|
|
Copyright © 2004 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee | May / June 2004 |
|
| |
|
REACH
OUT: MISSION MATTERS All Saints, Morristown, youth fast 24 hours to feed the world’s hungry |
|
|
|
By the Rev. Jim Sharp All Saints’ Episcopal Youth Fellowship in Morristown gathered at 5 p.m. April 2 to begin a 24-hour “famine” with hopes of raising community awareness of world hunger.
The 17 participants — 11 youth and six adult leaders — ate a meal before the event began, then denied themselves solid food for the next 24 hours, drinking only juices and water.
The group invited sponsors to pledge donations for each hour of their fast in a fund-raiser for World Vision, a ministry that works internationally to relieve hunger. Participants also asked All Saints parishioners to contribute nonperishable food items for the local food bank.
Renee Burton, project organizer, said she feared there would be complaints about the inevitable hunger pangs, but a video watched at the beginning of the fast may have quieted any comments. It said that during a 24-hour period, approximately 30,000 of the world’s children would die of hunger.
The fast passed quickly as participants bowled, watched movies and played board games. The next afternoon, the group gathered in the All Saints chapel to conclude the event with Holy Communion. Participants’ family members were invited to attend the service.
The mood was tender, and the music was powerful as the group of 35 participants and guests lifted their voices in hymns to emphasize commitment to Christ’s service in helping to feed God’s sheep. Diocesan Youth Coordinator Alex Haralson and his wife, Renee, attended the closing service, where Alex played guitar and led the singing.
The group accumulated more than $900 in donations for World Vision Ministries and gathered more than 50 cans of food.
Special recognition goes to the top two youth fund-raisers, Miranda Moore and Cody Burton.
All Saints, Morristown, 423-586-6201.
REACH OUT: MISSION MATTERS related stories:
|