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The Road to Lima
We are in the last stages of the countdown to our Global Consultation in Lima. It is 3 months until we will gather together to consider the important topic of Integral Mission and Shalom. In a world where we see so much conflict, is it possible and even right to hope and work for Shalom? We have chosen the first day of the Consultation to be entitled “Your Kingdom Come”.
This is the prayer Jesus taught his disciples and it was embedded in the context of the teaching he was giving that begins with the Beatitudes and ends with the parable of the wise and foolish builders. Mid-way through this teaching we read that we need "to seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness (his justice), and then all these things will be given to us as well". (Matthew 6:33)
When will God’s Kingdom come? The Pharisees also asked this question in Luke 17:20-21. Their expectations were that if they could only get enough people to obey the Law, to live “good” lives – then God would come and restore Israel. In our context we might say if only we can get people to obey laws then the world would be better. This means we place our energy in trying to insist that the Kingdom is only observable when behaviour is “good”. Perhaps this is why many pour so much effort into fighting against so called “bad” laws.
When will God’s Kingdom come? The Zealots believed that God’s Kingdom would come by force. If only they got enough people to take up arms to fight for what was deemed as right. Their belief was that God would honour their actions and help them win. They thought that Kingdom could be brought about by violence.
Jesus replies clearly that the Kingdom will not come through what is observable: laws or violence. It will not be in a specific location (e.g. a nation), rather the Kingdom of God is in your midst – because it was Jesus. Jesus is the Kingdom of God. Wherever Jesus was so the Kingdom was present. Do you agree with this? How does that impact your life?
We can’t “repair” the world through enforcing law. We can’t “repair” the world by violent intervention. The powerful and life transforming intervention we can do is demonstrating the Kingdom. This means we have become more and more like Jesus. Christian means “Christ-like”.
The Kingdom sounds like, Jesus, speaks like Jesus, acts like Jesus, loves like Jesus.
What does discipling nations look like? How can we demonstrate the Kingdom both through individual and corporate actions? How can we become people of peace?
These are just some of the questions and reflections we will be talking about in Lima. Why not build on the above and send through your thoughts so we can add this to the Consultation.
In order for us all to make it to Lima
we will need to help one another. If you are able to, please consider going the extra mile and helping someone else to participate by sponsoring. You could sponsor their registration or flights, even consider using your frequent flyer miles. You can make a sponsorship contribution directly through the registration form here.
Thanks – we are looking forward to challenging and inspiring discussions.
Sheryl Haw
International Director
Micah
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SDG 5: Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Since the start of Micah we have always placed significant emphasis on gender equality and our gender forum was set up to discuss theological and practical ways we can support this.
Gender equality and gender based violence is not a women’s issue - it is a human issue.
The target indicators for Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG5) are very ambitious:
1. End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
2. Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation
3. Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilations
4. Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies, and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate
5. Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life
6. Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the ICPD and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences
As we meet at our Global Consultation, we will be exploring these indicators and asking what role we can play in each, what is missing and what distinctive approaches we can bring to the process of change.
Restored
have launched a campaign called First Man Standing – inviting men to take their stand alongside woman. As Micah we want to not only endorse this but call all our members to take their stand and adopt this campaign as part of their response for gender equality and an end to gender based violence in all its forms.
Please do send in any reflections, case studies, models of change that you have been working on in relation to gender equality to gender@micahnetwork.org.
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Update from Nepal
Micah Nepal continues to coordinate the efforts of the Disaster Response Christian Community (DRCC) in Nepal. You can read the latest update from our national coordinator, Thir KC, who is on the ground.
Please continue to pray for the ongoing recovery effort.
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Micah Global Consultation
Micah Global Consultation: Integral Mission and Shalom: justice, peace and joy.
September 14th - 18th, 2015
Casino de Policia, Lima, Peru
With only 3 months before the Consultation, ensure your place and register today!
Programme:
The Consultation programme is evolving! An updated version is now available here, featuring an exciting mix of plenary sessions, interactive workshops and networking opportunities.
Keynote speakers include:
Zac Niringiye
Rene Padilla
CB & Selena Samuel
Ash Barker
Johannes Reimer
Melba Maggay
Erika Izquierido
Ravi Jayakaran
Post-Consultation Excursion Options:
Micah has confirmed a special deal with a local Lima travel company to offer delegates special rates on different tourism excursions which you can take advantage of immediately following the dates of the Consultation.
Options include: a Machu Picchu visit, a gastronomical tour of Lima, or you can arrange your own adventure
Full details can be found here.
Share with your networks:
Help us reach a broad audience as we aim to invite in new voices and ideas as we launch the renewed Micah vision. Please help us spread the word of this event through your own personal and professional networks.
Please download and share the event flyer, and also share the Facebook event.
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Micah National Events
Myanmar: Truth and Reconciliation
11th - 13th August, 2015
Australia: Voices for Justice
10th - 13th October, 2015
Bangladesh: National Integral Mission Conversation
25th - 28th November, 2015
More information on the above events will be available in upcoming newsletters and or our web site..
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Events
Shaping a Shared Future in Malaysia
Kairos Dialogue Network
Kairos Dialogue Network would like to invite Christians in Malaysia to this one day conference on Saturday, 11th July 2015 at Luther Centre, Petaling Jaya. More information, click here.
Seguir a Jesus: 10º Encontro RENAS
[To Follow Jesus: 10th annual RENAS conference]
Rede Evangélica Nacional de Ação Social (RENAS)
September 24 - 26, 2015
Vale da Benção I Araçariguama - SP, Brazil
More information: click here.
Member Care Bootcamp
Mission Interlink
September 7 - 11, 2015
Sydney, Australia
The first South Pacific Region Member Care Conference will bring together people from all over Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, to learn, discover, experience, and share how to do Member Care well. More information: click here.
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Would you like to see your event featured here? Send an email to events@micahnetwork.org.
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Recommended Reads
A Climate of Hope
Mick Pope & Claire Dawson
This excellent book from UNOH Publishing covers the science and history of climate change and seeks to address the compatibility of climate change with the Christian faith. Be inspired to make changes in your life and start important conversations about creation care with Christians and non-Christians alike.
Details here.
Signs of Hope in the City: Renewing Urban Mission, Embracing Radical Hope
Graham Hill
By 2025, there will be 3 billion people living in urban slums. This raises huge questions for the church. Where are the "signs of hope" in our cities? How can the church become "hope enfleshed"? What does it mean to serve the God of hope and transformation? How do we recruit, equip, and sustain people for hope-filled urban mission today?
Details here.
A Criança, a Igreja e a Missão
[The child, the church and the mission]
Dan Brewster
This resource has recently been launched in a Portuguese version in Brazil. This title explores how the church must work to bless children, strengthen families and be a prophetic voice for those who have little or no hope for the future.
Details here.
Secularism and Africa In the Light of the Intercultural Christ
Jim Harries
This books draws on anthropology, linguistics, and theology, as well as the author's experience of living in Africa. Harries shares an autobiographical account of personal long-term grassroots ministry, and proposes a revision of widely held understandings of linguistics pertaining especially to the relationship between the West and Africa.
Details here.
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