Jeff Pedigo diligently worked to climb the corporate ladder. The husband and father of three has worked in sales and marketing for some of the largest corporations in the country, and yet, he realized a few years ago that his life had an even greater calling.
“In 2005, my wife Adrienne and I each went on a mission trip to Venezuela and Honduras with Valley Creek Church in Flower Mound,” Pedigo said.
“Shortly after those trips, we believed our calling was greater than just climbing a corporate ladder.
“As believers in Christ, we are all called to be his ambassadors and to help meet the needs of the impoverished children and families, globally. Sadly, we were fearful and came up with every excuse in the book not to pursue it – kids, finances, career, you name it…we were scared.”
This past March, Pedigo said that he and Adrienne believed it was time to get over the excuses and devote their lives to work for God, instead of another corporation, and now serve in missions with an organization called Hope for the Hungry.
“We are facing incredible natural disasters, an unstable global economy, a rapidly growing lower class, dreadful disease and malnutrition, and excessive human rights infractions,” Pedigo said. “Feeding and taking care of our neighbors is needed now more than ever.”
Pedigo said Hope for the Hungry was established in 1982 by Dan and Kandy Kirkley as a result of Christ’s command to “Feed My Sheep.”
“The Kirkleys responded to the fact that an average of 40,000 children around the world were dying daily of malnutrition,” Pedigo said. “For nearly thirty years, Hope for the Hungry, has served with quiet humility in numerous capacities to feed and take care of his sheep.
“Hope for the Hungry is an interdenominational ministry focusing on assisting children worldwide, and serving missionaries who have responded to God’s call to ‘Share the Bread of Life with a Starving World.’”
Pedigo and his family attend The Village Church in Flower Mound and he now serves as Strategic Relations Coordinator for Hope for the Hungry.
He invites individuals, small groups, churches and businesses interested in partnering with Hope for the Hungry or going on a short term mission trip to contact him at [email protected].
In 2012, Hope for the Hungry is looking for teams to rebuild homes for single mothers and widows in Guatemala. They are also putting together teams for leadership training and medical trips to Sri Lanka. In the Middle East, partners are needed to finish an outreach center, currently under construction, to meet the needs of hurting families and youth in an undisclosed location. In Haiti, there are four open trips available to serve:
-April 14-21: Guibert, Haiti – Construction project
-May 26-June 2: Ferrier, Haiti – Vacation Bible School
-July 21-28: Guibert, Haiti – Vacation Bible School
-August 18-26: Ferrier, Haiti – Bible Teaching/ Evangelism and Discipleship
Pedigo said that he wants to encourage southern Denton County residents to “work together to ‘defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.’” (Psalm 82:3)
Visit www.HopefortheHungry.org for more information.