Natural Food

South Africa is one of the few countries that is actually able to provide its entire population with food. Though this may be the case, 11 million South Africans are food insecure; unsure where their next meal will come from (UNICEF) The rural areas are where hunger hits the hardest, and the majority of South Africa’s poor are living in the rural regions.

South Africa also has an exceptionally severe epidemic of HIV and AIDS. One in six adults and children infected with HIV globally resides in South Africa. Close to half of the estimated three million orphans in the country have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS-related diseases. South Africa has the highest number of people living with HIV in the world and the 4th highest adult HIV prevalent rate of 19%. (2019 UN Stats AIDS) 

To help deal with these detrimental facts, LCM has drilled several wells that provide fresh water for drinking, cooking and hygiene. Fresh water was a key to eliminating dehydration and parasites, which in turn helped to minimize the spread of HIV/AIDS in these communities that received the wells. Thousands of people each day benefit from these wells.

Once we were able to provide water to the communities, the next step was to extend the growing season with year round irrigation, we have erected community greenhouses that supply fresh vegetables to the orphan children, widows and the poor in the communities. Thousands of fresh vegetable crops are harvested each season and are distributed to those in need.

During our nightly tent crusade meetings, LCM distributes hundreds of food parcels to families that attend meetings. Each parcel contains an assortment of dry goods that can be stored in their food pantry without refrigeration. As a part of our street evangelism we distribute a hundred loaves of fresh bread daily as we pray for the needs of the people in their home and encounter them on the streets inviting them to the tents. Over the years we’ve given away thousands of loaves of bread to the families in South Africa. It’s the basic necessities we’ve been able to deliver which has made a huge positive impact on the health and quality of life of each individual we are afforded to touch.