MEMBER PROFILE
In the Beginning
Matt Newell-Ching/Bread for the World
Bread’s Founder Reflects on
How the Organization Started
By Rev. Arthur Simon
As Bread for the World begins its 40th anniversary year, a only. They said a response that moves into the political arehost of treasured memories come flooding to my mind. Let na would press a button too hot to touch. Stick to Band-Aids,
me share a few of them with you:
they advised.
The church and the people in the poverty-stricken neighWe prayed for wisdom and invited God’s blessing, then
borhood in New York City that became the birthplace of decided to launch Bread for the World nationally. We were
Bread for the World [Trinity Lutheran Church on the Lower full of hope but also prepared for possible failure. To our
astonishment, an initial mailing brought in several thousand
East Side].
Our awareness in those early days that providing emer- members, and Bread for the World was off and running.
Our first major initiative, a Right to Food Resolution, was
gency assistance, though essential, did not get at the underintroduced in the U.S. Senate by Republican Mark Hatfield
lying causes of hunger and poverty.
The discovery that almost nothing was being done to chal- (Ore.) and in the U.S. House of Representatives by Democrat
Don Fraser (Minn.). At first, no one
lenge Christians as citizens to use their
paid any attention. Then folks like you
influence on members of Congress for
began to write, and churches across
national action against hunger.
CELEBRATE BREAD’S
the country joined the campaign.
The group of faithful Christians
ANNIVERSARY WITH US
Members of Congress began hearing
(seven Catholics and seven ProtesPlan to join us June 9 to 10
from their own voters—first a few lettants) who served as an informal
in Washington, D.C., to celebrate
“think tank” to explore the idea of a
ters, then dozens, then hundreds. The
our 40 years of working together
“citizens lobby” against hunger.
Right to Food became a lively issue
to end hunger. There will be a 40th
All of these things led us to our
that attracted the support of religious
anniversary dinner on Monday
vision of a faith-based, politically
leaders and the press. And after vigorevening, June 9, and our annual
nonpartisan movement that might
ous debate, Congress passed it.
Lobby Day on June 10. More details
mobilize people in every state and
The campaign for the Right to
will be provided at www.bread.org/40
congressional district to serve as an
Food brought us thousands of new
as they become available.
outcry for action by Congress on spemembers and showed that a relatively
small number of citizens could wield
cific measures to reduce hunger here
and abroad. From the start, we made the decision to anchor influence way out of proportion to our numbers–and get
our work in the Gospel of God’s providential care and sav- Congress to take action against hunger.
Forty years later, Bread for the World members are still
ing love in Jesus. And we decided to help people link their
faith in Christ with our stewardship as citizens in order to at it. Thanks to you, our efforts to end hunger have been
blessed beyond measure. And again thanks to you, Bread
obtain justice for hungry people.
It seemed a simple and obvious way of following Jesus. for the World’s future looks even more promising.
Rev. Arthur Simon is the founder and president emeritus of Bread
But it also seemed a gamble. Would it work? Some told me
it would not work, that Christians are wedded to direct aid for the World.
www.bread.org 5