Geordie urges churches to sign up to make a difference
Trip to Zambia shows Andy the reality of global poverty
If Andy Clasper, 36, was a Zambian, it is likely he would have just one year left to live.
That was the reality faced by Andy, the executive director of Christian coalition Micah Challenge UK, when he travelled to Zambia in August.
He said: “As soon as I arrived I was struck by how everything in Zambian life was completely different from the UK. During the trip I met with community volunteers who partner with World Vision. I was surprised by how much of their work involved caring for orphans.
’Orphans, we don’t have an orphans problem in the UK’ I thought. Then a statistic I’d read earlier really came alive for me: average life expectancy in Zambia is 37. If that is the average, some people will live longer but some will die even younger. That’s going to leave vulnerable children – a lot of them. I was also shocked by what that statistic would mean for me if I was an average Zambian. I’m 36 and coming from the UK, I feel pretty young, like I’ve only just started my adult life. If I was the average Zambian I would have just one year left to live.”
Many children in Zambia have been orphaned because of HIV and AIDS. 17 per cent of the Zambian population are HIV positive compared to just over 0.1 per cent of the UK population. The reality of the virus in the developing world is the reason why HIV and AIDS is the theme of Micah Sunday 07. We want to help give UK churches the chance to join the fight against global poverty.
During his trip, Andy met a group of pastors from local Zambian churches who played a crucial role in improving the lives of those affected by HIV and AIDS. They met the practical needs of those who had contracted the virus, taught messages of truth from the pulpit which helped remove the stigma of HIV and AIDS, and worked to bring about behaviour change to halt the spread.
Andy said: “I was so impressed by these guys – the way they led their congregations and communities, the way they were looked to by the Government as key influencers in society. They asked me to bring a message to the church in the UK. They were doing all they could and asked that we do the same – supporting charities and speaking to the government – so that together we could tackle HIV and AIDS.”
Micah Sunday 07 will be an opportunity to do that. Andy said: “It will be a chance to look at God’s heart for the poor and our response to the injustices we find in the world around us. It will be a time when Micah Challenge hopes to empower Christians to take a stand against global poverty, looking in particular at the HIV and AIDS epidemic and asking the Government to act on this pressing issue.”
Andy, who is almost as dedicated to Newcastle United as he is to the cause of alleviating global poverty, joined Micah Challenge UK in June this year. He grew up in Jarrow, South Tyneside and is a former pupil of Newcastle’s Royal Grammar School.
The official Micah Sunday date is October 14, but churches can hold events at any time from the beginning of October to the end of 2007. Visit www.micahchallenge.org.uk to find out more.
Ends
Media enquiries:
Jo Duckles,
0207 207 2102 or 07789768040.
Andy Clasper is available for interview. He can talk at length about Peter Beardsley.
Pictures are available. (Of Andy in Zambia, not Peter Beardsley)
Notes to Editors:
- Micah Challenge was founded in 2004 and is a worldwide movement of Christians, churches, church organisations and key individuals across more than 40 countries.
- Micah Challenge is named after the Old Testament prophet Micah. The challenge is based on Chapter 6, verse 8: ‘'What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God....'
- Core members working within Micah Challenge UK include: African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA), Alpha International / Holy Trinity Brompton, BMS World Mission, Christian Aid, Christian Medical Fellowship, Christian Today, Evangelical Alliance, Faithworks, Global Connections, New Frontiers International, Oasis, Shaftesbury Society, SPEAK, Tearfund, World Vision UK.
