Vision & Aims
The Vision of Micah Challenge UK
To ignite and fuel a passion in Christians to bring about the alleviation of poverty and to speak out, with a common voice, against the injustice of poverty.
What are the aims of Micah Challenge UK?
Micah Challenge UK has two aims:
- Aim1: To galvanise Christians in the UK towards greater practical and political engagement with the issues and injustice of poverty.
- Aim 2: To unite Christians to ensure the UK honours its commitments to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
Why is Micah Challenge needed now?
There are two great opportunities to build upon at this time. First, huge energy was generated by the Make Poverty History campaign – if we do not act now this energy will be dissipated. Second, 2007 marks the half way point on the journey world leaders are taking towards realisation of the MDGs in 2015 – this is an ideal moment to hold Governments to account on their performance to date.
Make Poverty History had a massive impact on both the G8 leaders and the public more widely - 88% of the UK public were aware of the campaign. The active role of the churches was widely acknowledged to be absolutely central to the success of the campaign. The MPH evaluation report highlights this: “The churches were incredibly important in the year … the argument to them was, ‘if you really believe this stuff about injustice and poverty, then you’ve got to do something – you’ve got to get on the bus’.” Micah Challenge UK is setting out to harness and refocus the energy, passion and commitment of the hundreds of thousands of Christians that found, in the Make Poverty History campaign, a way to take effective action against the injustices of poverty.
Who can join Micah Challenge UK?
Micah Challenge UK hopes to reach the breadth of Christian expressions and seeks an inclusive, ecumenical approach. Many have already joined and put their weight behind Micah Challenge UK. Their leaders have united to work together to achieve its goals. Broader involvement of the Christian church is actively being sought. In the UK and internationally Micah Challenge has already succeeded in attracting broad based support from many denominations.
What benefits will Micah Challenge UK bring?
Our dream is that Micah Challenge UK, as a movement of Christians and Christian organisations, will make a decisive contribution towards overcoming the injustices of poverty. Every contributing individual and organisation will be able to say that they:
- held the UK Government to account and influenced policy relevant to reducing UK and international poverty;
- had an impact at a global level as the UK Government influenced the G8 and UN;
- united with Christians across denominations to live out a practical and sacrificial love that provoked the World to sit up and take notice;
- helped sensitise their communities to the injustices of poverty, the underlying issues, and how this impacts society, all from a clear and compelling Christian perspective;
- directed people to resources, opportunities and activities so that others can pursue whatever they feel prompted to do;
- galvanised the energy generated in the Make Poverty History campaign before it dissipated.
