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.

The eight global promises on poverty are called the Millennium Development Goals and in 2010 we will have only 5 years to make them reality. Can we achieve our bold promises?

As Christians from over 40 nations, rich and poor, Micah Challenge members want to say that our promises are important. We call for action to share hope and to achieve practical results for justice.

We want to pray to overcome apathy and material and spiritual poverty. We want to promise to act in our own communities and plan practical policies that our leaders can follow. 

If we want to halve poverty, we need to be aware that apathy, unjust practices, lack of funds and poor governance can all be barriers. Micah Challenge wants to call for integrity, partnership and accountability in the way decisions are made.

What are the Millennium Development Goals?
These eight goals are often referred to as the MDGs and cover 7 basic aspects of poverty with the 8th goal about a global partnership for development. The advantage of the Goals is that they are time bound and have specific, measurable targets to tackle severe poverty. The 8th goal hopes to set in place partnerships that ensure that future generations have equal access to development opportunity.

It is Goal 8 which forms the basis of our 2010 Prayer and Promise.

Justice, mercy and humility

These three words from Micah 6:8 summarise what our behaviour and values should be. We should act to ensure that justice is done. It is not enough to complain from the sidelines – we need to add salt and light to our world so that the poor are cared for, so that the conditions that keep people poor are remedied. We should seek out opportunities to act with kindness and mercy, so that those who suffer can know God’s goodness. We should act with humility ensuring that our words and actions align. If we live lives of integrity, we can call on our leaders to do the same.

Micah 2010 Campaign

Through this year and leading up to 10 October (10.10.10) we will be working to promote the MDGs even more strongly. We will have suggestions and ideas for things that you can do in your church, your community, your city and to promote the MDGs to your MP and to the Government. Watch this space!