30 Hour Famine - 2012

Victory Rd. is hosting one of World Vision's 30-Hour Famine events April 27th and 28th.

In a nutshell, a 30 Hour Famine is a church, church youth group, or group of youth groups that gets together and fasts (nothing but water, Gatorade/Powerade, or juice) for 30 hours, with the goal of raising money to help feed hungry children around the world, through World Vision's ministry, which is able to feed/care for a child for around $1/day.
During the 30 hours the group spends together, they learn about world hunger and poverty, have worship services, do community service projects, fund-raise, share games and other activities, and/or whatever else the leader(s) of the individual Famines decide(s) their church wants to include in their event.

The Victory Rd. youth group first got interested in doing one of these over a year ago, when we did a video series on Wednesday nights about how young people can make a difference in the world, through the strength of the Lord. One of the groups of young people shown as an example in the series had done a 30 Hour Famine, and for some reason, that idea really seemed to take hold with our kids. So finally, it seems to be becoming a reality.

Bro. Mike has put Archer in charge, as this type of thing is one of his passions, and Bro. Mike is trying to train and insert those in the college group into more positions of leadership.

In all honesty, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the whole thing. Yes, I believe the Lord wants us to care about and try to relieve the physical sufferings of others. After all, He talks about our Christian duty to care for the orphans, widows, hungry, and poor, in the Bible more than He talks about some other issues we consider so important. I think caring for others in this way is an area the church as a whole has neglected in recent years. I think it is something we need to consider and work on, and get back to where we need to be in fulfilling it.
But.
There is a balance. Yes, Jesus cared many times for the physical needs of others before He preached to them. Before He cared for their spiritual needs. And of course I believe it is perfectly right to follow this example - IF we follow it all the way. I just wish some of those who are agreeable to fund-raising in order to fill a child's empty stomach would also be as agreeable to sacrifice time and comforts to try to fill a person's empty soul.
World Vision seems to be a reputable ministry, committed to providing spiritual nourishment as well as physical. I think it's fine to support them. With their large organization, they can reach many places that we as students could not go.
But how are we as individuals? Are we willing to touch those we CAN? Fellow students, business employees we deal with, family, other friends, etc. It takes a different kind of courage to ask someone if we can share the plan of Salvation with them, than it does to ask someone to donate a dollar or two to feed a hungry child.
And are we as willing to support missionaries who have sacrificed so much to go to another country and preach the Gospel?

Anyway, sorry for all the rambling. But I believe it is important to keep the right focus. And of course, the only heart I am in charge of is my own. I must make sure I'm doing the right things for the right reasons; that my heart and conscience are clear before the Lord. Everyone else must answer for their own actions and motives.

With all this being said, yes, I plan to participate in Victory Rd.'s 30 Hour Famine, at least to a certain extent (I am border-line hypoglycemic and cannot go completely without food for that long). I have been given this opportunity for ministry, and feel the Lord would have me be involved.

May He give me wisdom through this, and may He also increase the urgency for witnessing in the hearts of those involved, fine-tuning in us the balanced approach and mission He set for us as an example.