Current Events & Trends: 200 million fewer hungry than in 1990

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In the mid-20th century, food shortages and hunger were a big concern. Some progress has since been made, but hunger has yet to be eradicated.

A recent New York Times article reported there is less hunger today than in 1990, with 200 million fewer people in the world now living with hunger than did then (Rick Gladstone, “U.N. Reports About 200 Million Fewer Hungry People Than in 1990,” May 27, 2015). “But the report also illustrated failures, especially in parts of Africa, where in some regions more than one in three people remain hungry. Twenty-four African countries currently face food crises” (ibid).

No matter how hard we try, it doesn’t seem like food shortages will go away. Population growth coupled with water shortages do not lead to a bountiful future. Some scientific advancements have led to the mass production of foods, but there may be unforeseen outcomes. The long-term effects of genetically modified organisms remain to be seen. But the slight increase in food is encouraging for the time being.

The Bible does warn of increasing famines before the return of Jesus. We will see more shortages and suffering. But thankfully that’s not the end of the story.

“‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it’” (Amos 9:13). At that time, “everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree [having personal shelter and sustenance], and no one shall make them afraid” (Micah 4:4).

God plans to intervene in the world’s problems. The hunger issue we have struggled with will be eradicated. God gives us so much hope for His coming Kingdom of peace and abundance. (Source: The New York Times.)

Rudy Rangel attends the Cincinnati East, Ohio congregation along with his wife Judy and two children. 

Tom is an elder in the United Church of God who works from his home near St. Louis, Missouri as managing editor and senior writer for Beyond Today magazine, church study guides and the UCG Bible Commentary. He is a visiting instructor at Ambassador Bible College. And he serves as chairman of the church's Prophecy Advisory Committee and a member of the Fundamental Beliefs Amendment Committee.

Tom began attending God's Church at the age of 16 in 1985 and was baptized a year later. He attended Ambassador College in both Texas and California and served for a year as a history teacher at the college's overseas project in Sri Lanka. He graduated from the Texas campus in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in theology along with minors in English and mass communications. Since 1994, he has been employed as an editor and writer for church publications and has served in local congregations through regular preaching of sermons.

Tom was ordained to the ministry in 2012 and attends the Columbia-Fulton, Missouri congregation with his wife Donna and their two teen children. 
 

 

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