a bag of child-friendly food to take home each Friday during the school year. Each bag has enough food to get a child through the weekend—often including cereal, canned pasta and fruits. Even though it’s done on public school grounds, the


ministry uses every opportunity to point the students to Jesus and tell the students why they’re giving them the bags—often it comes in the form of Scripture verses attached to food items or small gifts in the bags. For the past four years the ministry has been a labor


of love for Simpson and more than 1,000 volunteers (40 to 60 a night from a variety of churches and de- nominations). In the ministry’s fi rst week in 2008 it fed 12 children. Today, it feeds nearly 1,300 a week in 34 schools and six counties. Yet Simpson acknowledges that


starting the ministry has been a journey of faith. “When we started, we had


nothing,” Simpson says. “I’ve had to step out of my box—and He moves the box on me daily! We need to invest in our kids. They may never know me personally, but someday, when they get to be my age, maybe they’ll look back and say, ‘Someone cared enough for me to help.’” Simpson says children and


parents who have benefi tted from this ministry have written many notes of thanks back to the ministry over the years. “I’ve gotten a couple of cards from different


parents,” Simpson said. “I’ve saved them all, and they make you cry!” Southern Baptist World Hunger Funds have been a


big part of helping the ministry feed hungry Southern Illinois children. Collected by Southern Baptists each


October, the hunger fund provides 5 million meals for more than 2,000 hunger ministries—like the Gum Drop Ministry—in North America. More than 33,000 professions of faith happen through those ministries. “It has been a roller coaster of emotions to be hon-


est,” Simpson said. “Most of the time I want to cry [because of all of the needs this ministry meets]. I feel very honored, privileged and humbled that God lets me participate in this.”


WORLD HUNGER SUNDAY OCTOBER 14, 2012 Every October Southern Baptists throughout North America reach deep into their pockets to help those in North America (and throughout the world) who don’t have enough to eat. According to statistics collected by the North American Mission Board, hunger is a reality for more than 49 million Americans—that’s one out of


every six Americans and one in every four American children. One hundred percent of World


Hunger Fund donations given to NAMB goes directly to feed the hungry somewhere on the conti- nent. Every dollar you donate will provide fi ve meals for a hungry family. To support the


World Hunger Fund and help fi ght hunger


in North America, donate online at donations.namb. net Hunger Funds, or send your donation to: North American Mission Board Hunger Relief P.O. Box 116543 Atlanta, GA 30368-6543


Tobin Perry is the online editor for On Mission.


How can your church help? I


21 Fall 2012 • onmission.com


f you’d like to do something a little diff erent as you raise money for the World Hunger Fund, try these ideas: • Encourage your church’s children or youth to host a walk-a-thon. • Hold a church-wide garage sale and donate the proceeds to the World Hunger Fund. • Sponsor a carwash and donate the funds earned.


For more ideas on how you can raise money for the World Hunger Fund or how you can promote the off ering in your church, visit namb.net/hunger.


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