Today I lead a forum at our church on preparing for coming food shortages. I was impressed with the maturity and evenness of our participants. Some have been “Preppers” for years, others are just getting started. The most important thing was that we all share concerned for every member of the local body.
We keep our eyes on Jesus, not just the wind and waves. Food shortages constitute one wave to be aware of and prepare for – but our eyes must always be set on Jesus!
For those interesting in viewing the notes from our first meeting, Here You Go! I encourage you to consider doing something for your own church fellowship!
Steven C Johnson
Landing Strip Enterprises
RESPONDING IN THE SPIRIT AND POWER OF JESUS CHRIST
TO CONCERNS ABOUT FOOD SHORTAGES. July 24, 2022
Thank you for joining us and caring about your church fellowship enough to be here. Our subject for discussion is, responding in the spirit and power of Jesus Christ to concerns about food shortages.
We will be covering several subjects on this matter and encourage your interactions, questions and suggestions. I hope we will all be good listeners, as well as talkers. Both are necessary to have a meaningful time.
Our end game is
First to discover how to prepare ourselves individually and as families for potential food scarcities. That’s independence.
Our second goal is to learn how we as believers in Jesus can support one another, particularly the vulnerable among us. That’s interdependence.
In the process of sharing we want to stimulate awareness and practical action rather than fear and anxiety. We are determined to maintain a Christ-centered, peace-filled attitude for greater community cohesion.
OUR TOPICS WILL BE
1 Are the danger warnings of food shortages credible?
2 What things cause food shortages?
3 What problems would we face if we had food shortages?
4 How can we prepare ourselves and our personal families?
5 How, as a Christian Church, can we watch out for and support one another in a food shortage window?
1 Are the danger warnings of food shortages credible?
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE FOLLOWED THE NEWS ABOUT FOOD SHORTAGES?
From the UN to White House there are reports about food concerns. Economist and food experts are talking about it. Warnings come from economists and food analysts. The most practical and awaking warnings come from everyday farmers.
Discussion
I was talking to a man who specializes in loan to farmers. Some farmers are asking, “Can I take the risk of taking out a greater loan to cover fuel and fertilizer costs?” Many farmers are down-sizing their crops and herds. Some are quitting. This man said the farmers themselves will be ok. He also told me emphatically, “There will be food shortages.”
Simply type in “Food shortages” and you will find many fact-based articles. One estimate saw 700 million are in immediate peril. It is overwhelming. I can’t blame people for not wanting to know about it. America will do better than most nations. But that doesn’t mean it will be easy.
DOMESTIC HEADLINES
RANCHERS RUSH TO SELL CATTLE AMID DROUGHT IN TEXAS
FOURTH-GENERATION FARMER: ‘FOOD SHORTAGE IS COMING’
SIX MONTHS TO COLOSSAL FOOD SHORTAGES: Attacks on Food Supply Chain
FOOD SHORTAGES 2022: LIST OF POTENTIAL FOODS IN SHORT SUPPLY
HOW BAD WILL THE FOOD SHORTAGE GET?
FOOD BANKS SEE FOOD SHORTAGES
GLOBAL HEADLINES
Global food shortage a ‘catastrophe,’ UN chief says
The global food crisis explained
Rising Social Unrest Over Energy, Food Shortages Threatens Global Stability
Food shortages could be ‘just as deadly’ as global pandemic
Food Shortages in Haiti Spiraling Out of Control
Only Putin can end the global food crisis, says UK’s Minister for Africa
How have you seen food prices go up? My parents saw in one month the price of groceries go from $300 to $400 with an identical grocery list.
2 What things cause food shortages?
Be dismayed, you farmers, wail, you vinedressers,
over the wheat and the barley;
for the crops of the field are ruined. Joel 1:11
Discussion
Famine is mostly man-made:
Government restriction on food production for “ecological” reasons
Government policies with Covid 19 set the economy back
Crops destroyed to keep food prices high
Poultry growers forced to kill millions of birds
Spending to stimulate programs set off inflation
Gas prices
Fertilizer prices
War in the Ukraine
Oligarchs and foreign nations like China purchasing farm land
Two million mouths to feed from the Southern boarder
Food plant fires
Droughts in much of the US. “because of this the land dries up.” Hos 4:3
3 What problems would we face if we had food shortages?
Discussion
Have you heard of The Maduro Diet?
Families in fear
Social infrastructure collapse
Riots
Wars
Population loss
Worldwide depression
4 How can we prepare our individual families for shortages?
Discussion
Scalable approaches: Prepare for 3 days, then 3 weeks, then 3 months.
10 ESSENTIALS FOR YOUR PANTRY
Water
Rice
Beans/lentils
Wheat/pasta
Oats
Canned meat/fish
Peanut butter
Cheese
Cooking oil
Salt and seasonings
40+ Foods You Can Store for a Year (or Longer) in Your Pantry
Pantry Staples: A Master List of Everything You Need
5 What resources or skills do you have to help the church?
Discussion
SKILLS TO SHARE
Gardening
Food preservation – Freezing, drying, canning, salting, smoking.
Foraging
Medicinal Herbs
Fishing
Hunting
Knife sharpening
Soap making
Sewing
Motor repair
Machining
Building skills
Water collection, purification and storage
Coupons
OTHER ___________________________________
MATERIAL RESOUCES TO SHARE
Share water
Share heating and food cooking
Food to share
Help others buy necessities
Space for someone to plant a garden or raise a goat
Seed saving and garden seed to share
Share a car ride
Phone call people
Child care
Other ____________________________________
I can lead a workshop on ____________________________________.
Name ____________________
Email_____________________________ Phone _________________
BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES AND ENCOURAGEMENTS ABOUT FOOD
CHRISTIANS CAN BE HUNGRY.
1 Cor 4:11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
JESUS CHRIST IS THE ULTIMATE FIX FOR HUNGER
John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Rev 7:16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat.
SOMETIMES WE DELIBERATELY CHOSE HUNGER.
Acts 13:2-3 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
A PROMISE FOR THE HUNGRY
Luke 6:21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.
WORKING YOUR LAND AND GAIN ABUNDANCE
Prov 28:19 Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
CORRUPT GOVERNMENTS OR INDIVIDUALS MAY STEAL
Prov 13:23 The field of the poor may produce much food, but it can be swept away through injustice.
GOD’S GRACE CAN KEEP US ALIVE IN FAMINE.
Psalm 37:18-20 “The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever; they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance. But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.”
Psalm 33:18-20 “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.
GOD CAN PROVIDE MIRACULOUSLY!
MANNA. Deut 8:3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
ELIJAH PROVIDED FOR BY RAVENS. 1 King 7:4 JESUS MULTIPLIED FOOD. Matt 14:13-21
WATER RESOURCES
Stored in bottles, rain barrels, water heater
Well water. Generator backups and hand pumps
Purifying with filter, chlorine or boiling
Remember water for washing and toileting. Chamber pot and latrine.
GARDENING LINKS
Is it too late to plant a garden?
Garden crops for a short season
WHAT TO PLANT IN A VICTORY GARDEN?
LIGHTING
Lanterns
Candles
Kerosene
Flashlights. Some are solar rechargeable
Solar yard lights
COMMUNICATIONS
Solar charger for phones and batteries
CB’s and walkie talkies
Short wave battery-powered radio.
Ham radio
Bulletin boards
Pen and paper
HEATING AND COOKING
Warm cloths/rain gear
Propane
White gas
Fire place
Grill
EMERGENCY BUGOUT KIT:
Provision for 72 Hours
WATER!
Bottles plus chlorine or iodine
ILLUMINATION
Flashlights and batteries
Matches, lighter, candles or glow sticks
COMMUNICATION
Radio, Cell phone and charger, 2-way radio, whistle, mirror (Phones may be down)
LOGISTICS TO CONSIDER
Agree on Rallying points. Out of state
phone numbers for rallying
DIRECTIONS
Maps, compass and watch (GPS’s may be down).
FOOD
Cliff bars, dried fruit, Nuts, oatmeal, Juice, tea, coffee, cocoa candies, peanut butter,
crackers, romaine noodles, canned food with pop tops or freeze dried food
KITCHEN
Dish soap, towels and cloths
Bunsen burner
Plates, cups and utensils
Garbage bags and zip locks
TOILETRIES
TP
Handy wipes
Toothbrush, paste, floss
Feminine products
Skin lotion, Lip balm
Soap and shampoo
Razor
Bug repellant
CASH AND VITAL DOCUMENTS
(Again, ATM’s may be down)
TOOLS
Fixed blade and folding knife
Multi-tool
Duct tape and rubber bands
Rope and twine, zip ties
Pen, paper, marker
FIRST AID KIT with instructions
Burn ointment
Eye wash
Surgical kit
Scissors
Anti-diarrheal and laxative
Sterile gloves and hand sanitizer
Bandages
Super glue
CLOTHING
Prepare for all weather
Gloves, shoes, socks, hats,
Windbreakers, jackets and rain gear
Underclothing
SHELTER
Space blanket, tent, plastic sheeting sleeping bags, blankets
SPECIAL NEEDS
Consider children, the elderly, handicapped and pets.
GLASSES/CONTACT SOLUTION
PRESCRIPTIONS
PERSONAL DEFENSE
IDLE TIME
Pocket Bible, book, playing cards
It was a great class yesterday, looking forward to the next one 🙂