Hunger and Poverty

By Abby Hopkins So often, the Lord uses the testimonies of His people to impact others with similar life struggles. For Elisa Valadez, whose story includes abuse, homelessness, and heartache, she knew she wanted to serve her community in this way to offer others the same hope she found in Christ. Valadez began Pantry of Hope through First Baptist Church Laredo in 2016. Starting with a closet, the ministry opened the second Saturday of each month with food and clothing for families in the community to receive. Texas Baptist Hunger Offering funds are used to purchase groceries for the pantry. “It’s a blessing to have money come in that serves the community,” Valadez said.

In rural, economically depressed communities in Macedonia, one cow can go a long way.

Education is a valued process of growth and development in pivotal years of one’s life, yet it is not always accessible. As a new school year begins, many are unable to afford the costs of learning.

The traditional American narrative boasts that anyone can make it if he or she works hard. But the social systems and economic stratum one is born into can often exclude a person from having an opportunity to attain the “American dream.”

His name is Pedro — the man on the picture.  I had the pleasure of meeting him outside an industrial refrigerator on a bright Tuesday morning in Cerdanyola, Spain. 

Lately, I have been thinking about culture and faith.

As you celebrate your mom or the important women in your life, be sure to pray for women around the world who struggle to support their families.

If not for the Heart of Texas Christian Women’s Job Corps sign, you could easily overlook the modest, beige, and olive-colored house on Coggin Avenue in Brownwood.

The United Nations reports that an estimated 75,000 children could die from malnutrition within a year in Northern Nigeria unless food is made available.

Children today are being robbed of time. While academic opinions vary about life expectancy, they all acknowledge that our length and quality of life is shifting due to chronic illnesses associated with diet.

The summer is over and school is back in session. In Texas, that means football is kicking off, temperatures are dropping, and many kids still don’t have adequate access to food.

“I really knew I needed to do something different after I accidentally took too much of a certain medication,” she said. “It should have killed me. That’s when my boyfriend and I decided to do something.”

While out walking one day in Toluquilla, Mexico several years ago, Dr. Lee Baggett's heart felt burdened as he noticed there were two types of children out on the streets.