July 2007 Signals Half Way Call to End Poverty
Lawrence Temfwe July 30th, 2007
It?s half time to halve poverty.
In the year 2000 at the UN Summit, former Zambia?s President, Dr. Frederick Chiluba, and other 188 heads of state made a promise-to halve poverty by 2015 through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This winter, it is half time to halve poverty and in sub-Saharan Africa many of the goals are in danger of not being met. Finance and National Planning minister, Mr. Ng?andu Magande, noted on Thursday, ?The government is aware that improved performance of the economy since 1999 has not significantly reduced poverty? (The Post, July 27).
The eight MDGs, which Heads of State agreed to, are the most clear-cut and widely accepted set of development priorities the world has ever known that manifest the values of God?s kingdom of peace, righteousness, prosperity and justice. Micah Challenge is a global movement of Christians speaking out with a common voice against the injustice facing those who are impoverished. The campaign is calling Christians throughout the world to ?Blow the Whistle? at the half-way point to the MDGs and call the governments of countries in the North and South to keep their promises to halve poverty by 2015.
Micah Challenge?s ultimate vision is not to the UN mandate, but to embrace the mission of God which seeks to liberate all people from anything that interferes with their capacity to live as God?s image bearers (Isaiah 58
; 61; Luke 4). In the New Testament, we see that the evidence that Jesus was the Messiah was not only restricted to His proclamation of the gospel but also to the demonstration. So when John the Baptist sends two disciples with the question, ?Are you the one to come or should we expect someone else?? (Luke 7:19). Jesus answers quiet simply, ?Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the death hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is being preached to the poor? (v.22). Luke portrays to us that effective evangelism and church planting also requires us to act justly, and to love mercy, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).
On the 4th of August Micah Challenge Zambia will be launched. You?re invited to attend the launch which will be held at the Gospel Outreach Centre from 9 am to 12 noon. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, the General Superintendent of Pentecostal Assemblies of God of Malawi and Chairman of Micah Challenge Zambia. If you want to join the Micah Challenge coalition visit our website and download the form or you can write us at the following address: website:www.micahchallenge.org/Zambia; e-mail: zambia@micahchallenge.org By signing the Micah Call, you are joining millions of Christians who are committed to holding our leaders to account on the promise to halve poverty by 2015. Pray for transformation.
Lawrence Temfwe
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