More than 15 teens from Olivet Baptist Church in Bellwood will participate in the 2005 World Vision 30 Hour Famine on March 11 and 12.
The Bellwood area teens will join half a million nationwide in their effort raise awareness and help those in need.
Now in its 13th year, the World Vision 30 Hour Famine raises awareness and money to fight hunger overseas and in the United States. During the 30 hours, participants go without food, consume only liquids, learn about world hunger and poverty and perform community service projects. Teens participate in groups through schools, churches, youth groups and civic organizations.
The area teens who participate will get a real taste of hunger while helping the poor and hungry around the world.
This is the tenth year that Olivet Baptist Church has participated in the event. The hope this year is to raise $1,500 to fight world hunger. Each teen is asked to raise at least $50 in order to participate in the event. This year the goal has also been stretched so that all funds raised over the national goal of $13.5 million will go toward World Vision’s tsunami relief and development programs.
This event helps “raise money for children and for improving communities,” explained John Poe, youth pastor at Olivet Baptist Church.
The famine will begin after lunch on Friday. Students will eat lunch and go about their daily routine. Poe said at this point students are on the honor system for the rest of the afternoon.
At 7 p.m. Friday night, the group gathers at the church where they hold discussions and have movies available to watch. A special activity is also planned for Friday night. In the past, groups have gone bowling or ice skating.
The teens spend the evening at the church and Saturday morning special service projects are planned. This year the group will help out at the Joshua House in Tyrone and also the Good Will Store and donation center in Altoona.
“It (the famine) gives us the opportunity to serve the local community,” said Poe.
When the fast ends on Saturday evening, a meal is served to the participants, in order to break the fast together.
Poe explained the meal is usually served for about 50 cents a plate, which is similar to what World Vision would provide to those in need. This helps show students what it is like to be hungry and then to receive a meal.
“This gives our students the opportunity to feel what it’s like to miss three meals,” said Poe. “That’s unusual in America but it’s normal for many kids throughout the world.”
More than 500,000 teens across the nation will participate in this year’s famine. Specific weekends are set aside for the famine each year. Last weekend was the national date but due to other responsibilities, the Olivet Baptist group scheduled the famine for a later date.
According to a recent press release, the national goal this year is to raise $13.5 million to help children in famine-ravaged nations worldwide. This year, teens have set a stretch goal, meaning all funds raised over the national goal will be directed toward World Vision’s tsunami relief and development programs.
World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. World Vision serves the world’s poor regardless of a person’s religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information about World Vision, visit www.worldvision.org.
Individuals can also learn more about the 30 Hour Famine by visiting www.30hourfamine.org.
