What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. - James 2:14-17

Nutrition is one of the most overlooked areas in global health and development today. Though the U.S. has been a historic leader in engaging the global fight for infectious disease prevention, family planning, clean water, and maternal health and child survival, nutrition remains a fraction of the budget for foreign assistance. There is an urgent need for advocacy to focus attention on the critical need to eliminate hunger and malnutrition, particularly for mothers and their infants in the first 1000 days of life. Consider these harsh facts:

  • Nearly 1 in 3 people worldwide suffer from malnutrition. If this were a disease, we would call it a pandemic of biblical proportions. This hunger leads to the lifelong problems of chronic disease and weakened immune systems.
  • For 1 in 4 children around the world, malnutrition leads to stunting. Stunted growth during the formative years of childhood diminishes both cognitive and physical capacity for a lifetime, severely limiting learning in school and later earning potential.
  • Due to poor nutrition, over half a billion women suffer from iron deficiency during pregnancy, often leading to anemia and even death. This deficiency also causes serious health problems for their infants.

Clearly, the need for proper nutrition is dire. However, there are effective, efficient and easy solutions. Supplementation is a success, including the addition of micronutrients, protein, iron and folic acid. Improving breastfeeding practice so that infants get the most of their mothers’ milk is another useful practice. Such basic practices can save lives and improve futures. Nutrition is an investment in “gray matter infrastructure.” For every $1 invested, $16 is produced because of improved cognitive function translating into greater individual earning potential and community economic development.

With support from the Eleanor Crook Foundation, Hope Through Healing Hands has launched a new campaign to galvanize interest, support, and advocacy for the issues of global nutrition. Join us by signing onto our Declaration of Commitment to Global Nutrition issues (below), and receive invitations to participate in sign-on letters to our leaders in Washington.

For more information on nutritional needs in the developing world, see Just the Facts: Global Nutrition.

Declaration of Commitment to Global Nutrition: Signatures

We, the undersigned, commit our voices to speaking up to maintain or increase funding for U.S. global food security and nutrition programs for women and children in developing nations. We will leverage our networks in the United States and offer our personal support to increase advocacy for federal funding and effective policies to support bilateral and multilateral food security and nutrition programs. As Christian leaders, we call on others to join our effort to champion life-saving measures to "feed the hungry" as Jesus calls us to do in Matthew 25.

Jeff Ables Lead Pastor, Crossroads Church Lafayette, LA
Tim Ahlman Pastor, Christ’s Greenfield Lutheran Church Gilbert, AZ
Guy Ames Associate Pastor, Asbury United Methodist Church Tulsa, OK
Jamie D. Aten, Ph.D. Founder & Executive Director, Humanitarian Disaster Institute Wheaton, IL
Taylor Bell Minister of Community Engagement- Baptist Church of the Covenant Birmingham, AL
Rev. William Bohline Founding Pastor, Author, Hosanna! Lutheran Church Lakeville, MN
Jeremy Bose Producer, Songwriter, and Artist Nashville, TN 
Rick Bowles North Texas FCA Multi-Area Director Dallas, TX
Matt Bronleewe Producer, Songwriter, and Artist  Nashville, TN
Rev. Carol Calvin-Dillon Senior Pastor, West End United Methodist Church Nashville, TN
CJ Casciotta Author, Speaker, Media Maker Franklin, TN
Ashley Cleveland Recording Artist, Author, and Speaker Franklin, TN
Erin Conway Pastor, Seventh & James Baptist Church Waco, TX
Dr. Timothy Cowin Lead Pastor, The Rock Church of St. Louis St. Louis, MO
Dale Dawson Founder, Chairman, & CEO, Bridge2Rwanda Little Rock, AR
Jerry Fincher Lead Pastor, Atlantic Coast Church New Smyrna Beach, FL
Jeff Ford Director of Global Good, Cross Point Church Nashville, TN
Emily Fuentes Executive Director, New Hope Children Los Angeles, CA
Rev. Brian Garrison Rector, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church and School DeLand, FL
Dale Golden Senior Pastor, Trinity United Methodist Church DeLand, FL
Andrew Greer Artist, Songwriter, and Author Franklin, TN
Andrew Gullahorn Recording Artist Nashville, TN
Michael Hart Associate Pastor, University Presbyterian Church Orlando, FL
Mike Hart Missions Pastor, First Baptist Tulsa Tulsa, OK
Rev. Joshua McCrory Hatcher Senior Pastor, Historic Trinity Lutheran Church St. Louis, MO 
Rev. John Harris Associate Pastor, Downtown Baptist Church Orlando, FL
Dr. William "Hess" Hester Senior Pastor, Southern Hills Baptist Church Tulsa, OK
Rev. Dr. Edwin Hurley Senior Minister, South Highland Presbyterian Church Birmingham, AL
Adam Huschka Leadership & Vision Pastor, Narrate Church Helena, MT
Cameron James Recording Artist, Songwriter, Speaker, Health Care Advocate Nashville, TN
Mark Johnson Associate Pastor, Shades Crest Baptist Church Hoover, AL 
Randy Jumper Missions Pastor, First Assembly North Little Rock, AR
Chad Karger Director, Porter's Call Artist Counseling Franklin, TN
Jim Keena Lead Pastor, Evangelical Free Church of Bozeman Bozeman, MT
Carmen LaBerge Author and Radio Host, ReconnectwithCarmen.com Nashville, TN
Jon Lee President, The Living Water Project Brentwood, TN
Chuck Love Lead Pastor, Beechland Baptist Church Louisville, KY
Matt Maher Artist Nashville, TN
Bill Mason Senior Pastor, Morris Hill Baptist Church Chattanooga, TN
John Mays Senior Vice President of A&R, Centricity Music Franklin, TN
Mike McCloskey General Manager, First Company Management Brentwood, TN 
Justin McRoberts Artist, Author, Songwriter Martinez, CA
Jon Middendorf Pastor, Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene Oklahoma City, OK
Matt Nutter Director of Global Outreach, Central Christian Church Mesa, AZ
Andrew Osenga Recording Artist, Podcast Host Nashville, TN
Andy Peterson Founder, Justice Film Festival / Different Drummer Nashville, TN 
Justin Park Director of Missions, Rock Point Church Chattanooga, TN
Rev. S. Bradford Pellish Pastor of Outreach, Bethany Bible Church Phoenix, AZ
Andrew Peterson Recording Artist and Author Cane Ridge, TN
Anna Reed Phillips Co-Founder and Director of Development, Bridge2Rwanda Nashville, TN
Robert Rex Record, M.D. CEO, Christ Health Center Birmingham, AL
Dr. Francis Rushton Mission Justice & Service Member, First Presbyterian Church Birmingham, AL
Diana Sagot Lead Pastor, Calvary Church Kendall, FL
Rev. Doug Serven Pastor, City Pres OKC Oklahoma City, OK
Rev. Britt Skarda Senior Pastor, Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Little Rock, AR
Jason K. Smith Associate Pastor, Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene Oklahoma City, OK
Dr. Bruce Speer Senior Pastor, Crosspoint Church Missoula, MT
Deron Spoo Pastor, First Baptist Tulsa Tulsa, OK
Jeff Spry Founder, The Spry Group Columbia, KY
Brad Stephenson Lead Pastor, Deltona Alliance Church Deltona, FL
Curtis Stoneberger CEO, Bridgekick Events & Management  Nashville, TN
Joel Schoon-Tanis Illustrator, Emmy-Winning Artist Holland, MI
Buddy Teaster  President and CEO, Soles4Souls Old Hickory, TN
Tiffany Turner Director of Outreach, Soles4Souls Old Hickory, TN
Brad Ulgenes Pastor, St. John's Lutheran Church Helena, MT
Rev. Chad Wible Pastor, Covenant Community Church Kirkwood, MO
Rev. R. G. Wilson-Lyons Associate Pastor, Birmingham First United Methodist Church  Birmingham, AL
Rev. David Wiggs Senior Pastor, Boston Avenue United Methodist Church Tulsa, OK
Rev. Joseph R. Woodfin Associate Rector, St. Paul's Episcopal Church  Chattanooga, TN
Jessica Wolstenholm Author & Founder, Gather and Grow  Brentwood, TN

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