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Micah Challenge
Challenging Christians to pray, act and speak against the injustice of global poverty.
"The LORD has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God" Micah 6:8
In this issue:
Comment: Poverty hurts your soul
Haiti
Climate Change
Micah2010
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Poverty Hurts Your Soul
“Poverty Hurts Your Soul” is the title of a new paper published by the Conference of European Churches. They say “In Christian understanding, poverty and social exclusion are understood as a failure to uphold basic human rights (cf. Amos 2:6f; 4:1). The alleviation of poverty was from the beginning an essential part of the proclamation of the Gospel “to preach good news to the poor …, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, …” (Luke 4:18). Over the centuries churches therefore engaged in combating poverty and social exclusion.”
It is easy for us living in the wealth of New Zealand to consider the damaging effects of the daily struggle with grinding poverty, and to agree with a shudder that yes, poverty must be harmful to their souls. It would be harmful to my soul if I had to live like that!
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Haiti: Where poverty and earthquake collided
The devastation in Haiti is appalling. Day by day the stories coming out are more horrific. The earthquake struck on 12 January, and more than two weeks later they are still trying to pull people out of the rubble.
The situation is worse because of the extreme poverty and lack of real infrastructure from long before the earthquake. One visitor to Haiti described it as the place where "... poverty and the earthquake have now collided. Part of this is simply the poverty they live in every day and the other part is the devastation of the earthquake." There are reports comparing the number of deaths to the 2004 Asian tsunami - which was spread across the whole Indian Ocean, affecting people in many countries.
Support Micah Challenge Member Organisations working in Haiti: Micah Challenge members have existing programmes and staff in Haiti working in the earthquake hit areas. Please support these programmes now.
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COPENHAGEN: NOT FAIR. NOT AMBITIOUS. NOT BINDING.
What was agreed at the climate change conference in Copenhagen at the end of last year? Tom Baker, Senior Campaigns Officer for Tearfund UK writes: Not fair. Not ambitious. Not binding. After two weeks of UN climate talks, world leaders have failed to reach the deal that developing countries desperately need.
Read Tom's full report on our Facebook page
Why does 2010 matter?
Ten years ago, leaders from 189 nations promised to act to halve global poverty within our generation. That would mean an extra half billion people having enough to eat and millions of children learning to read and write. It would mean poor farmers being able to make a decent living from their hard work and it would mean millions having access to clean water.
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Visit the International Micah 2010 pages for a preview of some of the ideas for 10.10.10 (10 October 2010). 10.10.10 is the two thirds point of the MDGs. Micah Challenge, along with other organisations that support the Millennium Campaign, is planning a variety of activities to alert the public and to put pressure on politicians to give more backing to the MDG campaign.
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Prayer for 10.10.10. This prayer follows the themes and structure of the prayer of Nehemiah (Ch 1:5-11) who fasted and prayed day and night when he learned of the suffering of people in Israel. He then embarked on the task of leading work to restore Jerusalem. Read more
Micah Challenge New Logo
At the top of the email you will have seen the new Micah Challenge logo. This logo is being introduced for all Micah Challenge movements around the world. It will feature in the Micah 2010 resources.
The Micah Call is a global petition, and a statement of our belief that now is a time when poverty can be challenged:
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The issues of global poverty are not just economic. They are also political and spiritual. Micah Challenge invites Christians to take a prophetic role in making a difference in the world.
Paul Thompson
National Coordinator
Micah Challenge Aotearoa New Zealand
The Micah Challenge eNewsletter is a monthly update on global poverty issues with a Christian perspective. Invite friends to subscribe. Visit our website www.micahchallenge.org.nz
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