Are You Hungry? Finding What's Yours to Do

Mark Moore was once a bullied eighth-grader in Flint, Michigan—stuffed in a locker by older kids, running home through the snow in his gym shorts with tears freezing on his face. But a young youth pastor named Brian saw something worth nourishing in him. That simple act of caring changed everything. Years later, Mark sat in a Senate meeting room watching a video about a revolutionary food—fortified peanut butter that could save children dying from malnutrition. Most people would think, "Somebody should do something about this." Mark asked a different question: "Is this mine to do?"

That question led Mark to raise $13 million and build a factory in Georgia that now produces millions of packets of life-saving food. Every eight seconds, a child dies from malnutrition—more than from AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. Yet Mark doesn't focus on the tragedy; he focuses on the possibility. He talks about how children in places like South Sudan are born on the edge of a cliff, and instead of building nets to catch them when they fall, we need to move them back to the center where they're safe. But Mark's message isn't just about starving children in faraway places. He believes we're all hungry for something—connection, purpose, hope. The question isn't whether you're lost, but whether you're still hungry. Because as long as you're hungry, you're alive and can still be fed.

Let's Talk About It

1. Mark asks a "fourth gate" question: "Is it mine to do?" Can you think of a time when you saw a problem and wondered if you should be the one to help? What did you decide, and why?

2. Brian, the youth pastor, saw something worth nourishing in Mark when he was being bullied. Who has seen something good in you and helped you grow? How did that change your life? Is there someone you could do this for?

3. Mark says, "The biggest problem in our culture is that people are so malnourished—spiritually, relationally—that they've ceased to be hungry." What do you think he means? What are you hungry for in your own life right now?

4. Americans spend $370 million on Halloween costumes for pets, but only $170 million globally on food that saves children's lives. What does this tell us about what we value? What's one thing our family spends money on that we could redirect toward something more meaningful?

After-Dinner Experiment

Tonight, go around the table and have each person answer this question: "What's one problem I've noticed lately that might be mine to do something about?" It doesn't have to be big—maybe it's a lonely classmate, a messy park in your neighborhood, or an elderly neighbor who needs help with groceries. Write down everyone's answer. Then pick one as a family and commit to taking one small action this week. Remember: Brian's little church closed down and disappeared, but the seeds he planted are still growing all over the world. You don't need to solve everything—just feed one hunger at a time.