Offering of Letters

Writing letters is a great way of letting our leaders know that Christians are passionate about the fight against global poverty!

A personal handwritten letter shows your care for the poor and your respect for the attention of your leaders. Micah Challenge is calling supporters to write to your politician, asking him/her to take action to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and reduce global poverty. To make a real difference, we ask that you personally deliver your letters to your politician, and ask them to pass them on to the Prime Minister/President. This way you engage both your elected representative as well as the Prime Minister/Presdient with the issue. This idea was used by Micah Challenge Australia before their general election in 2010.

You can make an offering of letters as a church. These letters could reflect what you are already doing yourselves to take actions to achieve the MDGs. Then you can take them all as a special delivery to your politician and set up a meeting your politician will be paying particular attention to the interests of their constituents. They are hoping to win your vote, so they will be taking your concerns seriously.

What is an Offering of Letters?

Just as we offer our money and our time to God, Micah Challenge is encouraging churches, prayer networks and social action groups to offer their written words to God, on behalf of the poor. You can take part as an individual or as a group. Each year thousands of Christians around the world write letters to help the poor to their politicians and our message is being heard in Parliament buildings the world over. We want to make sure these issues stay on the minds of our leaders – asking them to act with urgency and compassion to help meet the basic needs of the poorest communities. This webpage helps you plan and present an offering of letters including a responsive prayer and information about the issues.

How to make an Offering of Letters:

It’s best to do this in keeping with how your Church works, but below is an outline way that you may find useful:

1. Speak about the issues, inform your congregation or group about poverty, aid, the MDGs and why writing letters is important.

2. Pray for the right words to write and that the letters would be effective.

3. Write the letter. Kids can draw pictures or click here for suggested wording for older kids. You may need to provide pens and boards to write on.

4. Make an offering - pass around an offering tray for people to place their letter in.

5. Send your Letters to your local politician. Attach a letter explaining that you are a church in their electorate who are passionate about poverty reduction, and ask them to pass the letters on to the Prime Minister/President.

Writing Tips

Taking part in the Offering of Letters campaign is one way Christians can respond to God’s call to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute” (Proverbs 31:8). We must seek to ensure that poverty is a key election issue. Please take the time to personally hand-write a letter to your Prime Minister. Some suggested wording is given over the page, but it is important to use your own words and speak of your personal concern for the poor. This shows you have put time and thought into the issue and your letter will be more powerful. Print your name, address and postcode/zipcode at the end to show that you are a constituent of your politician. We recommend being positive and encouraging. And PRAY that our leaders will act.

Thank you for taking part in Offering of Letters campaign. Your effort is much appreciated!

Sample Letter

Dear Prime Minister/president,

I am writing because …(talk about your beliefs about helping the poor and your personal actions to back those beliefs up, talk about the church you are a part of and what they are doing)

I believe we can act to see global poverty halved if we meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. This date is not far away so urgent and positive action is required.

When you take strong action to remember the poor and help meet the MDGs, you have my full support and the support my church.

I pray that you will have wisdom and courage as you lead our country.

Yours sincerely,

{signature}

[Print name]

[Address]

[Postcode]