Blog - Feeding The Nations

10 Years of Feeding The Nations

February 12, 2015 by Feeding the Nations

Ten years ago, Feeding The Nations (FTN) fed its first nation. On Sunday, December 26, 2004, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean sparked a deadly tsunami that became one of the worst natural disasters in recorded history. The tsunami killed over 230,000 people in 14 nations. The hardest hit areas were Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. But out of this disaster came something good.

Seeing the need to help those whose lives had been devastated by the tsunami, FTN was born in February 2005. “Our very first mission was to get vital food and nutrition to those who were affected by the tsunami,” said Steve Sumrall, president of the organization. “So many people wanted to do something. We saw the need was great and we wanted to help. The tsunami was the jumpstart for Feeding The Nations.”

That was 10 years ago. Today we celebrate that we have had the opportunity to reach 75 nations over this last decade. Through God’s guidance and grace, we have sent 135 million meals to the hungry and hurting around the world. With the support of countless partners, we have given over $90 million in total goods and services worldwide. Over 222 containers of rice meals, soup and dried fruit have been sent to nourish the hungry. In addition, we have supplied vitamins, water purifiers, Bibles, mattresses, toys, blankets, coats, cooking oil, beans, personal care products, financial assistance and more.

We stand in awe of all that God has accomplished through FTN over the last decade. We give thanks and praise for the millions of meals, the countless supplies and the ever-so-important hope that have been given. We thank each and every person and partner who has generously joined with us in this mission to share God’s love both through the spreading of the Gospel and through giving tangible supplies.

The world is hungry. Each nation has its own needs and its own story. But, we also know that one story never changes. The Old and New Testaments show us that God’s compassion for the poor and needy never changes. And, so, we give thanks for 10 years and we look to the future, asking God where to go next, where to continue, where to send His love to those who need it most. Together we will continue to nourish bodies and souls around the world.

Won’t you join with us?

Give the Gift of Hope this Christmas

December 10, 2014 by Feeding the Nations

Last month we told you about the need to help God’s chosen people in the Promised Land. Because the need is so great, we want to remind you of our efforts. As we gather to give thanks for our countless blessings and enjoy the holiday season, let us not forget God’s chosen people who will not have the luxury to do so. Currently there are thousands fleeing to the Promised Land for safety and refuge.

Since 1948, Israel has opened Her arms to all. Her doors are open to families of Jewish heritage from Europe, the United States, Asia, Africa and Russia. Most recently, a wave of over 50,000 war refugees from Eastern Ukraine are seeking asylum in Israel, leaving behind everything because of the aggression of Russia, its neighbor. With only the clothes on their backs, they have come to their Promised Land seeking safety and refuge.

They need our help!
In their flight they have left behind professions, finances, homes, documentation and all of the things that we take for granted, including the simple basic necessities of life! Resettling requires resources they do not have to obtain the necessary documents. Things like birth certificates, marriage licenses, validation of education and tangible proof of existence, they are without. The expense and effort to obtain these are costly and difficult.

We must help. And we will.

Feeding The Nations is helping in two ways: one to meet immediate needs and the other to meet long-term needs. To help with urgent needs, FTN will provide family boxes that contain practical items for nutrition and personal care. $50.00 will provide a family with desperately needed assistance for an entire month!

FTN is also helping by offering financial assistance to people who are seeking citizenship and asylum. Those who have entered Israel can apply for citizenship, but it takes time maneuvering bureaucratic hurdles and providing documentation. To purchase the documents necessary cost hundreds of dollars, an impossible sum for these refugees.

Please pray and consider giving a generous gift of hope to families in need. Sadly, history has a way of repeating itself. The world has witnessed a rise of anti-Semitism and unless we take a stand, and proactively speak out and help, it will continue. The unrelenting senseless acts of hatred are too awful to ignore. We must help those who are suffering this despicable persecution. Today, those who stand with Israel will not be nations, but individuals. In the last days, Her allies will be the children of God, His family from around the world who will rally to prayerfully support His people.

Will you partner with Feeding The Nations by compassionately giving a gift to demonstrate the love of God? Please join with us to alleviate this suffering. Pray for Israel, and as we give, please remember the words of Psalm 122, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper.”

To join with us in these efforts, simply click here and designate your gift for the Israel Project.

Yours for the Hungry,
Steve and Diane Sumrall

Greece: A High Price for Faith

October 15, 2014 by Feeding the Nations

Greece has been in the middle of a financial catastrophe. Unemployment has hit 40 percent. People are angry. Demonstrations happen weekly. Businesses can’t afford to pay rent or stay open. Even still, in a country of 10 million people, nearly 1 million refugees have entered the country, fleeing Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Iran and other Middle Eastern countries in hopes of finding something better.

These refugees have left their homes, relatives, jobs and everything they know. Oftentimes families end up in different camps and countries, or they live outside in parks without any shelter or rights. Recently, Feeding The Nation’s (FTN) Finland office sent a team to Greece to feed some of these displaced families.

“Living in the street with four little children seems to be impossible, but unfortunately it is a reality for many in Athens,” said Paivi, FTN’s director in Finland. “You could see fear and hopelessness on their faces. One young man told me that he met pastor Philip in the park. ‘I liked what he said and I was very impressed of what he was doing. I have peace now and I am not afraid any more. Jesus is my Lord, I read the Bible every day and I like to pray,’ he said. He found Jesus three years ago and helps eagerly in the kitchen.”

FTN has been feeding 500-600 refugees weekly since the beginning of the year. Each time food is given, the Gospel is shared. “It was good to see how these Christian Afghanistan people welcomed everyone warmly, talked to them, listened to their worries,” Paivi said. “All of these people are Muslims and all the young men who I talked to told me their families had abandoned them because they had converted to Christianity. They surely pay a high price for their faith.”

While there, Paivi and the other team members worked with pastor Philip who has been a missionary in Greece for 24 years. “Refugees are often treated badly, and that’s why we want to treat them with respect and love and also give them good, tasty food,” he said. “God loves them and every one is precious to God.”

God does care for each and every person. We give thanks for Paivi, her team, Philip and everyone else who has made these feeding missions possible. Lives are being changed because of them. People are turning to God, even at the risk of losing their families. That is indeed a high price for their faith.

Please join with us in making more outreaches, such as these, possible. Help us reach more people around the world with food, hope, and most importantly, the Word of God. Simply click here to do so.

1,000 Miles for Hunger

September 24, 2014 by Feeding the Nations

This Saturday, September 27, Jeff Nicolet will ride his motorcycle from South Bend, Ind., to the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan, all in an effort to fulfill a need he saw. For the last 10 years, Jeff has had a strong desire to support the kind of outreaches and missions that Feeding The Nations (FTN) is involved in around the world. The only thing was, he wanted to take a different approach.

“I felt a responsibility and ownership to take food and hope to those countries, but I didn’t have a way to bridge the gap between where I am in Indiana and where the food goes to other countries,” Jeff said. “I thought the best way to demonstrate that gap would be to do a symbolic ride to the biggest nearby bridge and ask for support.”

Jeff decided to combine his desire to help the hungry and his enjoyment of motorcycles by challenging himself to create the Ride to the Bridge for Feeding The Nations. The ride covers 1,000 miles and takes a total of 20 hours round trip. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the ride.

Over the last decade, Jeff has raised thousands of dollars for FTN by asking others to support his ride through donations to FTN. This year, all funds he raises as a result of the ride will go to helping complete the construction of the new warehouse on the FTN campus. When completed, this warehouse will make it possible to feed even more people domestically and internationally.

If you would like to support Jeff’s ride, simply click here and designate your donation for the “Ride to the Bridge.” For donations of $25 or more, you can choose to receive a T-shirt to wear your support for Feeding The Nations. If you would like to receive a shirt, specify your shirt size in the message box when donating.

(Photo credit @iStock.com/summersetretrievers.)

Mexico: The Eternal Impact Soup Can Make

September 16, 2014 by Feeding the Nations

We recently sent 43,000 pounds of dried vegetable soup mix (enough to make nearly 1 million bowls of soup) to Mexico. We received word that the food has been a true blessing for those who have received it, not only meeting their immediate needs, but also making an eternal impact on their lives and relationships with Christ. The food was distributed by Jerusalem Evangelical Ministries (JEM) and was given to countless children, destitute families and individuals, homeless, orphans, widows, elderly and more.

“This shipment of dried soup mix was very timely in providing healthy nourishment for many destitute people of all ages who suffer throughout most seasons of the year from conditions of hunger and malnutrition,” said Lanny Anderson, JEM director of missions. “These conditions are especially prevalent in the rural villages and inner-city communities we minister to in Northern Mexico.”

Lanny went on to tell the story of Laura, a woman who received a portion of the food, but more importantly, she came to know Christ through this mission:

In late April of this year, Laura lost her husband and an infant child in a tragic accident which was too gruesome to describe. Being left alone with a five-year-old son, Laura was encouraged by her parents to move to Cheke’ where a small dirt floor dwelling was prepared for her to live in with the financial and volunteer assistance of the church. Up to this time, Laura had not known Christ in her life yet, and she was still suffering from the severe shock of losing her loved ones. She had many questions in her heart about why this tragedy had happened and was reluctant to seek guidance for her spiritual, and emotional needs. During the following weeks of May and June, Maria Porchas, our missions representative, made acquaintance with Laura and comforted her in the love of Christ. In her visits, Maria shared the message of the gospel and brought gifts of clothes and basic necessities for Laura and her son. These necessities included portions of the nutritious dried soup mix which was a blessing very appreciated by Laura. Through Maria’s witness and these means, Laura is now embracing Jesus and is attending church fellowship meetings regularly.

There are many testimonies that relate to the food shipments we receive. We consider ourselves at JEM very privileged and thankful in having a part in the coordination of receiving and distributing the food donations. I must say again, as I have done in previous reports, that it is so wonderful to see the children and malnourished partake in this blessing. Like our brother James said in scripture, “Faith without Deeds is Dead.” (James 2:26) May the Lord be Glorified!

Thank you to all who helped make this possible. To join with us in reaching others with much-needed nutrition and the love of Christ, donate today.

10 Years of Feeding The Nations

Give the Gift of Hope this Christmas

Greece: A High Price for Faith

1,000 Miles for Hunger

Mexico: The Eternal Impact Soup Can Make

Our Own Story

Support Our Mission

FTN Archive

e-newsletter signup!

Our Own Story

Support Our Mission

FTN Archive

e-newsletter signup!

FTN in Social Media