CRC Changes Micah Challenge Responsibility

Although the Christian Reformed Church in North America remains firmly committed to the Micah Challenge and its goals, the denomination's fiduciary responsibility for the Micah Challenge in the US is ending on schedule on Dec. 31, 2009.

"Our purpose in providing a solid base of support for this important network until other supporters could share this responsibility has been successful," says Peter Vander Meulen, director of the CRC’s Office of Social Justice.

The New York Theological Seminary (NYTS) will be the new "host" of the Micah Challenge US.  "As such they will take on all tasks formerly done by the CRCNA - including receipt of contributions, payment of invoices, and all other necessary financial functions," says Vander Meulen. 

Important to note, says Vander Meulen, is that the CRCNA will continue to contribute to the leadership of the Micah Challenge US through the presence of Andy Ryskamp, US director of the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, on the Steering Committee.

The CRCNA also contributes to the leadership of the Micah Challenge International through the presence of Vander Meulen as one of the 11 members of the Micah Challenge International board. "Although our formal relationship will change, the CRCNA's commitment to the support and development of the Micah Challenge has not changed," says Vander Meulen.

Micah Challenge is a global movement of Christians that seek to speak out with a common voice against the injustices of poverty. It unites people in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres as they call their leaders to account on the promise made in the Millennium Development Goals to cut poverty in half by 2015.

"Its aim is bring together Christians from all over the world to work more deeply with and among the poor, and to hold our governments accountable to meeting eight-poverty fighting goals called the Millennium Development Goals.  It's the Micah Challenge, and the Christian Reformed Church is heavily involved as one partner in this global effort that hopes to end the extreme poverty and hunger that plagues so many of God's children.  This month, we're taking a quick look at the national campaigns of the Micah Challenge in the United States and in Canada," says Micah Challenge material.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are set of 8 goals that work together to cut poverty worldwide in half by 2015. The goals reflect some of the most crucial needs of the world. These goals were adopted by 189 nations at the United Nations in the year 2000.

"As Christians these goals are not just something that world leaders agreed to, but the MDGs echo the mind of the biblical prophets and ought to be our priorities as a Global Church. These are not just goals, but promises. These are just not statistics, but our brothers and sisters," says Vander Meulen.

The Millennium Development Goals are:

• Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger: There are 1.4 billion people worldwide living in extreme poverty defined as living on less than $1.25 a day.
• Educate All Children: Education is a Human Right, and right now about 74 million children are deprived of that right. Many children have to work instead of attend school, and many children come from families who can't afford uniforms or other fees involved with attending school.
• Empower Women and Girls: Poverty disproportionately affects women—most of the poor in our world are women. Girls make up 70 percent of unschooled youth, get paid less than men, have less representation in government, and hold fewer positions of power.
• End the Senseless Deaths of Children: Children around the world are dying every day from diseases that have been curable for over 50 years. Hunger, diarrhea, and various preventable diseases are destroying families across the globe.
• Improve Maternal Health: Women continue to die from pregnancy and birth-related complications at a rate of one a minute, and 99 percent of them are in the global south, according to the World Health Organization.
• Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases: Though AIDs has received more attention in the last five years, it continues to ravage the world. Over 30 million people are living with this disease, and nearly 15 million children in Africa alone have been orphaned by it.
• Ensure Environmental Sustainability: Do this by starting to integrate principles of sustainable development in families, communities, organizations and businesses.
• Develop a Global Partnership: Work toward developing an open, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminating trading and financial system.

Micah International and the US Micah Campaign have both just launched new websites www.micahchallenge.org, and www.micahchallenge.us, says  Jason Fileta, who worked as field coordinator for the Micah Challenge out of the CRC’s Office of Social Justice. He will no longer be employed by the CRCNA as of Dec.31.  He will be engaged as special consultant to NYTS in the capacity of Micah Challenge US Director.

A new international Micah Challenge campaign for 2010 has just been launched. "An intern will be joining me in about two weeks and she will work on making the materials US specific and getting them up on our website," says Fileta.  "I am working on a specific work plan with outcomes and goals for 2010," says Fileta.

The Micah Challenge comes out of the command of the prophet Micah who calls people to "do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God" (Mic. 6:8). Through the CRWRC and the OSJ, the CRC has led the way on Micah Challenge campaigns in the United States and Canada.

Visit www.crcjustice.org for worship materials, current issues, and to sign up for OSJ News, an e-newsletter that serves Christian Reformed social activists. To subscribe, click on 'News/Events' on the main menu.

Break the cycle of poverty with CRWRC. Go to www.crwrc.org, and click "Get involved." Here are some opportunities:

• Volunteer: Serve those in need along the Gulf Coast and in other North American disaster areas by calling CRWRC's Disaster Response Services at 1-800-848-5818.
• Discovery Tours: Travel abroad in a small group to gain a personal perspective on missions and CRWRC's international response in the world's poorest countries. Contact Mary Dykstra at 1-800-552-7972.
• Sponsor a refugee: Your congregation can provide vital support to those who are without a homeland. Call PARA's Jotham Ippel at 616-224-7540 for more information. In Canada, call Rose Dekker at 1-800-730-3490.
• Free A Family through CRWRC with your monthly support of a family in a region of the developing world. You'll receive regular updates about the daily life of your representative family and photos of family members. To find out more, call 1-800-55-CRWRC, or 1-800-730-3490 in Canada.