World Hunger Subcommittee

The World Hunger Subcommittee had both a busy and productive year in 2005. In addition to attending the spring meeting held at the historic Jenny Lind Chapel in Andover and the fall meeting in Dixon, members of the subcommittee presented programs at the Congregational Gathering in Malta and at the Synod Assembly at Augustana College. A highlight of the year was the attendance of both Joan Fumetti, a leader in the Foods Resource Bank and Kathryn Sime, the National Director of World Hunger programs for the ELCA at the fall meeting. In addition, members made personal contacts to the churches in the regions that they represent. 2005 also was a year of change in leadership for the committee as Gary Daniels stepped down from the position of chairman of the subcommittee and Deb Martin and Pastor Wayne Derber accepted the responsibility and will serve as co-chairmen.

Not only was the year busy for the members of the World Hunger subcommittee, it was productive as well. There was again a nice increase in giving by the churches in the Northern Illinois Synod through August 2005 and this follows a record-breaking year in 2004. A key goal of the subcommittee has been to obtain 100% participation in World Hunger programs by every church in the Northern Illinois Synod and great progress has been made in that regard. When the goal was set several years ago the participation level was around 60% and now is over 90%. One of the most exciting aspects of the World Hunger subcommittee has been the development of the Foods Resource Bank program. Not only has this led to an increase in giving, this farm related program has added a spark to many small rural congregations who now can greatly benefit the cause of world hunger by doing what many of their members do best, and that is farm.

The world is no less needy in 2006 and our church body saw with Hurricane Katrina that disaster and hunger can strike right in our country as well. The members are dedicated to the cause however and have been hearted by the response of Christians throughout the Northern Illinois Synod and are looking forward to providing even more support to the wonderful World Hunger programs provided by our national church.

Presented by: Kent Terry, Secretary