I Was Hungry - by Jeremy K Everett (Paperback)

About the Book

The founder and executive director of the Texas Hunger Initiative calls Christians to work intentionally across ideological divides to build trust with impoverished communities and effectively end the crisis of hunger. 306 minutes.

Book Synopsis

Hunger is one of the most significant issues in America. One in eight Americans struggles with hunger, and more than thirteen million children live in food insecure homes. As Christians we are called to address the suffering of the hungry and poor: "For I was hungry, and you gave me food . . ." (Matthew 25:35). However, the problems of hunger and poverty are too large and too complex for any one of us to resolve individually.

I Was Hungry offers not only an assessment of the current crisis but also a strategy for addressing it. Jeremy Everett, a noted advocate for the hungry and poor, calls Christians to work intentionally across ideological divides to build trust with one another and impoverished communities and effectively end America's hunger crisis. Everett, appointed by US Congress to the National Commission on Hunger, founded and directs the Texas Hunger Initiative, a successful ministry that is helping to eradicate hunger in Texas and around the globe. Everett details the organization's history and tells stories of its work with communities from West Texas to Washington, DC, helping Christians of all political persuasions understand how they can work together to truly make a difference.

From the Back Cover

"I was hungry and you gave me food . . ." (Matthew 25:35)

"Jesus taught us that how we treat the least among us is how we treat him. 'It was me, ' Jesus says very directly. Everett, a respected advocate for the hungry, does what few do well: he connects faith to public policy."
--Jim Wallis, New York Times bestselling author of America's Original Sin; president of Sojourners; editor in chief of Sojourners magazine

"Nothing beats the influence of a great story, and Everett has a powerful one to tell. His insights into the issues of poverty and hunger, his journey to the founding of the Texas Hunger Initiative, and his combination of humility and faithfulness make him a captivating author."
--Ambassador Tony P. Hall

"A call to action for one of the most pressing issues facing our nation. In one of the most polarizing eras in our history, Everett points us toward unity for the common good. May it be so!"
--Frank Wolf, former member of the US House of Representatives

"This is a must-read, and my hope is that we all allow it to speak to us, to challenge us--despite our many different walks of life, political persuasions, and perspectives--to participate together in 'bending our universe towards justice.'"
--Heather Reynolds, Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities, University of Notre Dame

"This book is Everett at his best. Part prophetic call to action, part how-to manual--with plenty of encouragement as we face the challenges ahead--it is deeply theological, profoundly practical, and intensely hopeful."
--Victor J. Hinojosa, Honors Program, Baylor University

"If it feels like the solutions to hunger and poverty have always seemed to elude, it won't feel that way after you've read this book. It is a blueprint for a more inclusive, prosperous, and compassionate America."
--Billy Shore, founder and executive chair of Share Our Strength

"Everett's book will appeal to Christians looking to give back to their community, as well as any reader interested in the plight of America's poor."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Jeremy K. Everett (MDiv, Baylor University) is the founder and executive director of the Texas Hunger Initiative, an organization that partners with the United States Department of Agriculture, Texas state agencies, the corporate sector, and thousands of faith- and community-based organizations to develop and implement strategies to alleviate hunger through policy, education, research, and community organizing. A noted advocate for the hungry, he served on the National Commission on Hunger, has spent over two decades ministering to the poor, and frequently speaks on poverty, hunger, community development, and social entrepreneurship. Everett regularly writes for HuffPost and has been featured in PBS documentaries, in newspapers such as the Dallas Morning News, and on talk shows.