Hungry For Life

In a few days, I will be moving to Chilliwack, BC to start my new job at Hungry For Life. This journey has been six years in the making, and it's clear that God has guided me to this place at this precise moment for a special purpose.

I'd like to take this opportunity to share the inspiring story of Hungry For Life – how it all began, their mission, and the approach they take to fulfill it. My prayer is that as you learn more, you'll see the incredible impact God is making through this ministry, not only in alleviating needless suffering but also in sharing the message of God and His character with the world.

Where It All Began...

The origins of Hungry For Life trace back to a monthly interchurch worship gathering known as Shekinah. Initially a ministry of Chilliwack Alliance Church, Shekinah evolved into a unifying force, drawing hundreds of people from various churches and denominations who shared a common desire: to experience the power and presence of Jesus.

As Shekinah grew, its leadership was led by the Word of God and recognized that its worship extended far beyond music. The mandate became clear: "worshiping with our lives." This was guided by the teachings found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Isaiah 58:10. As a result of a renewed and passionate connection with Jesus Christ, Shekinah ventured into international relief efforts. The desire to lead people in both encountering and demonstrating the love of Jesus grew, leading to the realization that this vision was larger than one church could handle. Thus, an organizational structure was needed to support this expanding vision.

Our Executive Director, Dave Blundell, pondered the idea of a possible link between the spiritual poverty seen in Western cultures and the physical poverty experienced in developing nations. He noticed that the Bible often highlighted a direct connection between these two issues. Hungry For Life’s vision is to see a world transformed through a global movement of compassion and justice, evidenced by the eradication of needless suffering. The mindset that when you help someone else, your life too is transformed.

HFL's approach involves collaborating with local churches, businesses, and groups to guide them in conceptualizing community development projects through partnerships with international field partners. HFL plays a supportive role, not only in equipping international partners with leadership skills but also in assisting them in coordinating and executing projects that bring about positive change in their own communities.The organization offers comprehensive support, including initial consultations, project design, focused implementation, ongoing project monitoring, and the management of team logistics and trips. Essentially, HFL acts as a bridge and facilitator, fostering a connection between two key players: local partners and international partners.

Now, as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of HFL, we are actively working in 14 nations, helping with 58 active projects and with over 65 partners.

Below is a quick video of how this is done;

What's My Role?

I have always been naturally organized and administratively strong. Growing up I knew I wanted to help people but I didn't know how that would look or take shape. After completing a Discipleship Training School through Youth With A Mission in Perth, Australia in 2017, I knew missions was the avenue to that heart desire of 'helping people' that I had been looking for. Upon joining staff at YWAM Perth in 2019, I was a part of the registrar's office where I was able to use my administrative giftings to see students come to know more about God and making Him known. God had spoken that He would enable me so that I can enable others. I had a huge passion for seeing people come to know God and have their lives transformed but living far away from home and having an unstable environment didn't feel sustainable for me long term. I came to know about Hungry For Life through my close friend Abby, as her parents are the founders. For about five years, they playfully sowed the idea that I should become part of HFL. After leaving YWAM at the end of 2021 and taking time to reevaluate my career goals, it became abundantly clear that using my administrative skills for Hungry For Life would be the perfect blend of helping others, empowering them, and witnessing lives transformed. All of this I could achieve from Chilliwack, BC, not too far from home.

I am now stepping into the role of Executive Administrator at HFL. My primary responsibility is to provide administrative assistance to the executive team as well as central administration for the organization. This is a role that HFL has been searching to fill for over a year and a half. They have recognized that administrative help is a major need to facilitate growth in the organization. My prayer is that I can continue to enable others around me, stewarding the giftings I have been given from God and ultimately see lives transformed.

Meet the HFL Staff Team!

100% Model

Creating change, regardless of the vision, requires money. In many non-profit organizations, a common approach is to deduct a portion of every donation to cover operational overhead costs. While this model can be effective, Hungry For Life follows a different path – the 100% model. In this approach, every donation intended for an international development project goes directly to that project. HFL is dedicated to ensuring that donors have complete transparency about where their contributions are directed. Consequently, overhead operational costs and staff salaries are raised separately. Each staff member is responsible for raising the necessary funds for their salary and expenses linked to their role.

To do this, staff engage in various fundraising activities, such as an annual black-tie fundraising event and building ongoing partnerships with individuals who support them on a monthly basis.”

In order to deliver on the commitment of 100% of project dollars going to projects, HFL staff are committed to raising their personal support.

As I begin my journey with Hungry For Life, I invite you to join me in prayer and consider becoming a financial partner. Your support will enable me to enable others, and it's a collective effort that makes impactful work like this possible. By supporting me, you play a vital role in facilitating the remarkable work of HFL. It’s a unique opportunity to engage in community development and witness life-changing experiences both locally and globally. Whether your contribution is large or small, every donation matters and collectively contributes to the greater mission. HFL matches 20% of any donation directed towards staff funds, and tax receipts are available for both Canadian and American donors (for American donors, please contact me for an additional form).

If this is something you are wanting to partner in, you can visit the Hungry For Life website, under the donate button, follow the prompts to staff support and select my name in the drop-down option.

https://www.hungryforlife.org/donate#staff

I am currently 30% to my fundraising goal and feel incredibly blessed by the generosity around me. Thank you to those who have contributed and prayed for me during this season.

If you have questions about what this looks like please contact me to connect further!

I’m not upset that my job happens to be in the same city as my boyfriend Caleb... that's a story for another time.

As this week approaches and I prepare to move to Chilliwack, I'm filled with many feelings. There are feelings of fear, joy, excitement, anticipation, anxiety and everything in between. However, the greatest feeling behind all of this is a profound desire to witness positive change in the lives of people around the world. If there's one thing I aspire to do with my life and be remembered for, it's working to represent Jesus through both my words and actions. My prayer is that I get to see a world transformed by a global movement of compassion and justice evidenced by the eradication of needless suffering in my lifetime.

Thank you for taking the time to partner with me in prayer, staying connected through updates, and providing financial support. Please be praying for me this week as I embark on the 11-hour journey to Chilliwack. Please pray for safety on the roads, for the transition to a new place, and for the provision of the rest of the finances needed.

Love always,

Char

If you have a few minutes, this is a video from the 2022 annual fundraising gala. This video shares an in-depth, step-by-step look at the process of an HFL project. This video gives me chills every time I watch it, and it gives a greater understanding of what is involved in an HFL project.