Remember those In Chains for Evangelism, those who Need an Introduction to the Gospel & those who are Hungry or Thirsty. (based on Hebrews 13:3, Matthew 28:18-20 and Matthew 25:35-45)

Although eating white rice for dinner may seem to us to be a sacrifice, in Africa it is a luxury food that many would love to enjoy.  Rice is the same price there as it is in the US, but most Ugandans simply cannot afford to purchase it.  Read the blog post No Child Left Behind for John Mugabi’s perspective on food.

Isaac, the boy in the green overalls, is from Gulu, an area of the "Invisble Children" in northern Uganda. Isaac's mom recently died from AIDS.

This is one compassionate way to remember the poor.  Eat something less expensive (like white rice for your evening meal) and share what you’ve saved with those who are hungry and malnourished.

If a family of four eats rice one meal a week in lieu of eating out or eating a regular meal, they will likely save enough to sponsor at least one orphan for an entire month. (Eat as much rice as you want–the point is not that we be hungry, but that we share our abundance with those in need. 2 Corinthians 8:13-14)

Or, we can take the example of Experito’s church in Gulu and fast (or eat white rice) one or two days a week. I know of one family who recently decided to eat rice and beans one day each week.  With the grocery money they are saving, they are sponsoring two additional children.  That’s worth celebrating!!

Jesus watches our giving with great interest.  And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box.  And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins…and he said to (his disciples), “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all (the others)…For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had. Mark 12:41-44

Download fliers for RICE NIGHT here:

Click here to meet children waiting for sponsors

Click here to sponsor a child now

Creatively helping our children Remember The Poor

• Introduce your child to the child you are sponsoring.  Show them their picture and tell them their story.
• Each week when you eat rice, place dollar bills under each person’s plate.  Explain that this money is what you might normally have spent on a more expensive dinner.
• Allow each family member to place the money in a jar on the kitchen table.
• At the end of each month, send the money to care for the orphan.
• If you’d like, your child(ren) may also become pen pals with the orphan(s) you are sponsoring.

Allowing our children to participate in eating rice helps them learn to live out Luke 9:23,24.

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”  Luke 9:23,24