Arkansas Gov. Sanders Unites Faith Leaders to Tackle State’s Key Social Issues

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Arkansas Gov. Sanders Unites ****** Leaders to Tackle State’s Key Social Issues

Hunger continues to be a national concern, and it’s no different here in Arkansas where one food bank alone is providing more than 11 million meals each year.

Kent Eikenberry, CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, said, “Food insecurity across the nation affects 40 million people, based on the latest number I’ve heard. The problem is far too large for any single organization to solve.” 

This is why the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank collaborates with more than 100 agencies to provide nutritious food to children, the working poor, and senior citizens in their region.

Christen Butler, of the C.A.L.L. Foster Family Ministry, explained, “Food insecurity is a significant reason why children enter foster care. We need to get ahead of it to help keep kids from entering the system and to stabilize foster families, so children receive the help, love, and healing home they need.”

Supporting those in need was the reason more than 100 area ****** leaders gathered in Little Rock for the first Arkansas ****** Summit.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, “There are so many silos within the state, from government to the ****** community to the private and public sectors. Bringing everyone together in a collaborative spirit allows us to tackle some of the state’s biggest issues.”

Flanked by her father, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Sanders spoke candidly about her belief that ****** is a driving force behind addressing issues like food insecurity, foster care, social media concerns, and educational freedom.

“I hope this becomes an annual event in Arkansas,” said Stephanie Nichols, of the Arkansas Justice Institute, who emphasized the importance of school choice in education and how the state’s LEARNS Act provides funding for parents of eligible students who choose private schooling or homeschooling.

Nichols added, “One example I encouraged attendees to consider is how my kids attend a homeschool co-op held in a *******. If more churches opened their facilities for educational purposes, we’d have more children educated with biblical worldviews.”

Governor Sanders recently launched the Arkansas ******-Based Initiative website, which allows individuals and organizations to connect online and engage in various community initiatives. She noted, “A lot of these entities are already doing some of this work, but bringing them together to work collectively will allow us to make a much ******* impact and potentially make Arkansas a model for other states to follow.”

While states like Florida and Tennessee also promote ******-based initiatives, Sanders believes Arkansas’ ****** Summit is a unique statewide networking event. “I encourage other governors to explore if a similar event could work in their states,” she said.

The governor told attendees she’s not trying to turn the capitol dome into a ******* steeple, but encouraged people to live out their ******.  And a big part of that, she said, is working together to help others.

“When your ****** is authentic, you don’t leave it behind when you step into any role, whatever job it may be.”

Part of the summit included a discussion on the separation of ******* and state and how Christians can be bolder in their ****** without ***** of crossing boundaries.

Stephanie Nichols expressed her hope for innovation within the ********** community, saying, “I hope we see more creativity from the body of ******* going forward, because I believe we all have something to bring to the table with that approach.”

Justin Bilson, from Fellowship ****** *******, reflected, “Whenever this many ****** leaders gather, everyone brings their own thoughts and opinions. But I really appreciate that we can come together under one purpose—to acknowledge the importance of the intersection of ****** and government and to believe in a greater purpose for our state. I believe the ******* should be at the forefront.”

What may result from the summit’s outreach ******** to be seen. However, Eikenberry expressed optimism, referencing the story of ****** feeding the 5,000: “I often joke that ****** himself ran the first food bank. He took five loaves and two fish and fed a multitude. That’s what we are asked to do every day.”

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