Synod 2005: Micah Challenge Holds Governments Accountable

by Dan Postma, Gayla R. Postma

Our governments have already promised to halve global poverty by 2015. Now we need to hold them to their word.
All 191 members of the United Nations have agreed to eight goals (called “millennium development goals”), setting targets for alleviating world hunger, HIV/AIDS, and other deeply rooted problems. Yet they simply aren’t on track to keep their public promises.
That’s where the Micah Challenge comes in. The Micah Challenge is a worldwide initiative by the Micah Network and the World Evangelical Alliance. It takes its inspiration from Micah 6:8: “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
The Micah Challenge has two purposes: keeping political leaders accountable to the promises they’ve made, and getting Christians to engage more deeply with the poor.
Delegates to Synod 2005 were introduced to the campaign by Andrew Ryskamp, director of the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee-U.S. Sporting white bands—the campaign’s chosen symbol—around his head and wrist, Ryskamp urged delegates, “Good civil society alone is never enough. We have to focus on our goals and get our institutions to help us in the battle against world hunger.”
Ryskamp asked delegates to sign the Micah Challenge, to promote the campaign in their churches, and to pray for its success.
Visit www.micahchallenge.org to sign the challenge and find more resources from the campaign. Also on the website is the award-winning short film Grace, which was shown to synod delegates.
In support of the Micah Challenge, many delegates wore the white wristbands they received at synod. Time will tell whether our governments will keep their promises.

Authors

Dan Postma
Dan Postma is an occasional reporter for The Banner

Gayla R. Postma