During the past eight months, the South Carolina Baptist Convention has distributed approximately $12,000 a month to relieve hunger across the state, depleting much of the monies contributed last year through the World Hunger Relief Offering.

   The SCBC began 2003 with about $57,000 remaining for hunger relief work, according to Steve Scudder, mobilization strategist for the SCBC's missions mobilization group. During the past eight months, another $43,000 was contributed by Baptist churches across the state for a total of about $100,000. 

   But because of the slow economy and higher than normal unemployment, disbursements to church and association hunger ministries and other agencies have exceeded $96,000, he said. With four months still to go, that's a huge cause for concern for Scudder.

   "South Carolina Baptists have been giving generously to the World Hunger Relief Offering," Scudder affirmed. "And, if the trend holds, this could be one of our top three years in contributions in the offering's history.

   "The problem, however, is that requests for assistance from relief ministries have increased dramatically," Scudder said. "There are simply more people needing the relief ministries out there."

   With World Hunger Relief Sunday scheduled to be observed in churches Oct. 12, Scudder believes that this is a good time for South Carolina Baptists to pray about what they might be able to give this year. Because of the special emphasis, more than two-thirds of all of the state's hunger relief funding is typically contributed during the last three months of the year.

   Last year, more than $720,000 was contributed by churches to the World Hunger Relief Offering. According to the offering's allocation formula, 70 percent of that amount was sent to the International Mission Board to aid 220 hunger relief projects in more than 60 countries. Fifteen percent was sent to the North American Mission Board, which fed more than 1.8 million people and reported 10,000 professions of faith as a result of its hunger ministries.

   Meanwhile, 15 percent, or about $120,000, stayed in South Carolina to help churches and associations provide local hunger relief ministries. As of August, more than 82,000 people have been helped at more than 60 ministry sites statewide, and more than 400 professions of faith have been recorded, Scudder reported.

   "I stand amazed at the generosity of South Carolina Baptists, especially through these tough economic times. The cries for help to our churches have exceeded all expectations," Scudder said.

   "I am confident in God's provision and the faithfulness of South Carolina Baptists," he added. "We will do our best to help people during these times and share faith in Christ as we do."