goes, “give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.” I personally am committing to give at least $60.00 to this cause ($60.00 which will not be deducted from my tithe). I ask you to consider giving whatever it is that God puts on your heart. Whether that’s $60.00, or $30.00, or $10.00, whatever you can give will make a difference.
You can donate online at www.30hourfamine.org, click on donate and search for the “Hope Valley Baptist Church” famine group. You can pick a particular individual’s effort to support, or donate to our group as a whole. Also, many of our Youth have donation envelopes and are taking up “offline” donations, so if you’d like to donate in person you may feel free to do that as well – receipts are available. (Here is a direct link)
I appreciate our Youth and their commitment to doing the work of Christ. We are limited in what we can do during the school semester. I was recently reflecting back on this past summer and tears filled my eyes as I recalled how committed our Youth were to doing the work of the Kingdom – volunteering at Durham Rescue Mission, Urban Ministries of Durham, Spring Arbor Assisted Living Community, and going to the Deep Impact Mission-
Camp where they did some hard, hot work. Our teens worked in the Durham community two times every week, on top of the Mission Camp, VBS (training, music camp, and the event itself), and regular worship and Bible study. This 30 Hour Famine is one of the ways that we are seeking to continue Christ’s work while in school. We need your donations and prayers.
Thank you and may the Lord be with you!
In Christ,
Chase