Who is Bread for the World?

Bread for the World is a Christian advocacy organization urging U.S. decision makers to do all they can to pursue a world without hunger. Their mission is to educate and equip people to advocate for policies and programs that can help end hunger in the U.S. and around the world. Highland has a long history of partnering with Bread for the World to advocate for a world without hunger, particularly by doing an "offering of letters," writing letters to government leaders to support hunger-ending programs and legislation. Learn more about Bread for the World here.

What are we advocating for at this time?

Bread for the World is currently encouraging letters in support of a renewed Farm Bill.  The farm bill sets national policies for nutrition, agriculture, conservation, and forestry. You can learn more about the the details and its importance for fighting hunger here.

Learn more about the Farm Bill

Farm Bill Infographic

How do I participate?

1. Write a letter to your U.S. Congress representative.
2. • Don’t know who that is? Enter your zip code/address in the locator at house.gov.
   • Here is a sample letter (.docx)
   • Sample letter in PDF format
   • Hand write the letter. Advocacy groups have found that hand-written letters have a bigger impact.
   • Be specific in your request for action (see examples in the sample letter).
   • Include your name and mailing address at the bottom of your letter, so they are sure to recognize that you are one of their constituents.
   • Youth and children are welcome to participate, even if they aren’t voting-age yet. Expressing in your own words the importance of hunger-ending legislation is what matters.
3. Place your letter in an envelope with your name and address as the return address and simply put your Congressperson’s name on the front. You do not need to include the mailing address or postage, as our letter will be delivered together.
4. Bring your letter to the church by Sunday, March 24 (Palm Sunday). We will gather all of Highland’s letters together and our Micah 6:8 team will ensure their delivery. There’s a box for your letters in the church office or you can get it to Rev. Janet Baucom.

Tips for an Effective Letter

Sample Letter (Word)

Sample Letter (PDF)

Look Up Your Representatives

Writing to government officials sounds political. Why at church?

"He has told you, O mortal, what is good,

    and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice and to love kindness

    and to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8

Methodists have a long history of advocating for social justice, going all the way back to Methodist founders John and Charles Wesley. Just as John Wesley advocated for prison reform, the abolition of slavery, ending hunger and poverty, and the elimination of child labor back in the early 1730s, so do contemporary Methodists advocate for peace and justice across all aspects of society -- including ending hunger and poverty. Advocating for U.S. legislation that helps end hunger in our country and around the world is just one way that we seek to "do justice."