CRC Staff Pray MICAH Litany to Cut Poverty

October 20, 2008

People from all over the world, including 42 employees at the Grand Rapids, Mich., office of the Christian Reformed Church in North America recently took time out of their day to recite a litany, asking that whoever wins the upcoming presidential election in the United States makes sure to keep fighting poverty high on his agenda.

People were also asked to sign a letter that the MICAH Challenges plans to send out soon to political candidates, particularly to Barak Obama, the Democratic nominee for the presidency, and John McCain, the Republican nominee.

"People are doing this – gathering to pray and stand up for the cause -- all over the world today," said Peter Vander Meulen, director of the CRCNA's Office of Social Justice and Hunger Action.

"We want to get the MICAH Challenge goals before any of the candidates," said Vander Meulen. "Our brothers and sisters in the global south ask us to do this."

In the letter, the MICAH Challenge writes, "We commit ourselves as followers of Jesus Christ to work together for the holistic transformation of our communities … We call on Christians everywhere to be agents of hope for and with the poor, and to work with others to hold our church and public leaders accountable in securing a more just and merciful world."

InSeptember 2000, the United Nations' General Assembly set a goal of achieving eight Millennium Development Goals by the year 2015. These goals include:

  • Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
  • Achieve universal primary education
  • Promote gender equality and empower women
  • Reduce child mortality
  • Improve maternal health
  • Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
  • Ensure environmental sustainability
  • Debt relief for poorer countries.

Part of the Micah Network's mission, says Andy Ryskamp, the CRWRC director in the United States and a board member of the MICAH Challenge in this country, is to work in various ways to urge world leaders to maintain commitment to reaching the MDG.

"We raise the issues of accountability and transparency," he says. "We act as a constant conscience and put pressure on governments to make sure that aid and assistance" is used to address issues of poverty and does not get lost to government corruption and mismanagement.

The Micah Challenge web site is: www.micahchallenge.us   Also, says Vander Meuelen, "you can read the Pastoral Letter to US Christians from the Global South as well as sign the letter to our candidates reminding them of our commitment to cutting global poverty in half by 2015."

At the end of its letter, the MICAH Challenge writes, "We believe there is no trade off between promoting global justice and promoting global security. A foreign policy that truly promotes prosperity and security in the US must be rooted in policies which help ensure that all God's children, wherever they may live, have the opportunity to live in prosperity and peace."