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Pastors Message

Souper Bowl of Caring

A simple prayer – "Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat" – is inspiring a youth-led movement to help hungry and hurting people around the world. This is the history of this day as told by Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C.

This prayer, delivered by Brad Smith, then a seminary intern serving at Spring Valley, gave birth to an idea. Why not use Super Bowl weekend, a time when people come together for football and fun, to also unify the nation for a higher good: collecting dollars and canned food for the needy? Youth could collect donations at their schools and churches, and then send every dollar DIRECTLY to a local charity of THEIR choice.

The senior high youth of Spring Valley Presbyterian liked the idea so much they decided to invite other area churches to join the team. Twenty-two Columbia churches participated that first year, reporting their results so a total could be determined, and then sending all $5,700 they had raised to area non-profits.

That was 1990. Since then, ordinary young people have generated an extraordinary $81 million for soup kitchens, food banks and other charities in communities across the country. In addition, hundreds of thousands of youth have experienced for themselves the joy and satisfaction of giving and serving, inspiring people of all ages to follow their generous example.

On Super Bowl Sunday we will be collecting at Little Brown Church. The fundamental idea is that is everyone donates a dollar, which is roughly the cost of a bag of potato chips, a candy bar or a soda – something that literally millions of people will consume while watching the football game – the youth can make a difference. So when our young people pass around their unique containers next week at the close of the children's story, please help them put a stop to hunger.

Pastor Mary

churchpastor@brownchurchofsunol.org

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