Eugene Cho

For the past two days, nearly 300 advocates gathered in Washington, D.C., for Bread for the World’s annual Advocacy Summit.

They came from all across the country. More than 60 college students joined us. Many paid their own way to be here during a challenging economy because they believe that loving our neighbors means speaking up for those who struggle with hunger and poverty.

Together, we advocated for policies that protect and strengthen SNAP, WIC, Global Health, Food for Peace, PEPFAR, Gavi, Global Nutrition, and other lifesaving programs.

The weather seemed to mirror the moment. Sweltering heat one day. Rain the next. ☔

But our advocates showed up anyway.

More than 200 meetings took place on Capitol Hill, including many directly with members of Congress. Hundreds of stories were shared. Hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of lives were represented.

I’ll be honest. It is tempting to feel discouraged, cynical, or exhausted. Many of us feel those things. But after these two days, I also feel reinvigorated.

Why? Because our faith in Christ and our love for neighbors—near and far—compel us to keep going.

One of the things I encouraged our group to consider retiring is the idea that our Advocacy Summit is our "Super Bowl." It's somewhat misleading because we think the game is finished, won, and we can now rest on our laurels. Not quite.

It’s a marathon.

We’re somewhere around mile 13. It’s a grind. The road is uphill. Some days the weather is against us. Some days the progress feels painfully slow.

But don’t give up. Look around. There are people running with you.

To our incredible advocates: thank you for showing up.

To our amazing board: thank you for your leadership.

To our remarkable staff: your servant leadership made these two days possible. I often wish I could bring every Bread members across the country to witness what they helped create.

And to everyone who believes hunger is not inevitable and that our voices can make a difference:

Keep running.

We have more miles ahead of us, and together, we will keep speaking up until ending hunger is not just our hope, but our reality.

Next week, hundreds of Bread for the World advocates from across the country will gather on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, to meet with their members of Congress—and YOU can join us in taking action.

Even though you won't be with us in-person in DC, we actually need your voices too.

As advocates meet face-to-face with lawmakers, thousands more across the country will participate in a nationwide Day of Action, sending emails urging Congress to fully fund and strengthen SNAP, WIC, and global nutrition programs.

This is the most challenging time in our mission to help fight hunger - both here and abroad. I once spoke to a member of Congress who simply said, "It is what it is" in response to people who are facing so many challenges.

Respectfully, I don't accept that answer. It doesn't have to be this way.

Would you consider taking 1 minute to check out this link and sign up. You'll receive all the materials on how you can do your party. Sign the pledge to take action and help amplify the call to end hunger: https://go.bread.org/page/97853/survey/1?ea.tracking.id=lipost

Together, our voices can make a difference.

My heart is bursting with gratitude and God's grace. What an extraordinary honor and privilege to serve as the Baccalaureate Speaker for the Class of 2026 at Wake Forest University. Go Deacs!

My deep gratitude to President Susan R. Wente, Dean Corey D. B. Walker, and the Board of Trustees for this tremendous privilege.

But beyond the invitation itself, what a special gift it was to engage the graduating class of 2026 — along with their families, loved ones, mentors, and friends — at such a meaningful moment in their lives. As a parent that has graduated all three of our children over the last seven years, I know how meaningful this occasion is.

I will always treasure this opportunity and memory. And perhaps it carries even deeper meaning for me personally because one of my greatest fears growing up was public speaking. As a young teenager, I also struggled with a slight stutter. Life has a remarkable way of surprising us...

In seeking to speak faithfully and respectfully to such a beautifully diverse university community, I anchored my address in Galatians 6:9 -

“Do not grow weary in doing good…”

There were three central exhortations I hoped to offer the graduates:

1. Remember that you did not arrive here alone.
2. Refuse the dehumanization of others.
3. Choose presence over performance.

You can watch the full keynote here. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS4bh-1F4lA&t=2095s

So humbled and grateful. I can share so much and what it means to my family and ancestors but for now...

Lift a prayer for me as I speak at the Wake Forest University baccalaureate on Sunday - some 33 years after my own graduation from UC Davis. 👀

Pray that I don't go over my time allotment. Lol.

But seriously, pray that in sharing, I might both encourage and challenge students - and somehow point and fascinate people towards Jesus and embodying the whole Gospel.

Galatians 6:9

As I do my part to advocate for my global neighbors, and for national issues in Washington DC such as WIC and SNAP, I'm grateful for the opportunity to advocate for my literal neighbors in the greater Seattle area.

I'm especially grateful for my friend, Derek Sciba, who serves as the Executive Director of Vision House. This past year, they helped about 1000 families struggling with homelessness. What's stunning is that 90% of families that have stayed at the VH transitional housing program for a year move on to permanent, stable housing. Wow!

So, I'd love to invite you to join me for the free Vision House luncheon. Tuesday, May 5 from Noon-1pm.

https://visionhouse.org/vision-house-luncheon

We need this reminder.
We need this hope.

10,592 days.
And counting.

Or as some say,
Happy 29th anniversary!

Thank you, God, for Your grace in and through it all.

And thank you, Minhee for the gift and joy of this journey and adventure.

((*** Also, my posts are all getting deleted somehow. I'm not sure why as I thought I had resolved this issue with FB but I haven't intentionally deleted any of my posts.))