April 2009

From the Chairman, Micah Network

I am very pleased to introduce the Draft Values Statement of the Micah Network, endorsed by the Micah Network Coordinating Group late last year. At its meeting in April 2008, our Executive Committee began a process of identifying the core values already informing and shaping work and relationships within our global network. We agreed on the importance of articulating these values, and the need to keep our values statement as brief as possible in order to enhance its practical usefulness.

After a very fruitful and encouraging brainstorming exercise at the April executive meeting, I was given the task of producing a draft statement. This was then circulated to all Micah Network Coordinating Group members, and what you now see is the end product of that process.

I commend this draft statement to you, and welcome your responses, but please keep in mind that we want to keep the statement brief. If you wish to comment, please do so to Anne Liew (Anne.Liew@micahnetwork.org) by May 31, 2009. The Micah Network Coordinating Group will consider all responses at its meeting in July 2009, and the final Values Statement will be
presented at the 4th Triennial Global Consultation.

Please go to this link to view the Draft Values Statement: http://www.micahnetwork.orghttp://community.micahnetwork.org/en/page/our-values

God bless,

Steve Bradbury
Chairman Micah Network

A year ago we launched our Integral Mission Initiative (or IMI) to help Micah Network members to promote a deeper understanding of integral mission in local churches throughout the world. We are trying to connect and resource (through materials and relationships) all our members who are trying to promote integral mission in the church in their country. In the last year we have been doing a number of things:

• Developing a project plan for all of our work
• Doing some research amongst Micah Network members and others to find out about Integral Mission resources that already exist, and those that are needed
• Organising the integral mission resources we know about into an online library, found on the Micah Network website
• Hosting ‘national conversations’ about Integral Mission. These have taken place in
  Rwanda, Kenya, Nigeria, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, and are planned for Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nepal and the UK in the next few months
• Discussing in the Regional Co-ordinating Groups the best approach to promoting Integral Mission in each of their regions
• Supporting some regional initiatives to promote integral mission e.g. the Latin America-wide youth conference on Integral Mission which has just taken place in Uruguay

How can you get involved?

• Tell us about Integral Mission resources you can recommend, or that you need. Visit the Integral Mission Initiative section of the Micah Network website to find our new resource library and email us
• Tell us about what is happening in your country or region. Contact your Regional Co-ordinator to let them know about work to promote integral mission in your country, or to find out from them what is happening in your region

Please read the full quarterly update at this link http://www.micahnetwork.orghttp://community.micahnetwork.org/en/page/quarterly-update.

We are only 3 months away from the 4th Triennial Global Consultation. Since places are limited, we encourage you to register as soon as possible – before 31st May 2009.

Registration can be done online at www.micahevents.org or by submitting a manual booking form to bookings@micahnetwork.org. Please visit this link to download the consultation flyer and booking form: http://www.micahnetwork.orghttp://community.micahnetwork.org/en/events/upcoming-events/triennial-global-consultation.

Small Group Sessions – Call for Papers
We would encourage members who are interested in presenting a case study or facilitate

a workshop at the consultation to submit their proposals by 30th April 2009. Please see the consultation flyer for the topics and email your proposals to Anne Liew at Anne.Liew@micahnetwork.org.

On 2 April 2009, world leaders from the G20 countries gathered in London to address the global financial crisis.

The global leaders recognized that “the current crisis has a disproportionate impact on the vulnerable in the poorest countries” and reaffirmed their commitment to meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

The decisions made at the London Summit are recorded in the communiqué which all leaders
signed on 2 April 2009: http://www.londonsummit.gov.ukhttp://community.micahnetwork.org/en/summit-aims/summit-communique/.

Tearfund has also issued a statement at the conclusion of the Summit and it can be viewed at this link: http://www.tearfund.org/NR/exeres/894D0D43-A0B9-4664-AC24-25E9E709FCA8,frameless.htm?NRMODE=Published.

For more information on The London Summit 2009, please go to http://www.londonsummit.gov.ukhttp://community.micahnetwork.org/en/

For more information on G20, please go to http://www.g20.org/

Issue 28 of Encounters Mission Ezine by Redcliffe College explores the issues of justice and ethical living with articles by Dr. Dewi Hughes, Peter Price-Thomas and Andy Kingston-Smith from the recent Redcliffe College/ John Ray Initiative Environment Day.

To download the entire issue, please go to http://www.redcliffe.org/uploads/documents/encounters_issue_28.pdf (396KB)

The Musonda School in Kitwe, Zambia, demonstrates the power of partnerships. A school originally undertaken as a Pro-Life Advancement and Education Project (PLAEP) project in partnership with Micah Challenge Zambia, the Musonda School engages community leaders and the local church to reach its goal of providing a quality education to every child in Musonda compound, an unplanned "shanty" town.

For the full story on how a school and its students benefit from the strength of partnership, please go to http://mczambia.wordpress.com/2009/04/09/musonda-community-striving-to-meet-the-mdg-on-education/

Members may be interested to watch a short film by Tearfund on how the lack of clean water and sanitation is impacting the lives of girls in Uganda.

Please go to http://www.tearfund.org/News/World+news/Twelve+Water+Film
/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Twelve.

Members may be interested to know that the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) has recently published the first in an ongoing series of information sheets on various development topics. The information sheets are intended to provide the reader with a snapshot of the issues around the topic discussed.

The first information sheets are on Human Rights and Development, International Law and Development, the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, the Accra Agenda for Action and the Global Food Crisis: http://www.acfid.asn.au/resources/information-sheets.

ACFID is an independent association of Australian non-profit aid and development agencies.

A short reflection by Alfonso Wieland, Peace and Hope - PERU

“Sir, I am 68 years old and this is the first time in my life that I feel proud of my country’s institutions. These members of the tribunal are first class; they are refuting, one by one, all of Fujimori’s lies.”

It is a sunny morning in Lima, it is almost midday and my friend the taxi-driver is driving me around the small and chaotic streets in the city centre. We are listening, over the radio, to the vibrant and clear speech on the sentencing of the Peruvian dictator, Alberto Fujimori, who governed from 1990 until his fall in November 2000. I picture in my mind the emotion of the families of the murdered citizens of Barrios Altos and La Cantuta (Lima), where twenty-nine people were killed under the orders of the Fujimori regime. I imagine the relief of the journalist, Gustavo Gorriti, and the businessman Samuel Dyer, who were unjustly kidnapped. Yes indeed, justice and truth do bring relief, they make us feel as if we are alive, that there is something more in this life than lies and the abuse of power. It must have been with that in mind that the Biblical prophet, in his vision of a perfect society, imagined a love scene between justice and truth; both kiss each other, they want each other, they love each other.

This historic trial is a triumph for human rights, it is a triumph of the law over arbitrariness, but above all it is the triumph of the Christian vision that justice must protect the least protected, the weakest members of society, the poor, those whose lack of social status makes them most vulnerable. This twenty-five year sentence is not for revenge, it is to restore dignity, the memory of those who were murdered, and it should also be so that the condemned man might also change, repent and return to God.

It is noon, and the sun is shining with even more strength, despite the fact that it is Autumn. I recall the beautiful words of Malachi: “The Sun of justice will rise and on his wings, he will bring salvation.”

“Have a good day,” I get out of the taxi and say good-bye to my friend the taxi-driver. I respond with a look, without words, “Yes, today is a good day. The face of Hope is the families of those who were murdered. Blessed be the Lord.”

Please join with us in prayer for the following:

World

• The Zambezi River has risen to record levels following heavy rain over the last four months. The countries in the region most affected include Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi and Botswana. We pray for the 500,000 or so people, particularly those in Namibia, who have been affected.
• Please pray that the political peace process in the West African state of Niger will gather momentum in this election year. Lately, pressure for the two-year-old rebellion to come to an end has come from the African Union whereby it has called on the rebel groups to lay down their weapons and join the political process. This year will see presidential elections in Niger and many of the issues writ large in the conflict will come to the fore. Pray for the unity of the local church in Niger which is small and fragmented. And for our partners working for material and spiritual transformation - and a sustainable future for nomadic peoples.
• Across Kandhamal in India, approximately 5,031 Christian homes, 150 churches, mostly in villages, and 90 institutions were destroyed, vandalized or torched during the lead up to elections taking place in the district later this month. Homes and institutions were robbed; cash, jewellery, machinery and other valuables were looted. The human toll is reported at 75 – though many believe the actual toll is much higher. The Evangelical Fellowship of India has asked us to pray for:
  • The state and Central governments to restore the rule of law to dispense justice and ensure peace in Kandhamal by taking action against those who incited violence against the tribals, Dalits and minorities
  • The victims of the violence in their struggle for justice and peace and promote an environment of dignity and freedom to choose their faith and occupation
  • Peaceful elections and that the people in Kandhamal will be able to exercise their franchise fearlessly and will resist attempts of political parties/candidates to create vote banks by fanning communal feelings.
• In the Eastern DR Congo there has been social unrest for some time. Pray for leaders
  in the DRC to have unity and work in overcoming violence in the region.

Events

• Pray for the upcoming National Conversation on Integral Mission being prepared in Tanzania. Please pray for organisers: Peter Kitau, the Tearfund Country Representative, the National Council of Churches in Tanzania and John Wesley Kabango as they put together ideas on how this consultation convened from 28 April - 1 May, 2009 will bring together many Church and Christian Organisation leaders for drawing the National strategy. Please pray also for the National Conversation planned for June in Ethiopia.
• Please pray for all those involved in planning for the Micah Network 4th Triennial Global Consultation on Creation Stewardship and Climate Change to be held in Kenya from 13-18 July 2009, including:
  • Local Organising Committee based in Kenya
  • Climate Change Advisory Group
  • Program Team
  • Anne Liew (who is coordinating logistics)
• Please pray for plans for other meetings associated with the 4th Triennial Global
  Consultation, including:
  • Disaster Management Task Force (in the process of being established)
  • Gender Strategic Consultation (for which we are still sourcing funds)
  • Micah Challenge Facilitators’ meeting
  • Micah Network Coordinating Group (board) meetings
  • Micah Challenge International (board) meetings

If you would like to contribute to or be added to Micah Network’s weekly prayer update,
please contact Angeline Emery (angeline.emery@micahnetwork.org).

Thank you very much for your prayers and support.