A Busy Two Days in Birmingham for David Beckmann

On the morning of Sept 23, 2009, Bread for the World's president David Beckmann and other faith leaders organized a procession in full clerical regalia through the streets of Pittsburgh as part of the Faith Leaders Summit held as a precursor to the G20 meetings in that city.

Rev. Beckmann reflected on the significance of the morning’s activities later that evening at a presentation entitled Exodus from Hunger at Birmingham Southern College (BSC) in Birmingham, AL. The BFW president was a featured speaker during BSC’s Dialogue on Food week. 

His presentation followed a student organized Hunger Banquet, where diners experienced the inequalities of global hunger. Beckmann’s inspirational message resulted in 65 letters to Rep. Spencer Bachus, a leader on global poverty and hunger issues.

Alabama Bread for the World members organized several additional opportunities for Rev. Beckmann to speak while in Birmingham.  Beckmann began September 24 with an appearance on Fox 6’s Good Day Alabama with host Rick Journey. 

Then, he was off to Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in Homewood for an informal breakfast meeting with the social justice ministry committee.  

From there, Beckmann attended and spoke at a lunch at Independent Presbyterian Church for members of the Alabama Faith Council, a group of Alabama faith leaders.

Beckmann concluded his visit to Birmingham at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Shelby County where he spoke to Just Faith graduates and current students.

Throughout Beckmann’s two-day Alabama blitz, he spoke of Bread for the World’s efforts to improve the quality and effectiveness of US foreign assistance as a way to eliminate poverty in God’s world.  “The sighs of people who can’t feed their children are holy. God Almighty is with people who are struggling.  As citizens in a democracy, we can participate in what God is doing,” he said.

(The author is a Bread for the World activist in Birmingham, Ala.)