Food for the Hungry recently welcomed three new, Nashville-based recording artists as partners in the ministry: Jessica Campbell, Jonathan Lee and Mikeschair. As Food for the Hungry artists, they will use their platforms at concerts to speak about God’s love for the poor and encourage audiences to sponsor children in need.

Jessica Campbell, a folk-rock artist, just released a five-song EP (extended play), Put the Stars Back, on January 27. Jessica also has a passion for missions, having served in Honduras on several mission trips.

"Once I met the people in Honduras and saw their needs firsthand, I wanted to find a way to support the humanitarian efforts with my music,” she says. Jessica will focus on finding sponsors for children in Latin America.

 

 

 

Jonathan Lee is a worship leader with a desire “to worship the King of kings with all of his heart and his life with the hope of leading people to the true heart of God,” according to his Web site. Jonathan’s full-length worship project, Let Them Hear, is expected to release in the first quarter of 2009.

 

 

Mikeschair is composed of four young men who are very passionate about social justice and excited to express their enthusiasm through Food for the Hungry. The band has opened for Jeremy Camp, Jars of Clay, Mercy Me and Brandon Heath. Mikeschair also tours and continually writes new music of its own, challenging listeners to live out the Gospel today.

“There’s something more here than just music,” says band member Jesse Hale. “We’re presenting something that’s very precious to audiences and listeners. It’s the Gospel in action.”

 

true: shift
Food for the Hungry and True Campaign are collaborating to reach out to those struggling with eating and body image issues and challenge them to redirect feelings of emotional hunger into a passion for the poor and needy.

To offer an opportunity for people to become tangibly involved in addressing the issues related to self-image and eating disorders, true:shift was formed and serves as the primary action arm of the partnership.

“We believe that God takes the initiative to reach out and love people right where they are at,” says Benjamin K. Homan, president and CEO of Food for the Hungry. “Sadly, many people succumb to the world’s distorted idea of beauty, value and identity rather than embrace God’s view of worth and success.”

“We’ve known there was something compelling about recognizing that we spend more than $80 billion on items meant to enhance our outward appearance, such as diets, cosmetic surgery, fancy creams and makeup,” says Constance Rhodes, True Campaign (www.truecampaign.org) co-founder. She points out that if these dollars are redirected, “we can actually satisfy tangible, physical hunger in our sisters (and brothers) around the world, while at the same time meeting some of our own needs for purpose, love and relationship in ways that our physical appearance never will.”

The first project with true:shift is to partner with the village of El Gade, Kenya, where numerous children and their families stand to benefit through child sponsorship and will have the opportunity to know and embrace God’s amazing love.

The True Campaign is a joint effort of FINDINGbalance and Remuda Ranch.