Sudan Famine

        	              
From famine relief to famine prevention



The ReachGlobal Sudan ministry team says thank you to those of you who sacrificially gave to the Famine Relief.




The purpose of relief is to provide help for communities to get through severe, life-threatening situations; however, it does little good if dependency on the relief arises. Ideally, relief should always lead to independence. ReachGlobal consistently teaches this, and now the Sudanese leaders have begun to look at their famine situation.




Although the famine continues, there are now some local food relief organizations on the ground beginning to help with the food situation. The next step for the Sudanese pastors is to help the communities prepare for future famines. One of the ways they help their people is through Seed Banks.




Seed banks provide seed for families to grow FAITH (Food Always In The Home) gardens. The bank works by either selling or lending seed to the villagers. Repayment for the borrowed seed is then made at the time of harvest. The villagers repay their loans with seed from their own harvest and with "interest" (additional seed). Many of the villagers are poor and unable to purchase seed so the seed bank provides a way to grow and stockpile food for their families.




Because the Lord blessed the ReachGlobal fundraising efforts, some funds remain for continued famine relief. The Sudan ministry team plans to use these funds to help local Evangelical Free Church of Sudan (EFCS) churches begin their own seed banks by providing small business seed money (no pun intended!).




An added benefit to these seed banks will be to provide jobs to those who work in the bank and eventually to provide income for local EFCS pastors.




RG missionaries Tony and Kevin will be in Sudan at the end of July through mid-August to launch the Seed Bank program, teach a strategic planning workshop for the EFCS pastors, and provide micro-enterprise/small business training for those involved in the seed banks. Please pray that the training will be clear and the information will be easily retained by the participants.



The response



Nearly $35,000 has already been sent from TouchGlobal to help the Evangelical Free Church of Sudan (EFCS). Twenty pounds of maize has been distributed to 1,321 families, and they have gratefully received this maize, recognizing it as God’s provision for them.




Right now a critical need remains for food (immediate famine relief) and for additional seeds for planting (future famine prevention).



You can help


Pray



Ask the Lord to intervene on behalf of His people to:



    

  • Hasten the reception and distribution of the much-needed food supplies
    • 

  • Use His church to be a beacon of hope to the Sudanese communities
    • 

  • Touch the hearts of believers to give selflessly and generously
    • 

  • Guide the micro-enterprise training and strategic planning
    • 

  • Bless the launch of the Seed Bank program
    • 



Give



Respond compassionately to this ongoing crisis situation. Donations to the Sudanese Relief fund will help those living in the midst of famine. 




Please donate online or send checks to:




Sudanese Relief Fund, 21709-3935 

901 East 78th Street

Minneapolis, MN  55420-1300



Share



As you pray and give, you can also help the people of Sudan by sharing their need with others. Direct others to learn more online, or share this bulletin insert with your family, friends and churches.



More information