Christians are concerned to address the effects of poverty because we believe God loves all people and wants them to have abundant lives.

We also need to address the causes of poverty – to look at global structures which deny poor people the chance to fulfil their potential. This is what the Micah Challenge is about.

Just as Jesus and the Old Testament prophets voiced God’s heart for the poor, we can be that voice to our leaders in our time.

In its Millennium Declaration adopted on 18 September 2000, the General Assembly of the United Nations pledged:

“We will spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanising conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are currently subjected.”

All 191 member states of the United Nations, including New Zealand, have pledged to achieve the Millennium Development Goals they set, by 2015. However, most governments aren’t keeping their commitment.

You can voice your concern by joining the Micah Call here.

You can download the Micah Challenge brochure here.