Pray to End Hunger
Prayer is essential to ending hunger by 2030. God’s grace in Jesus Christ moves us, and prayer equips us to take faith-grounded advocacy actions.
The Bible provides numerous examples of men and women like Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel, and the prophets, who prayed intensely prior to carrying out acts of justice, advocacy, or service. Jesus, our ultimate advocate and example of spiritual discipline, prayed and fasted for 40 days before beginning his earthly ministry.
Through prayer, we acknowledge our insufficiency and our dependence on the Holy Spirit to effectively witness to God's love for humankind. Through prayer, God’s story and our story connect to transform the world.
We invite you to make prayers to end hunger part of your regular prayer life.
Why We Pray
In Luke 18, Jesus shows us what it looks like to declare our dependence on the Holy Spirit.
In a parable, he tells of a widow demanding a righteous judgment from an unjust judge.
Despite the judge’s unwillingness, he eventually gives the widow what she asked for because of her sheer persistence.
Christ explains: "And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? ... I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them…" (Luke 18:7-8). Like the widow, we too must cry out to the Lord regularly because we know that God listens.
Commit to Pray Regularly
Will you pray for an end to hunger?
Philippians 4:6 tells us to "let your requests be made known to God.” When we call upon God's promises, the Bible assures us that God hears us (Psalm 10:17) and will answer (Isaiah 58:9). Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
You can make prayers to end hunger part of your regular prayer life. When you pray Give us this day our daily bread, include people who are hungry in our country and around the world in your petition.
Prayer Updates
Bread can help you deepen your prayer commitment.
Through prayer, we acknowledge our insufficiency and our dependence on the Holy Spirit to effectively witness to God's love for humankind. Through prayer, God’s story and our story connect to transform the world.
Sign up to receive Bread for the World's prayer suggestions by email every two weeks.
We'll also send you other resources about your neighbors who might live next door or around the world and need your prayers.
Pray Now
Here are some concerns you can include in your prayers right now. Pray for:
- people who experience persistent hunger, especially women and children
- God’s love to guide our steps as we work to end hunger
- the Church to advance the Gospel by working for justice and an end to hunger
- the leaders of our country, that they will make ending hunger and poverty a priority by 2017
- an end to hunger globally by 2030
“He has heard my voice and my supplications.”
Psalm 116:1
Tools
from our Resource Library
For Education
Election Resources
One of the best times to raise the issues of hunger and poverty is during election campaigns. Engage candidates in your state/district on hunger and poverty using our elections resources.U.S. Hunger and Poverty State Fact Sheets
These fact sheets provide a snapshot of hunger and poverty in the United States and in each state plus Washington, D.C.
Conflict and Fragility Are Hunger Issues
Conflict is a main driver of the recent increase in hunger around the world and of forced migration. Hunger also contributes to conflict.
For Faith
Unity Declaration on Racism and Poverty
A diverse body of Christian leaders calls on the churches and Congress to focus on the integral connection.
Dear Members of Congress,
As the president and Congress are preparing their plans for this year, almost 100 church leaders—from all the families of U.S. Christianity—are...
In Times Like These … A Pan-African Christian Devotional for Public Policy Engagement
This devotional guide invites deepened relationship with and among Pan-African people and elected leaders in the mission to end hunger and poverty.
Sermon by David Beckmann at Duke University Chapel
Remarks delivered October 1, 2017 at Duke University Chapel in Chapel Hill in North Carolina.
Thank you for inviting me to preach here at Duke University Chapel. And I especially want to thank the Bread for the World members who have come this morning.
Bruce Puckett urged...
For Advocacy
Fact Sheet: Why We Need $200 Million for Global Nutrition Programs
Bread for the World and its partners are asking Congress to provide $200 million for global nutrition in the fiscal year 2020 budget.
Racial Equity Rating Tool: How do Candidates Promote Racial Equity to End Hunger?
How do the 2020 Top Democratic Presidential Primary Candidates Promote Racial Equity to End Hunger? As you consider candidates in the 2020 election, we urge you to consider the importance of promoting racial equity to end hunger in the United States.
Fact Sheet: Hunger by the Numbers
In 2017, 11.8 percent of households in the U.S.—40 million people—were food-insecure, meaning that they were unsure at some point during the year about how they would provide for their next meal.