WHEREAS, Ministry to those in need is a God-given responsibility for all of God’s people (Matthew 25:34-40); and
WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund is the only hunger ministry known to utilize 100 percent of all donations for hunger needs; and
WHEREAS, In the Old Testament, an important method God utilized to provide for the needs of the hungry was agricultural gleaning, a means whereby one relinquished a portion of his abundance for the benefit of the poor (Leviticus 19:9-10); and
WHEREAS, In the New Testament we are repeatedly warned against greed and covetousness (Luke 12:13-19; Romans 7:7) and are regularly encouraged to practice generosity for the sake of the poor (Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 9:6-13; Ephesians 4:28); and
WHEREAS, Giving for the poor out of our abundance can be seen as a contemporary application, in a largely non-agrarian culture, of the ancient practice of gleaning; and
WHEREAS, Numerous methods to assist in the practice of gleaning are facilitated through resources provided by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; and
WHEREAS, Active support of the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund through gleaning has resulted in increased support for missions and other church special emphases; and
WHEREAS, The Bible warns against turning a deaf ear to those in need (Proverbs 21:13); and
WHEREAS, If every Southern Baptist adopted the practice of giving a mere $1 per month to the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund, hunger gifts would multiply eighteen fold; and
WHEREAS, Southern Baptist hunger and relief ministries touched over 23 million lives in the United States, U.S. territories, and over fifty other countries in 2000, opening countless doors for sharing the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 12-13, 2001, encourage all Southern Baptists to support systematically the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission to continue to promote avenues for giving and to produce materials that encourage the practice of gleaning; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we encourage Southern Baptists to practice the discipline of gleaning on a regular basis with special emphasis being given on World Hunger Sunday, the second Sunday of October each year.