The Stop Hunger Now Miracle In Culpeper

05 Feb

“Stop Hunger Now is an international hunger relief organization that coordinates the distribution of food and other life-saving aid around the world.”

‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; (Matthew 25:35)

What role is God calling you to play to feed the hungry?

About 2 years ago, Virginia Morton approached her church about bringing Stop Hunger Now to Culpeper after Rev. Lee Warren, a good friend of hers, peaked her interest. Lee is a United Methodist minister from South Hill, Virginia and oversees Stop Hunger Now in Virginia. This program has mushroomed since Lee took it over.

It turned out the timing wasn’t right, so Virginia later approached Erick Kalenga, founder of the Rize-Up youth ministry, and he embraced the idea. Erick arranged for Lee to speak on May 5th, 2008 at the Stop Hunger Now assembly at Culpeper County High School (CCHS). The vision was cast, but Erick still needed a point person to manage this project.

In late 2008, Natalie Rosenberger was praying for God to show her what He wanted to do at the same time the Holy Spirit prompted Erick to call Natalie about taking charge over the Stop Hunger Now project. Natalie is 19 years old and had been involved with Rize Up at Culpeper High School before graduating in June 2008. She is the daughter of Brad Rosenberger, one of the seven supervisors on Culpeper County Board of Supervisors.

I first met Natalie on December 21, 2008 (4 days before Christmas) when she came with Erick Kalenga to the weekly Friday Pray Culpeper meeting at Reformation Lutheran Church. Virginia, Dewey McDonnell, and I formed a circle around Natalie and Erick laying hands on them and praying for God’s favor for Natalie to be able to raise at least $5,000 by Feb 7, the date they hoped to pack at least 20,000 meals at CCHS.

On January 9, I went to the Best Western in Culpeper to hear and videotape Natalie and Erick share about the Stop Hunger Now opportunity to a small, but influential group of pulpit and marketplace ministers. Now Natalie had the daunting task of raising $5,000 in just 4 weeks.

Through another set of miraculous circumstances, Soul Purpose Church was able to bring Apologetix, a Christian parody band, to Liberty High School in Bealeton Virginia on Sat January 31. When Natalie was allowed to share about Stop Hunger Now for 3 minutes, I learned that she had now raised $4,200. An additional $500 was raised at that concert.

Yesterday I spoke with both Natalie and Erick and learned they have now raised $5,200 and hope to raise another $800 by Feb 6 for a grand total of $6,000.

Come experience the miracle! If you live locally and are available, you’re invited to join Natalie, Erick, and more than 50 other volunteers at CCHS on Saturday February 7 to CCHS to package about 24,000 meals. The packing officially starts at 10 am, but Erick is asking volunteers to arrive by 9:30 am if possible. Bring your kids. Bring your friends. Everyone who comes will be blessed.

Each highly nutritional meal costs only 25 cents. 100 people can package the 24,000 meals in just 2 hours. That’s enough to feed an orphanage with 48 children twice a day for 7 months. Children as young as 5 years old can get involved and help with the meal packing.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, thank You for Natalie Rosenberger and for her UNCOMMON obedience as she stepped out in faith trusting You completely. Thank You for providing exceeding abundantly above and beyond what she imagined. Thank You for every person who will show up on Sat Feb 7 to package these 24,000 meals. May You bless each one of them and all those who receive these meals. Thank You Jesus. Amen and hallelujah!

Blessings of the Day
Stop Hunger Now YouTube videos – these are short and heart-moving [see below]

JIREH Marketing: Empowering Christiant Women – recorded audio from Feb 3 webinar

Experiencing God Through Journaling: Life and Relationship Enrichment – recorded audio from Feb 3 webinar

Blessings to partake of the Stop Hunger Now miracle!

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Due to the initiative and faith of Natalie Rosenberger, Rize Up exceeded its goal of raising $5,000, which will allow > 20,000 meals to be packaged by 40-80 volutneers in a single day (Feb 7) to feed starving and malnourished people around the world. We can make a difference in the world as a community, but we need your help.

Watch this inspiring 6 minute YouTube video below and then get involved. Your help and support will make a BIG difference!

Million Meal University Packaging, Fall 2008

On January 9, 2009, Natalie Rosenberger and Erick Kalenga shared their Stop Hunger Now goal at the Best Western to an engaged audience at the Best Western in Culpeper, Virginia.

Natalie Rosenberger shares heart on Jan 9, 2009

Erick Kalenga shares his heart on Jan 9, 2009

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