Session 6 - A Letter to President Obama on Ending Child Hunger by 2015

The World As God Intends

Read, reflect, and then answer the questions at the end of the Scripture passages.

Mark 10: 13-16 (also Matthew 19:13-15 and Luke 18:15-17)

What do we learn from these passages about how God values children?

In all three Gospels, Jesus speaks of children: “…for it is to such as these” to whom the kingdom belongs. In many other passages, working toward the kingdom of God emphasizes the relationships with God, among people and in creation. What does hunger and poverty among children mean for people who work for the “Kingdom of God?” What needs to happen for children, or may already be happening, for right relationships to flourish within society and with God?

Deuteronomy 24: 17-22; James 1:27

People, communities and government leaders are constantly admonished throughout the Old and New Testaments to care for the widows, orphans and strangers/aliens (immigrants). These were the most vulnerable groups in those societies, and God makes it clear that we all have a responsibility to the most vulnerable. How do children in our society become vulnerable to hunger and poverty? If children are disregarded or not well cared for by society, what does that say about relationships within that society? How should we be admonishing ourselves and others, including our leaders, to care for the most vulnerable?

Analyze Current Reality

1. On newsprint, start a chart of three columns. In the left-hand column, list the various issues we’ve been covering in these sessions, which demonstrate the broken relationships in our society that lead to poverty (low wages, substandard schools, no grocery stores in communities of concentrated poverty, etc.). In the middle column, list ways that children are affected by each item, in the short term and over the long term. In the right-hand column, list examples you know of that demonstrate restored relation-
2. If you were to write to President Obama or members of Congress, giving them a list of things you think they should do to address the needs of children living in poverty and hunger in the United States, what would you include? Put this list on newsprint. When you have finished, compare your list to what Rev. James McDonald wrote to President Obama.

Reflection and Sharing on Restoring Relationship

We pray for the well-being of the children in our own lives. But how often do we think about the well-being of all children? What do we need to do to ensure that all children are well cared for?

Act

Based on your reflections, how might God be calling you individually or your group to act? Consider inspiring others with your story.

Consider inspiring others with your story. Bread for the World is collecting stories of what individuals and groups are doing to grow the movement to end hunger. Please visit www.bread.org/hungerreport and share the action(s) you took.