Micah Challenge keeps world’s poor top of mind
A new chairperson, a DVD resource, a focus event in October and a major campaign set to launch in 2013 are the latest developments for the Micah Challenge, a global movement aimed at encouraging Christians to commit to the poor.
Marnix Niemeijer took the reins of the Micah Challenge International Board in September, five weeks after the release of The Jesus Agenda, a DVD-based course that explores the biblical framework for advocacy through a social engagement perspective.
Niemeijer will bring important insight and invaluable experience to his new role, says Geoff Tunnicliffe, CEO for the World Evangelical Alliance. He also serves on the Micah Challenge board.
Tunnicliffe, a Canadian, said The Jesus Agenda DVD shares stories of the impact different churches around the world are having as they work to end poverty.
"It's a great tool for small groups to use as a resource," he said by phone from his office in New York City.
Started in 2000, Micah Challenge is a global movement active in more than 40 countries whose aim is to encourage Christians to be committed to the poor, and hold governments accountable to the Millennium Development Goals, signed by 189 countries that committed to halving world poverty by the year 2015.
With that target three years away, Tunnicliffe said that there have been "some good signs in some areas" in the fight against poverty over the last 10 years, but that "more obviously needs to be done."
"We're in a very challenging period globally, economically, and the truth is that usually it's the poorest who are impacted the greatest, so it's something that we need to work [on]," Tunnicliffe said. "In a difficult financial global environment … donor countries pull back on their resources to help in the developing world, so that's obviously a concern, and then the pressure's felt in many countries in the global south with this economic downturn as well."
Micah Challenge is encouraging churches to dedicate their services on Sunday, October 14 to the cause.
That's the day the organization has chosen to hold a focus event called "Light for My Feet." The Micah Challenge website has a variety of free resources churches can use for their services on that Sunday—resources that encourage Christians to pray about world poverty, reflect on it and act as well.
Micah Challenge is also gearing up for an advocacy and awareness campaign next year aimed at making Christians aware of the prevalence of corruption in the world, and the way corruption impacts the poor in particular.
"It's hopefully an opportunity for churches to teach in their congregations about the impact of corruption, and on the positive side, [to teach about] the positive impact of ethics as we engage in making a difference in the world," said Tunnicliffe.
The influence of the Micah Challenge comes from Christians actively responding to the poor, he added.
"Micah Challenge is simply this umbrella, this voice that people can connect to together, united in response to the extreme poverty in the world."
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