As the nation looks to the holidays and fallout from the longest government shutdown in history, funds are slowly becoming available to fund SNAP programs for 42 million Americans. At the same time, the Make America Healthy Again movement is poised to resurrect a…
A committee of one
On Thanksgiving Day, when my sons and I sit down for dinner, we will be joined by a gentleman who spent the past 12 years living the harrowing life of an unhoused person. While living on the streets, he suffered…
US bishops choose leader accused of ‘enabling’ abusive priests
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops elected conservative Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City as its new president Nov. 11. The move by the American Catholic Church drew both calls for unity from the new leader and a…
A call to servant leadership in a nation that has forgotten its people
A historic government shutdown is taking a toll on Americans in a myriad of ways. Perhaps among the cruelest is the federal government’s refusal to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as SNAP, which more than 42 million Americans…
Trump triples down to block food benefits for hungry Americans
After a weekend of rapid-fire developments in the battle over food benefits for hungry families, the Trump administration has tripled down on its demands that SNAP payments not be made during the government shutdown. The brazenness of the administration’s demands…
As Trump balks on SNAP, advocates return to court
A coalition of small businesses, faith-based nonprofits and small governments returned to court Nov. 4 after the Trump administration gave mixed signals about its compliance with a judge’s order to resume food stamp payments during the government shutdown. The group…
SNAP and my family
I was ordained in 2019 in what is called the CCCC (Conservative Congregational Christian Conference) after spending time as pastor of an American Baptist church in Kansas. Because of the political upheaval in the part of the country we were…
Methodists jump to action with food ministries
Even as the Trump administration announced it would restore federal food benefits at half their usual levels, United Methodists across the United States rallied to feed hungry people while the U.S. government shutdown continues. Two federal judges ordered the restoration…
The hypocrisy of Christian nationalists not feeding the hungry
So let me see if I’ve got this right: According to Christian nationalists, the evangelical church ought to have control over America and run the government strictly by Christian principles. Why, then, are these same people unwilling to follow the…
Government Shutdown Deepens Hunger Crisis
When paychecks and SNAP distributions stop, the food pantry line grows.
Ministries prepare to serve families losing SNAP benefits
Community ministries and Texas Baptist churches with food pantries prepared for a sharp rise in needs after Nov. 1, when 3.5 million Texans—including 1.7 million children—expect to lose food assistance benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown.
Federal judge bars freeze in food assistance
A federal judge in Rhode Island barred the Trump administration Oct. 31 from freezing food stamp spending during the ongoing government shutdown. About 42 million recipients were set to lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits Nov. 1 but Judge John…