Christian Social Concern Speech: SNAP and the Call to Justice
Good morning, Church – Pastor Ross, Rev. Dion, Bethel Family and Friends From October 23, 2025
The Bible is clear on our mandate. In Isaiah 58:10 (NIV), the prophet tells us: “and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” Our faith calls us to ensure that no one in our community is afflicted by hunger.
On Oct. 31, families who rely on benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP- AKA food stamps) will no longer have those benefits if the shutdown continues. Today we are focusing on the fact that everyone deserves access to food. Nearly 60% of SNAP benefits go to families with children, and the program also supports millions of elderly and disabled people. These are our neighbors, our church members, and our children.
SNAP is a powerful economic engine. The USDA has found every $1 in SNAP benefits generates up to $1.50 in economic activity (GDP) and supports jobs in manufacturing, transportation, and retail. It’s a lifeline that lifts the entire community.
The Current Threat: Despite its clear moral and economic benefit, SNAP is facing significant cuts and changes due to recent federal policy shifts. Food assistance benefits for some 750,000 Oregonians—and 930,000 Washingtonians—are set to lapse after Oct. 31, if the federal government shutdown persists through the end of the month.
III. The Urgency: Recent Policy Changes
Even if the shutdown ends. SNAPS New Time Limits/Work Requirements are being implemented: Recent legislation has expanded time limits and work requirements for certain recipients, including adults up to age 65 and caregivers of children age 14 and older. This includes removing exemptions for groups like veterans and people experiencing homelessness in many areas.
- Christian Concern: We know people aren’t lazy; they’re working low-wage jobs, they’re in unstable employment, or they’re navigating life crises. Punishing people for conditions of the labor market is not justice; it is judgment.
Bethel EDC 