President of Bread for the World to Speak

David Beckmann - President of Bread for the World - Sunday, January 15, 2012

On Sunday, January 15, David Beckmann, minister, economist, World Food Prize laureate, and
President of Bread for the World, will be at the
United Congregational Church of Tolland as their MLK, Jr. Peace and Justice
Sunday speaker.

Bread
for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision
makers to end hunger at home and abroad and provides policy analysis on hunger
and strategies to overcome the problem. 
Under Beckmann’s leadership, Bread for the World has garnered an
impressive record of achievements through their persistent, bipartisan advocacy
including tripling US funding for effective programs to help developing
countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and helping to double funding for
U.S. nutrition programs, assisting millions of families here in the states.

Since
2000, Beckmann has been asked to testify in Congress eighteen times, appearing
before such committees as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Ways and
Means Committee. Additionally, he has appeared on the Bill Moyer’s Journal,
PBS’s Religion and Ethics NewsWeekly, CNN Espanol and C-Span and in radio
interviews with NPR’s Morning Edition, and the Dian Rehm Show.

Beckmann
earned degrees from Yale University, Christ Seminary, and the London School of
Economics. Six universities have awarded him honorary doctorates. Beckman has
lived in Bangladesh and Ghana and overseen projects in Bolivia and Ecuador and
visited more than 70 countries. It is an extraordinary opportunity to hear this
passionate advocate so deeply devoted to public ministry.

In a recent
small group study of his book Exodus from Hunger , a
member of UCCT had this to say:

“Before I read this
book I knew hunger and poverty were very serious issues around the world and
even in our own country, but felt relatively powerless to be able to do much to
help.  Dr Beckmann, and the discussions
we had about his book in our UCCT Study Group, opened my eyes to the fact that
this cause is not hopeless, that significant progress has already been made,
and that much more can be accomplished if individuals, organizations (like
churches), governments, etc become active in the effort.  He points out many ways that people can help,
from organizing local groups to influencing political leaders. The book is
inspiring and encouraging.  It is a
must-read for all who care about their fellow human being.”                                                                                                                                         
-Tom Calabrese

David will be speaking at the following events on January 15

Sunday morning worship 8:30am and 10am (
a brunch to follow at 11:00am)

Afternoon coffee at 3:00pm 

Everyone is invited to participate in this
important conversation and to learn more about Bread for the World.

For more information on David Beckmann
and Bread for the World, go to www.bread.org

To register for the brunch portion of
our program please call or email

Rev. Judy Medeiros at 860-875-4160 x12 or jmedeiros@ucctolland.org