As you read these words, 925 million people are literally dying of hunger and not knowing if or where they will get their next meal. The problem is not limited to one continent or country - 578 million are in Asia, 239 million in Sub-Sahara African, 53 million in Latin America and the Caribbean, 53 million in North Africa, and nearly 19 million in various developed countries. In the U.S. alone, there are nearly five million who experience hunger and serious food insecurity. These are our neighbors who are struggling to survive. This must change.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4ESV)

Signature Youth Service Day 2013

On April 27, the National Youth Advisory Committee (NYAC) of HOPE worldwide, a team of high school and college students with a passion for engaging the youth in service, will host the first Signature Youth Service Day of 2013. Our immediate goal is feeding the hungry as well as raising the awareness of the consequences of hunger in our local communities. Each NYAC member is hosting events in their home regions and we invite everyone who wants to take on the challenge of fighting hunger to join us. Although this is a youth led day of service, all ages are welcome to participate in their region's program.

For more information on the participating regions and more info, you can find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SYSDhunger as well as hopeww.org/SYSDhunger.

“Love…yourself”

The idea to love yourself is not just a concept fraught with conflicted emotions or fear of conceit. It is a command from God that takes self-denial, reflection and input from others to achieve. Here are a few scriptures to meditate over in our journey.

Thanks be to God, the Evangelists Service Team (ST) just finished a joint meeting in LA with the Elders, Teachers, Women and Chairmen Service Teams.  Though there are many challenges before us, we definitely made tons of progress on some very important issues.  Take a moment and read down the list.  We have much to be thankful for. God is certainly working among us as we collaborate and cooperate in His name.

April 23 - Pray for Rhode Island!

Ephesians 1:18-19
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, [19] and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

The International Missions Society has been hosting a "month of prayer for missions." Today we are praying for the state of Rhode Island, known as "The Ocean State" because of the numerous bays and inlets which add about 15% to its total area.

Along with connecting eager disciples to mission fields around the world, the Disciple Adventures Facebook page has five regular feature posts that can help disciples keep their missions dream alive and inspired.

The Boston Marathon bombing is one of those tragic events that mark our lives. We will remember where we were when we heard, how we felt watching the images of horror and heroism, and the lessons that we learned. For other survivors, however, the attack will leave much more than memories. We are writing this as the suspects are being hunted down in a violent exchange

Thank you so much for your prayers for our church, our city, and all those affected by the bombing tragedy at the Boston Marathon. About a dozen of our members ran in the marathon, while numerous friends and family were there encouraging and cheering them on. While no disciples were injured, many were touched by the tragedy and several had loved ones who were injured.