Eugene Cho

President/CEO @Bread4TheWorld. Speaker. Pastor for nearly 30 years. Founder @OneDaysWages, Author

[Eugene Cho @EugeneCho]

** Book Announcement **

Here's my new book, Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: A Christian's Guide to Engaging Politics (March 1).

I'm so nervous because I know that everyone will disagree with something from the book but may God use it to challenge the Church: https://t.co/cxABvxvEED

[Wake Forest University @WakeForest]

A meaningful morning in Wait Chapel honoring the Class of 2026 at today’s Baccalaureate service.

Rev. Eugene Cho challenged graduates to resist cynicism, choose compassion and “not grow weary in doing good.” He reminded students that “the world is most often changed not by those who seek attention, but by those who quietly, persistently, lovingly refuse to give up.”

Rev. Cho is the president and CEO of Bread for the World.

More photos: https://t.co/1XrMbF8i5U

#WFUGrad #ProHumanitate

[Bread for the World @bread4theworld]

Organized advocacy works.

Offering of Letters brings people together to write and send letters to Congress at the same time so those voices are heard.

Host an Offering of Letters in your community: https://t.co/8nxBr7FCGA

[Eugene Cho @EugeneCho]

Raw. Sobering. Hopeful. Joining others in prayers for Ben and the Sasse family.

"As a Christian, the weeks running up to Christmas are a time to orient our hearts toward the hope of what’s to come."

[Ben Sasse @BenSasse]

Friends-

This is a tough note to write, but since a bunch of you have started to suspect something, I’ll cut to the chase: Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die.

Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; it’s a death sentence. But I already had a death sentence before last week too — we all do.

I’m blessed with amazing siblings and half-a-dozen buddies that are genuinely brothers. As one of them put it, “Sure, you’re on the clock, but we’re all on the clock.” Death is a wicked thief, and the bastard pursues us all.

Still, I’ve got less time than I’d prefer. This is hard for someone wired to work and build, but harder still as a husband and a dad. I can’t begin to describe how great my people are. During the past year, as we’d temporarily stepped back from public life and built new family rhythms, Melissa and I have grown even closer — and that on top of three decades of the best friend a man could ever have. Seven months ago, Corrie was commissioned into the Air Force and she’s off at instrument and multi-engine rounds of flight school. Last week, Alex kicked butt graduating from college a semester early even while teaching gen chem, organic, and physics (she’s a freak). This summer, 14-year-old Breck started learning to drive. (Okay, we’ve been driving off-book for six years — but now we’ve got paper to make it street-legal.) I couldn’t be more grateful to constantly get to bear-hug this motley crew of sinners and saints.

There’s not a good time to tell your peeps you’re now marching to the beat of a faster drummer — but the season of advent isn’t the worst. As a Christian, the weeks running up to Christmas are a time to orient our hearts toward the hope of what’s to come.

Not an abstract hope in fanciful human goodness; not hope in vague hallmark-sappy spirituality; not a bootstrapped hope in our own strength (what foolishness is the evaporating-muscle I once prided myself in). Nope — often we lazily say “hope” when what we mean is “optimism.” To be clear, optimism is great, and it’s absolutely necessary, but it’s insufficient. It’s not the kinda thing that holds up when you tell your daughters you’re not going to walk them down the aisle. Nor telling your mom and pops they’re gonna bury their son.

A well-lived life demands more reality — stiffer stuff. That’s why, during advent, even while still walking in darkness, we shout our hope — often properly with a gravelly voice soldiering through tears.

Such is the calling of the pilgrim. Those who know ourselves to need a Physician should dang well look forward to enduring beauty and eventual fulfillment. That is, we hope in a real Deliverer — a rescuing God, born at a real time, in a real place. But the eternal city — with foundations and without cancer — is not yet.

Remembering Isaiah’s prophecies of what’s to come doesn’t dull the pain of current sufferings. But it does put it in eternity’s perspective:
“When we've been there 10,000 years…We've no less days to sing God's praise.”

I’ll have more to say. I’m not going down without a fight. One sub-part of God’s grace is found in the jawdropping advances science has made the past few years in immunotherapy and more. Death and dying aren’t the same — the process of dying is still something to be lived. We’re zealously embracing a lot of gallows humor in our house, and I’ve pledged to do my part to run through the irreverent tape.

But for now, as our family faces the reality of treatments, but more importantly as we celebrate Christmas, we wish you peace: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned….For to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9).

With great gratitude, and with gravelly-but-hopeful voices,
Ben — and the Sasses

[Eugene Cho @EugeneCho]

During this challenging time in our nation and world, grateful for the opportunity to gather with college and young adults to worship Christ and learn how we can more faithfully embody the whole Gospel.

[Bread for the World @bread4theworld]

Bread’s President and CEO Rev. @EugeneCho and couple of our staff are attending Urbana this year! Eugene will be speaking on the mainstage on why the gospel calls us to both declare and demonstrate God’s love—and leading a breakout seminar, “Hunger and God’s Global Mission: Why Ending Hunger is a Gospel Issue.”

The session explores how hunger is about more than food. It focuses on justice, dignity, and discipleship, and how the Church is called to respond. If you or someone you know is attending, look for Eugene and Bread to explore how justice and mission intersect and how young leaders can join God’s work of restoration.

🔗 https://t.co/qZJb0VUHGi

[Rick Steves @RickSteves]

To add meaning to the holiday season, every Christmas I help raise funds for @bread4theworld through my traveling friends and network at @RickStevesEur. In these challenging days, the needs of those experiencing hunger and poverty are particularly great — and that means that the rewards of helping out right now are great, as well!

I'd love to send you a special Christmas package when you make a $100 gift to Bread for the World at https://t.co/4GfuhfJa0x. Last year, 6,000 travelers joined us. And this year, I'm hoping we'll do it again!

When you send your gift of $100 or more, I’ll match it dollar-for-dollar (up to a total of $500,000) and send you my “Rick Steves' European Christmas” DVD, coffee-table book, and music CD. Or, as an alternative gift, you can select my “Rick Steves Art of Europe” DVD Set and a Rick Steves' Europe Planning Map — or you can request no gift at all.

I'll happily pay for the cost of the gifts, as well as the shipping, so Bread for the World can put every penny of your donation to work, giving a voice to hungry people. And if you make your gift by Dec. 5, you'll get everything (along with our latest travel newsletter) in time for Christmas.

Imagine, as an extended family of caring (and traveling) people, together we can empower Bread's work with $1,000,000!

I believe hungry people need a strong and compassionate advocate like Bread for the World at the table when Congress addresses the current hunger crisis and decides how it will or will not respond.

I see Bread for the World not as a charity but as a service. If we care about hunger, in my estimate, there's no better way to put our dollars to work. Bread transforms our concern about hunger into effective action by smartly — and doggedly — going into the halls of government and speaking up for hungry people in our country and around the world.

In my travels to Ethiopia and Guatemala, I saw firsthand the powerful role Bread for the World has played in mobilizing our government to help communities through investments in smart development aid. I was inspired by the many people I met who, thanks to this aid, were finding innovative ways to work hard and move their families and communities out of poverty.

Since the pandemic, soaring global food prices, inflation, warfare, and record-long droughts have increased hunger and hardship for millions both at home and abroad, making Bread's work even more urgent and even more impactful.

So, here's my challenge to you this Christmas: Help Bread for the World with your gift of $100 or more. I'll match your gift dollar-for-dollar (up to a total of $500,000), and you'll receive your choice of a thank-you gift: https://t.co/4GfuhfJa0x

By the way, for every dollar Bread for the World raises, it leverages $100 in assistance and funding that’s vital to hungry and poor people in our country and abroad. (That’s the great thing about advocacy — our government wants to do the right thing, when properly encouraged.) Imagine, if we hit our $1,000,000 target, together, we'll help generate 100 million dollars of life-giving, hope-instilling funding!

[Eugene Cho @EugeneCho]

We live in incredibly polarizing times but we should never condone or encourage politically motivated violence.

May we be in prayer for Charlie Kirk & his family. I pray for him as a fellow human, a fellow American & while we may have differences, as a fellow brother in Christ.

[Bread for the World @bread4theworld]

Bread for the World issued a statement on final passage of the budget reconciliation bill, which is expected to be signed into law by President Trump.

The budget reconciliation bill cuts SNAP funding by close to $200 billion over ten years and cuts Medicaid funding by $1 trillion.

Read the full statement: https://t.co/FZreE0Ym0T

[Eugene Cho @EugeneCho]

“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”

~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

[Eugene Cho @EugeneCho]

And also, happy 70th birthday to @RickSteves!

Here’s to your health, more travels, more bridge building, and the ongoing pursuit of a world without hunger @bread4theworld. Thank you for being such an inspiration to many people.

[Bread for the World @bread4theworld]

We were proud to honor @RickSteves with the Rev. Art Simon Award for Faithful Service to End Hunger at our 22nd Annual Gala.

His global perspective, storytelling, and advocacy have brought thousands into the fight to end hunger. Thank you, Rick, for your unwavering commitment to a hunger-free world.

[Bread for the World @bread4theworld]

The Trump admin’s “skinny budget” would eliminate key U.S. humanitarian aid programs, putting millions at risk. Humanitarian aid = <1% of the budget. Lives saved = countless.

Read Rev. Eugene Cho’s full statement: https://t.co/diTg2tSfdy

#EndHunger

[Eugene Cho @EugeneCho]

Easter morning didn’t begin with celebration. It began with grief, fear, and uncertainty. As programs that fight hunger face devastating cuts, we may carry our own fear and uncertainty. But Easter reminds us: Hope is never lost.

Don't lose hope. Press on: https://t.co/n7RAZ21sVh

[Eugene Cho @EugeneCho]

Just when we think we understand what it means to follow Him, Jesus washes the feet of His disciples - including one who would betray Him, another that would deny him, and others that would abandon Him.

May we be both comforted & disrupted by the love and grace of Christ. Amen.

[Bread for the World @bread4theworld]

U.S. foreign aid = global strength 🇺🇸. By providing less than 1% of its budget, the United States:

🕊️ Helps prevent wars
🤝 Builds peace & stability
🙏 Reduces hunger & poverty
🛡️ Prevents global medical threats
🌟 Boosts U.S. global influence & national security

Cuts to aid weaken America. Tell the administration and Congress: Support & fund foreign aid!

#EndHunger #ActForJustice #BreadForTheWorld

[Eugene Cho @EugeneCho]

Amen.

I urge everyone to have an open heart as you read this. We can both pursue reform and save lives. Millions of lives.

Thank you @NickKristof for this.

[Nicholas Kristof @NickKristof]

Elon Musk says that no one has died because he slashed humanitarian aid. I went to South Sudan to check if that's true. It's not. Within an hour of starting interviews, I had the names of a 10-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl who had died because of decisions by wealthy men in Washington.
The visit that moved me the most was to a remote area that used to have no health care, where women routinely died in childbirth. Then a US-funded maternity clinic opened through @UNFPA in December, and not one woman has died since. I showed up, and people mistakenly thought I was responsible for the clinic. One new mom wanted to name her baby for me, and the village elders thanked me and hailed America's generosity. What they didn't know was that Trump/Musk had cut all funding for UNFPA and that as a result the maternity clinic will close this month, and women will once again be bleeding to death in the dust.
Here's a giftlink to my report from ground level about what the shutdown of USAID means: https://t.co/tbgKk7ESqj

[Bread for the World @bread4theworld]

Rev. @EugeneCho, President and CEO of Bread for the World, gives the invocation and welcomes faith leaders. “We are here today to urge the administration and Congress – Democrats and Republicans alike – to do all that they can. It’s not too late to protect critical international aid.”

[Chelsea Patterson Sobolik @ChelsPat]

“When I speak about the vulnerable, I am speaking about image bearers.”

- @EugeneCho, President of @bread4theworld

[Rick Steves' Europe @RickStevesEur]

Tonight at 6pm PST, join @RickSteves and Rev. @EugeneCho, president and CEO of @bread4theworld, for an update on the fight to end world hunger and why this issue should matter to all Americans. Free to attend, register here: https://t.co/NojY3o9zU7

[Bread for the World @bread4theworld]

Bread for the World is deeply concerned by the order temporarily pausing new and existing U.S. foreign assistance programs and urges an immediate end to this interruption of services as the Administration completes its necessary review of these critical programs, which we believe will show they are effective and in the interest of the United States.

The Bible is clear, reminding us that as we do unto the ‘least of these’ among us, we do as unto Jesus (Matthew 25:40). We urge Secretary Marco Rubio and the State Department to conduct a swift yet thorough review of foreign aid programs while continuing the lifesaving work these programs provide.

Read the full statement: https://t.co/Kg00JzA0RO

[Eugene Cho @EugeneCho]

“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”

~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

[Eugene Cho @EugeneCho]

Don't reduce Rev. Dr. King to an annual quote on social media.

Live out the dream
Seek first the Kingdom of God
Confront evil
Be a truth-teller
Seek justice
Advocate for the poor
Pursue reconciliation
Love your neighbors
Forgive your enemies

Live a life of peace, love, justice!