christmas
greetings
Greetings partners and friends of Feed The Hungry,
I wanted to take a moment and wish everyone a safe and joyous Christmas break, and to especially thank everyone who helped us fulfill our mandate to bring Christ to a starving world.
FTH has been all over the world in the past 12 months, from Africa to Asia...
these are places we wouldn't be able to reach without your prayers and generous
donations. As I scan through the projects we accomplished together over
the past 
12
months, my heart warms with pride as I remember your responses to our appeals.
Time and time again, you exceeded our goals and expectations.
I especially want to thank the partners of FTH that give regular amounts at regular intervals. It's from this storehouse of funds that we can plan future projects but more importantly it's from these funds that we can respond to the unfortunate disasters that strike at inconvenient and unforeseen times. I am particularly mindful of the natural disasters that hit Indonesia earlier in the year, and the Middle East conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Disaster Relief - Indonesia
Indonesia suffered an unimaginable loss from that terrifying Tsunami over the 2004/2005 Christmas break with over 300,000 people killed. Just 18 months later, Indonesia cried again as an earthquake and Tsunami devastated her land and almost 6000 more people were killed.
FTH
was quick to respond to the situation sending emergency funds to feed families
forgotten by the government and the other aid agencies. Our Indonesian partner
on the ground was so relieved to hear that we were sending funds to buy
food. Our partner was already preparing supplies to send, but had no food...
it was almost as soon as she had that thought that she received my phone
call and our good news.
As I spoke with the team by phone over that first weekend, I was struck
by the importance she placed on sending prayer teams into the devastation
amongst the other regular relief teams. They would intercede in the spiritual
realms as they put the hands to whatever practical use they could.
God indeed heard the cries of anguish of the Indonesian people, but how
much more effective were the prayers of God's covenant people in this earth,
who stepped into the gap and helped lift the burden at that critical time.
I really want to thank our partners and friends who heeded our urging, and
took the time to add their prayers to this situation, and who gave generously
to this disaster.
Disaster Relief - Israel
When Israel was being attacked by Hezbollah rockets earlier in the year. FTH was there helping to feed families with no where else to go, but cower in bomb shelters.
"I
am so grateful for your supporting love even you don't know me personally.
You refresh my spirit in the hardest time of my life. I don't know how to
thank you and the ministry of Feed The Hungry. I can tell you are all doing
a holy job that continues to warm God's heart... We were able to be a light
to Israel during these trying days. We were involved in many ways of helping...
Had you not stood with us here in Acco, doors would not have opened for
us.
Our congregation has stood the test of war and thanks to you, we have been able to offer support to the city in this time of distress." - Ps. Guy Cohen
Disaster Relief - Philippines
FTH is right now partnering with a Philippine church founded by the late Dr. Sumrall. The Cathedral of Praise church is now pastored by his nephew Ps. David Sumrall. FTH and COP are sending relief items to survivors of Typhoon Durian which hit the Phillipines earlier this month, killing over 500 people.
Four Nation Appeal
As
well as responding to emergency disasters, FTH has been able to plan and
implement relief for survivors of long-term disasters like droughts affecting
so many African nations. In May earlier in the year, we launched the Four-Nation
appeal to reach some of these affected areas. We sent 1.25 million meals
to Kenya, Malawi, Swaziland and Mozambique. In fact so great was your response
that we were able to extend the appeal to two more nations, Kenya and Niger.
Project Cambodia
FTH had an opportunity to be a blessing to a Four
Square Ministry orphanage in Cambodia. Four containers of rice were 
donated
and FTH paid the shipping expenses for Ps. Ted Olbrich's "Children
of Promise" orphanage. This ministry takes care of 4000 children
throughout Cambodia.
"Thank you for partnering with us. We so appreciate and are honored by your help. All four containers arrived safely. Two five-ton trucks are moving rice and a fortified dried soup mix out to the 84 orphanage locations." - Ps. Ted Olbrich
Zimbabwe
With your support, FTH sent 6 containers of food into Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe a former English colony gave FTH partners the unique opportunity to not only send food, but a simple personalised prayer note. This was a great success, and we will look for further opportunities as appropriate.
Ethiopia - Massive Food Distribution
Ethiopia was the destination of our major food project in 2006. Combining the resources of the all the international offices, FTH distributed 350,000 kilograms of food, bibles and Gospel literature to 10,000 of the neediest people in the Awasa region.
I saw thousands hear the Gospel, crowds surge to the stage in response to the altar call, I witnessed God's miraculous power to heal, we greeted the people in their homes, we hugged, we danced and we sang with joy for God's sustaining grace.
I was so mindful of your support during this amazing project that we have undertaken. Your support made a big difference here in Ethiopia. We couldn't have attempted such a large project without your support and prayer.
Feeding EveryChild EveryDay
The
EveryChild EveryDay initiative continues to
grow and be effective. Following the heart of Dr. Sumrall as he made a snap
decision overnight in the 1970's to take care of 50 orphans, FTH has begun
reaching out to established Christian orphanages around the world and is
supplementing their budget with enough funds to cover the burden of the
daily food budget.
By the end of 2006, FTH will be helping to feed 3000 children everyday.
Leaders and Pastors at the various orphanages around the world are all saying the same thing... "the kids are starting to look better on their skins... thank God for these fortified rice & soy meals donated by Feed My Starving Children, they are nutritionally charged & make a visible difference in a short period of time."
Sudan - Sending Hope to Darfur
In just a few short weeks the fruition of 5 months of planning will be complete. FTH is sending 6 containers to Sudan, to bring over a million meals into war-torn Darfur region. We are bring the Gospel of Hope into a land fought over as beachhead for militant and hardline Islamic extremists.
20 years of Feed The Hungry
FTH in 2007, will be celebrating our 20th anniversary. We have accomplished much since our inception and we have plans to celebrate these victories throughout the next 12 months... culminating in an Israel Tour in November 2007 to coincide with the night the vision was received by our founder Dr. Sumrall.
Great
things have been accomplished through FTH, but so much more is left undone.
FTH is not going to rest on our laurels, we will continue to press towards
the mark and Feed The Hungry. Jesus Christ said the 'poor we will have
with us always' and that has always been the prime motivating factor
in my stewardship of FTH here in Australia & New Zealand.
The problems of the poor and destitute are not going to go away by themselves. No human solution will ever be found to eliminate hunger, until our Master returns. So we're aiming to make the biggest dent into the problem that's possible. We can't do everything, but we can do something.
Thankyou again for being such an important part of Feed The Hungry in 2006.
Voice for the Hungry
Benjamin Evans
Operations Manager
FTH Australia & New Zealand
