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Baptists join in ‘Souper Bowl of Caring’


ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–Long after the New England Patriots or the New York Giants win Super Bowl XLII, the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund will continue benefiting from this year’s Souper Bowl of Caring.

Under the umbrella of the Souper Bowl of Caring -– now in its 19th year -– Southern Baptists on Sunday, Feb. 3, can donate to the SBC World Hunger Fund. One hundred percent of the money Southern Baptist churches collect that Sunday will go to the World Hunger Fund or to the participating church’s charity of choice.

“We hope our Southern Baptist churches will consider supporting the World Hunger Fund’s domestic program with their collections,” said Sandy Wood, hunger ministry specialist for the North American Mission Board (NAMB). “Not a penny raised will go toward administrative costs. One hundred percent is used to minister to the hungry in Jesus’ name.”

Wood said Baptist youth can participate by simply taking up a collection in a soup pot during a church’s Feb. 3 worship service.

First Baptist Church in Chester, S.C. — located along Interstate 77 about halfway between Charlotte, N.C., and Columbia, S.C. — is a congregation that not only participates in the “Souper Bowl of Caring” but has taken it to the next level.

“We started several years ago just collecting money in a pot as our folks left the morning worship service,” said Clay Waldrip, the church’s pastor. “Then a few years ago, we started making soup for lunch after the service, charging $5 apiece.” Half the proceeds go to a local food pantry and the other half goes to the World Hunger Fund.

“It gives us a chance for some good church fellowship and plays off the Super Bowl theme at the same time,” said Waldrip, whose church runs 225-250 each Sunday, with half staying for the soup lunch. “We’re just so blessed, we want to help others have something to eat.”

All SBC churches should report donations to www. souperbowl.org, but the collected money itself should be sent directly to the SBC World Hunger Fund or to the church’s charity of choice.

Wood said NAMB’s Hunger Relief Ministry assists churches, associations and state conventions so that in the process of distributing food, the Gospel also can be shared with people in need. Last year, more than 30,000 people accepted Christ through hunger ministries in North America.

Souper Bowl of Caring began in 1990 at a single South Carolina church as a simple activity designed to fight hunger and has grown into national movement. Since 1990, the initiative has raised more than $41 million for those in need.

Southern Baptist churches choosing to participate in the 2008 Souper Bowl of Caring should register at www.souperbowl.org. Donations to the SBC World Hunger Fund may be mailed to NAMB, World Hunger Funds, 4200 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30022.
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For more information, contact Sandy Wood on NAMB’s servant and ministry evangelism team at 770-410-6360 or [email protected].

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  • Mickey Noah