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Marvelous Woman Ladies Conference

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Here in Middle Tennessee, nearly 400,000 people are at risk of hunger. One in six adults and one in four children struggle with hunger every day, and often do so in silence. It’s difficult to comprehend that there are children in America that are food insecure, let alone in our own back yard. For the last four years the Bridge Ministry has been active in feeding underprivileged school children in our local area. Our program, Food For Kids, began when I met a school teacher who was overwhelmed with the needs she faced within her own classroom. She had begun buying school and food supplies with her meager income for impoverished students, the need far outweighed her resources. The Bridge Ministry gladly stepped in. Now we serve three schools in some of the lowest income areas of Nashville. If you would like to help with our Food For Kids program please contact our new program director Roberta Wilburn, because hunger is closer than you think.

“But Jesus said, Suffer little children and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:14 KJV)”

Many of us take for granted sleeping in a dry place at night, adequate food, or jobs to help us pay our bills. Some of us have felt the effects of the economic decline in various ways, but, for most of us, it hasn’t meant a loss of these basic needs.

Though we live in the world’s wealthiest nation, 14.5 percent of U.S. households—50 million Americans, including 17 million children—struggle to find food to eat,(USDA report). Just last week, the U.S. Census released new statistics, which find that more than 46 million Americans, 15% of Americans were living in poverty in 2011.

In the United States, hunger is not caused by a scarcity of food, but rather the continued prevalence of poverty. Both issues must be addressed in our continued efforts to help those Jesus called “the least of these” (Matthew 25:45). Sadly, many individuals and families that we serve, struggle to obtain or maintain housing. Add the rising food costs to an already stressful household budget, places children food insecure environment. Many who attend our services under the bridge, are trying to get on their financial feet and to cope with a myriad of issues from mental illness and/or substance addiction. I believe when we come together as the family of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, we can find solutions.

I have a dear friend who has already gone on to be with the Lord, Fred Cobb. He was a police officer here in the Nashville area. He told me that many years ago he was called to the scene of a crises situation. There was a young man inside of the home with a weapon, firing shots at officers and threatening anyone who would try to approach. Fred was called in to negotiate with the gunman, to talk him out of doing himself harm, or the other officers on the scene. Fred stepped onto the porch of the house and yelled inside, “I am unarmed, I’d like to come inside to talk with you.” The reply from inside stunned him, “Come on in. I still have that little transistor radio you gave me when I was a child.”

As it turned out, the police department had a program to help underprivileged children. Each officer “adopts” a needy child at Christmas. They buy the child a gift, and accompany them to a Christmas party where the children are the “guests of honor.” Many years ago, this young man had been the guest of Fred Cobb. Fred had befriended him, bought him a transistor radio, and together, they attended the party. No doubt, this act of kindness years prior, had saved a life that day. Fred was able to convince him to lay his weapon aside, and turn himself over to police. Maybe the life of this young man, the life of Fred, or one of his fellow officers.

Would you think about buying a gift for a needy child, and mailing it to P.O. Box 463, Goodlettsville, Tn. 37070?

Here is a short video about The Bridge produced by Jon Davis of Davisual Media, Inc.

Let us know what you think and be sure to share it!.