International (MNN) — Famine: a noun defined by Merriam-Webster as “an extreme scarcity of food” or “a great shortage.” According to the latest UN estimates, more than one in ten people worldwide will face food insecurity or starvation by the end of the year. More people requested emergency food aid in the first nine months of 2020 than in all of 2019.
In the impoverished communities where AMG International serves, this spike ties directly to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Because of the lockdowns associated with COVID-19, people have been unable to earn any income [and] 70% of the income in these families goes for food,” AMG’s Tasos Ioannides explains.
“When they have no income, there is no food; it is simple as that.”
Earlier this year, AMG and its partners could still meet community needs through existing church programs when restrictions lifted. Children who came to AMG’s church-based childcare center while their parents worked received extra food to supplement shortages at home.
Please continue to lift up all of those who have been personally affected by COVID-19, that they would find comfort in knowing that Christians all over the world are praying for them in the midst of the pandemic.
(Photo, caption courtesy of AMG International)
In some locations, pastors learned of spiritual and physical needs when services re-opened and rallied to meet them. Then came another round of lockdowns. “Now, our coworkers around the world put together food packages [and] they will go out to the community and distribute them,” Ioannides says.
How to help
As described here, AMG church partners distribute food and hygiene packs to the poor in places like India, where half the workforce lost their jobs after the country imposed strict lockdown measures. AMG identified 5,300 families connected to its child and youth development centers who are facing severe financial issues.
One week of food items for a family of four is just $20, and one month’s worth of hygiene products is $10. Would you partner with AMG to help cover these costs?
“We are grateful to God that He used AMG as a means of grace in expressing His faithfulness, lovingkindness, and abundant love,” writes an AMG leader in the Philippines.
Pray hearts will open to Christ as people see tangible demonstrations of His love. Pray for God’s mercy upon the downtrodden.
“One important thing to keep in mind: this is going to continue,” Ioannides notes.
“There is a shortage right now, but the planning process for crops for next year has been disrupted. The harvest has been disrupted. It’s going to [remain] a challenge the next couple of years at least.”
Header image courtesy of AMG International.
