faith news:Christians urged to share burden of the poor

Christians urged to share burden of the poor

Churches are being encouraged to play their part in global efforts to eradicate poverty on Micah Sunday this month.

by Charlie Boyd
Posted: Tuesday, October 13, 2009, 12:17

Resources have been put together by the Micah Challenge anti-poverty movement to help ordinary Christians engage with the issues and inspire them to do what they can to make a difference.

The ‘Play your part’ resource is based on 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul says that the church is like a body, and aims to awaken Christians to the key role they have to play in fighting against poverty.

Andy Clasper, Executive Director of Micah Challenge said, “There is tremendous power in the realisation that we are connected to others across the other side of the world and form part of the same body - all made in God’s image.

“We have a critical role to play.”

The resource includes a four minute video and accompanying booklet giving tips on how Christians can live more simply, engage with local MPs, and bring justice into their church’s prayer agenda.

It includes meditations, activity ideas, inspiration for talks and an interactive prayer guide, all connected to four themes: get connected, live generously, raise your decibel levels, and stand in solidarity.

“Even if we only feel our actions are as tiny as a mustard seed, collectively God can use them to bring transformation and justice to his world,” said Mr Clasper. “Play your part is about sharing the burden and being people who hunger for justice together.”

For this year’s Micah Sunday, on October 18, churches are being encouraged to create new links or build on existing ones with a community in a low-income country either by way of missionary presence or a formal twinning arrangement. Micah Challenge said such ties between church communities could help meet spiritual as well as physical needs.

Next year marks 10 years since world leaders agreed the Millennium Development Goals to halve global poverty by 2015. Micah Challenge is planning a year of action throughout 2010 to remind world leaders that time is running out to reach their goals of providing food, medical care, clean water, access to markets and primary education to all.