Food is a basic human necessity, and even in the biblical story of creation, God made provisions for food before creating man. This suggests that ensuring people have something to eat is not just a human responsibility but a divine principle. If God Himself prioritized food, then it raises an important question, shouldn’t churches also take food security seriously?
The Role of Churches in Addressing Hunger
Churches have always played a crucial role in supporting communities, offering spiritual guidance, education, healthcare, and sometimes even financial aid. But one of the most urgent issues today, being hunger, is often left unaddressed. Many congregants and communities struggle to afford daily meals, because the cost of living is high, yet churches possess large tracts of land that remain unused.
Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast’s Department of Crop Science, Dr. Frank Kwekucher Ackah, in an interview with The High Street Journal, pointed out that the church can do more to tackle hunger. According to him, “the church should not just pray for people to find food; it should create systems that ensure its members do not go hungry.”
“We have churches on almost every street, and they own so much land, yet people are hungry because food prices are rising. Shouldn’t the church take steps to ensure its people can afford to eat?” he stated.
Jesus and the Feeding of the Hungry
The ministry of Jesus wasn’t just about preaching and performing miracles; he also cared deeply about people’s physical needs. A clear example of this is when a large crowd followed him, listening to his teachings, and after some time, they grew hungry. Instead of sending them away, Jesus made sure they were fed.
Dr. Ackah highlighted this, saying, “When the crowd followed Jesus and they were hungry, He fed them. If Jesus, who had the power to focus only on spiritual matters, made sure people were physically nourished, why should today’s churches ignore this responsibility?”
His point suggests that churches should follow Christ’s example—not only preaching about love and compassion but also demonstrating it in practical ways.
A Call to Action: Churches in Agribusiness
With the vast amount of land churches own, they have a unique opportunity to engage in farming and agribusiness. By cultivating crops and rearing animals, churches can directly support their congregations and communities. This goes beyond charity—it is about building a sustainable system where food is always available.
Dr. Ackah emphasized this, stating: “Instead of always relying on offerings and donations, churches can generate income through agribusiness. This revenue can be reinvested into social programs, educational support, and even church expansion.” In other words, farming wouldn’t just help feed people; it could also provide financial stability for the church itself.
Beyond financial gains, church-led farming could also create jobs, especially for the youth. Many young people within church communities struggle with unemployment, but if churches venture into agriculture, they could provide opportunities for them to earn a living and gain valuable skills.
As Dr. Ackah put it: “There are many young people in our churches who are unemployed. If churches set up farms, these young men and women can find meaningful work, gain skills, and even become self-reliant in the long run.”
He also pointed out that increasing food production could help lower food prices. “The more food is produced locally, the lower the cost of living. Churches can play a major role in ensuring food is available and affordable for everyone, not just their members,” he explained.
Around the world, some churches have already embraced farming as part of their mission. In certain parts of the U.S., churches allocate portions of land for community farming, ensuring that both members and the less privileged have access to food. Ghanaian churches could adopt a similar model, using their lands to provide for their communities while also generating revenue.
The role of the church goes beyond preaching and praying, it is also about taking care of people’s physical needs. If God ensured that food was in place before creating man, and if Jesus himself fed the hungry, then churches today must see food production as a responsibility, not just an option.
As Dr. Ackah rightly said, “Churches must follow Christ’s example, not just preaching about love but demonstrating it through tangible actions like feeding the hungry.”
