‘Imagine No Hunger’ a cornerstone program for New Mexico church

Westminster Presbyterian recognized as a Hunger Action Congregation

January 9, 2018

Westminster Presbyterian Church in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a little church with a big heart. It recently applied to be and was recognized as a Hunger Action Congregation by the Presbyterian Hunger Program. One of its hunger advocacy programs, titled Imagine No Hunger, approaches the hunger issue in a unique way — by fasting. Church members pledge to fast one meal each week and to contribute $5 to a fund affiliated with the program. Since 2009, Westminster has donated more than $56,000 to local, national and international food-related projects as a result of Imagine No Hunger.

In July 2009, the Rev. Chester Topple preached a sermon to the Westminster congregation about hunger based on a 2008 General Assembly challenge. As an act of “worship and humility” he challenged his congregation to skip one meal a week and to give the money that would have been spent on that meal to an organization helping to relieve hunger. For a congregation of approximately 80, $5 a week for two years until the next General Assembly totaled more than $40,000.

Topple’s sermon was the genesis for Imagine No Hunger. For the past eight years, on each fourth Sunday, Westminster has held Agape Fasts following worship where participants share a simple meal of soup and bread and donate to the fund. A speaker interprets one of the projects supported by the program, or speaks about a timely issue related to the overall hunger problem. Half the program’s proceeds support feeding or root cause development work within the Santa Fe area and contiguous U.S., and the other 50 percent supports hunger-related projects outside the U.S. In Santa Fe, the organization Feeding Santa Fe and the Headwaters Food Security project located in the remote mountain village of Mora, New Mexico, are two examples of food development programs that Imagine No Hunger supports. The Cuba Feeding Program and the PC(USA) Hunger Program also receive yearly donations.

Westminster Presbyterian Church in Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Photo provided)

“Westminster’s hunger ministry and faithful actions help relieve hunger locally and, by sending funds to the Presbyterian Hunger Program, address the root causes underlying hunger through the impact our grantee partners are making around the United States and internationally to transform unjust systems and build positive alternatives,” said Rebecca Barnes, coordinator of the Presbyterian Hunger Program.

Barbara Medina, a Westminster member, credits the John Lennon song “Imagine” for the project’s name and acknowledged the Westminster congregation for eight years of dedication and commitment to the cause.

“It only happened because of our congregation’s impressive generosity,” said Medina, acknowledging the small congregation’s large contribution. “We also fill quart-size Ziploc bags with food and personal care items which our members keep in their cars to give to homeless persons they encounter while driving.”

The Presbyterian Hunger Program announced the Hunger Action Congregation covenant in early 2017 to acknowledge and invigorate churches for the work they do to end hunger. The covenant calls on congregations to work in at least one of six areas:

• Hunger alleviation
• Development assistance
• Hunger education
• Lifestyle integrity
• Corporate and public policy witness
• Worship

To become a Hunger Action Congregation, apply online at bit.ly/hungeractionform.

Scott O’Neill, Communications Associate, Project Management, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Today’s Focus:  Hunger

Let us join in prayer for:

Westminster Presbyterian Church Staff

Rev. Dr. Antonio (“Tony”) Aja, Pastor
Brian Roberge, Office Administrator

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Rob Bullock, FDN
Cherrie Burch, FDN

Let us pray:

Loving God, we pray for all who are hungry and for our church, that our words and our actions may embody your joy and love in our hurting world. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Daily Readings

Morning Psalms 42; 146
First Reading Genesis 3:1-24
Second Reading Hebrews 2:1-10
Gospel Reading John 1:19-28
Evening Psalms 102; 133