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Register Here...
8 weeks to go before our 6th Triennial Global Consultation.
Register today - see here.
There are many people who are longing to attend but need some help to raise all that is needed. Why not help someone - lets us know what you are able to share with others. Partnering.
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A People Called Out..
God rescues the whole nation of Israel from out of the grips of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 6:6). He promises to lead and guide them (Ex 15:13). But why and what for?
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priest and a holy nation. (Ex 19:5-6)
The purpose of redemption was so that the people would be a holy priesthood amongst the nations. Their mission was God’s mission
The redemption of the Israelites from Egypt impacted them in a number of ways:
1) Politically: In Egypt the Israelites were slaves with little to no rights, forced to work and be subservient. In calling them out of Egypt, God set them free from enslavement.
2) Economically: The Israelites were being exploited and oppressed unable to benefit from their labour, having no place to farm themselves. In calling them out of Egypt, God gave them land and the opportunity to live economically that did away with oppressions and exploitation.
3) Socially: The Egyptians tried to control the Israelites in many ways, and one devastating way was through population limitation (killing Jewish baby boys). In calling them out of Egypt, God restored family well-being.
4) Spiritual: Pharaoh demanded more than service from the Israelites, he wanted to be feared and worshiped by them. In calling them out of Egypt, God was calling them to worship him alone. He was calling them to not live under slavery but to live in covenant with God.
Underlying the purpose of God in bring the Israelites out of Egypt is the heart of God. In Exodus 1 and 2 we see that the oppression of the Israelites is before God and he hears their cry (Ex 2:23-25). God’s heart for justice and his compassion for the oppressed, along with his faithfulness to his Covenant, are the underpinning catalyst for his actions.
The Cross of Christ is God’s ultimate redeeming action. The Cross calls us out of slavery and oppression into new life in all its fullness, free of poverty, injustice and conflict. We, like the Israelites, will burst into songs of joy and celebration as we experience our freedom and liberation.
But, we are called out for a purpose, so that we too will be a kingdom of priests and a hoy nation (1 Peter 2:9-11).
Our mission is God’s mission – we are to live out the Kingdom of God, demonstrating what it looks like to live as redeemed people. The question then is what does redemptive living look like? Are we motivated with a passion for justice, compassion for the oppressed and humility before God?
A church without social ethics rooted in the moral vision of the Scripture with its emphasis on justice, mercy and humility before God is in no condition to avoid irrelevance in relation to the great problems that affect humankind. At best it will concentrate on empty ritualism and private morality, but will remain indifferent to the plight of the poor and the rape of God’s creation. At worst it will fail to recognise its own captivity to the culture-ideology of consumerism and will be used by the powerful to provide religious legitimisation to their unjust socio-economic and political systems and even to war. (René Padilla, The Biblical Basis for Social Ethics, Transforming the World? The Gospel and Social Responsibility)
If we want to see transformation, we need to live it. This is iur Micah call and challenge.
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Micah USA: What if....?
What could the world look like in 2030? What if we worked together? Could we end extreme poverty?
Micah USA is launching their campaign to impact extreme poverty – it is called What if…?
What if...?
We all have wishes and dreams for the future. We're all hoping and working toward something.
Around the world there are people who are wishing for a drink of clean water or a chance to go to school or even to go to bed with a full stomach. Simple things many of us take for granted. Some are dreaming of a cure to HIV/AIDS or malaria. Some just want a safe place they can call home.
What if their dreams became our dreams? What would the world look like if we all worked together over the next 15 years toward ending extreme poverty?
The Micah USA
National Coordinator is Jason Fileta. Micah USA have developed a number of resources including the publication Live Justly, which is being widely used as an exciting tool to help people understand how to live and act justly.
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The Millennium Development Goals Report 2015
As the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals rapidly approaches at the end of this year, the United Nations have released their annual progress report on these goals:
The Millennium Development Goals Report 2015.
The report provides valuable insights into the significant progress that has been made towards the reduction of poverty around the world and also highlights the significant challenges which lay ahead as the world seeks to continue to make progress in this direction.
If we truly believe we can end poverty, we will need to step up our efforts.
At Micah, we know that our united voice can be powerful when raised to speak out on behalf of the poor. Continuing to use international frameworks and opportunities such as the one represented by the MDGs will continue to be our part of our strategy as we seek to carry out the Micah Call to Action in 2015 and beyond.
Micah Sunday (see below) on October 18th will be one opportunity for us to join together as a global Micah community as we raise our voice together in prayer and action against the injustice of poverty.
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SDG 6
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 builds on the Millenium Devekopment Goal (MDG) 7c which committed to
Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation
Water: The UN reports that MDG7c was met already in 2010 – more than half the proportion of people living without access to improved sources of water gained access. This still leaves 784 million people without access to safe drinking water.
Sanitation: a quarter of the world’s population now has access to improved sanitation leaving 1 billion people still resorting open defecation.
By 2030 the ambitions SDG 6 seeks to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
Similarly it seeks to achieve adequate sanitations for all.
The new aspect of the SDGs with regards to water is in the expanded indicators 6.3-6.6, where the focus moves beyond simply access but prompts sustainable quality and quality access at the same time ensuring protection and restoration of water ecosystems. The goal goes beyond good management and pushes society to innovate, rehabilitate and protect fresh water sources.
Achieving SDG 6 will directly influence achievement of preceding goals such as health and food supply. We all need to increasingly grow aware of the need to use water wisely and refuse to waste water.
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Micah National Conversations
Myanmar Integral Mission Conversation
Theme: Truth and Reconciliation
Dates: 11th - 13th August, 2015
Venue: Bishops' Court, Church of the Province of Myanmar
140, Pyidaingsu Yeikthar Road
Yangon - Myanmar
Registration is NOW OPEN. Click here for full details or email events@micahnetwork.org.
Upcoming: Dates for the Diary
Australia: Voices for Justice
10th - 13th October, 2015
Bangladesh: National Integral Mission Conversation
25th - 28th November, 2015
Reports
Want to read about what has been happening at our national Conversations around the world? Each conversation in each context is unique. You can browse the reports of some of our recent events, and be inspired by the work that God has been doing through Micah this year.
Recent Reports
Would you like to host a Micah Conversation in your nation in 2016? Write to: events@micahnetwork.org.
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Micah Sunday
October 17th is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
In recognition of this date, Micah Sunday 2015 will be recognised around the world on Sunday October 18th.
Please save this date and begin to discuss with your leaders how you can recognise this event.
In coming months, we will provide resources and ideas for different ways that your church and organisation can remember and take action as we come together as an international community to challenge poverty, injustice and violence.
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Accountability Cuts Both Ways
Below is an extract from a blog post by Eddie Arthur. It prompts some good thinking on how mutual accountability plays out in a development context. You can read the full post here.
"A few days ago, I wrote a post which suggested that it is unhealthy when Western Christians use their funds to control how the Church in the rest of the world grows, develops and theologises.
Predictably, there were some responses saying that there has to be financial accountability. Obviously, there need to be controls and agreements to ensure that money is used in an honest and transparent fashion; that goes without saying, but when people talk about accountability, they generally mean much more than this. In effect it is the modern way of expressing the old saying “he who pays the piper calls the tune”.
To compound things further, accountability is almost always one way. Those who are receiving funds have to meet targets, fill in forms, prove compliance with objectives and jump through all sorts of other hoops, but there are rarely any similar constraints placed on the funders..."
Read on here...
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Member Events
Rede Evangélica Nacional de Ação Social (RENAS):
Seguir a Jesus - 10º Encontro RENAS
[To Follow Jesus - 10th annual RENAS conference]
September 24 - 26, 2015
Vale da Benção I Araçariguama - SP, Brazil
More information: click here.
Global Connections Integral Mission Forum:
A Missional Response with Communities in Conflict
September 30, 2015
Christian Medical Fellowship, 6 Marshalsea Road, London SE1 1HL
The objective of this Integral Mission Forum is to share and discuss both the theory and the practice of working in these difficult situations amongst communities caught in conflict and to explore how Relief and Development organisations are able to address the special needs of communities who are recovering from war or constant insecurity.
More information: click here.
Christian Community Development Association:
2015 National Conference
11th - 14th November, 2015
Memphis Cook Convention Center, Memphis, USA
Like the city on a hill referenced in Matthew 5, we are here to be a light, shining with the very generosity of our lives. We are called to embody a spirit of light and to live a life of good works for the Kingdom. As bearers of the light of Christ, living and engaging in our communities, our minds and hearts are illuminated and we, along with our communities, are transformed.
More information: click here.
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Positions Vacant
United Mission to Nepal (UMN) are seeking a new Executive Director to lead them into the next stage of their organisational development within the dynamic country of Nepal.
Based in Kathmandu, the new Executive Director will:
- Provide Overall leadership of the organisation under the UMN Board of Trustees, including spiritual leadership
- Manage the organisation to ensure it achieves its strategic objectives, and continues to adapt to the changing needs of Nepal
- Embody, communicate and promote the vision, mission and values of the organisation
- Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders both locally and internationally, including Government and donors.
Closing Date for applications: July 31st
To find out more about this role and to apply, please click here.
CBM International are recruiting the position of Director Transformation to lead an important organisational development process.
This exciting 2-year contract opportunity will see the selected individual responsible for enhancing CBM’s internal change processes and organizational infrastructure that will allow CBM to continue to grow and fulfil its mission and vision.
The position will be based in Bensheim, Germany.
To find out more about this role and to apply, please click here.
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Resources
AVM
(Alliance for Vulnerable Mission) held a series of conferences this year around the topic of avoiding dependency in Global Christian Mission. They have posted papers and reflections from these gatherings here; we encourage you to read and respond to these reflections.
Call 2 Compassion & Justice Conference, Durban
This recent event produced some very exciting and challenging sessions which are now freely available to watch and share online via this link.
Strategies for Hope: Called to Care
In 2003, the Strategies for Hope (SFH) Trust, embarked upon the Called to Care project, aiming to produce and distribute 10 practical, action-oriented workbooks on issues related to HIV and AIDS, designed mainly for use by church leaders in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim was to empower church and community leaders with the knowledge, attitudes, skills and strategies they need to develop and implement effective responses to the challenges of the HIV epidemic in their communities.
The SFH Trust and its partners in Africa, South Asia, Europe and North America have now produced and distributed well over 200,000 copies of these 10 workbooks. Several Called to Care workbooks have been published in French, Portuguese and Swahili. In the past two years some have also been published in Burmese, Nepali, Ndebele and Chichewa.
Called to Care workbooks are available free of charge to churches, NGOs and community groups in sub-Saharan Africa. They can also be downloaded from the Strategies for Hope website: www.stratshope.org.
For more information, you can contact sfh@stratshope.org.
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