What does the Lord require of you but to act justly, love kindness and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 What is the Micah Network? A global network of Christian agencies and churches involved in: relief, development & advocacy, and responding to poverty & injustice through integral mission (named after Micah 6:8) or holistic transformation is the proclamation and demonstration of the gospel. It is not simply that evangelism and social involvement are to be done alongside each other Rather, in integral mission our proclamation has social consequences as we call people to love and repentance in all areas of life. And our social involvement has evangelistic consequences as we bear witness to the transforming grace of Jesus Christ....As in the life of Jesus, being, doing and saying are at the heart of our integral task. Micah Network Declaration on Integral Mission, 2001 Aims of the Micah Network In summary: To build capacity To encourage IM within the wider church To advocate with and for the poor 1
First Aim: Building capacity Second Aim: Challenging the church Strengthening the capacity of participating agencies to make a biblically shaped response to the needs of the poor and oppressed. Speaking strongly and effectively regarding the nature of the mission of the church to proclaim and demonstrate the love of Christ to a world in need. Third Aim: Advocacy Prophetically calling upon and influencing the leaders and decision makers of societies to defend the rights of the poor & oppressed and rescue the weak & needy. Size of network 290+ members from 75 countries, plus 70+ associate members. Who participates? Small and large Christian relief development and justice agencies Churches Theological colleges Individuals supportive of our aims Angola Argentina Armenia Australia Bangladesh Belgium Bolivia Bosnia Botswana Brazil Burkina Faso Cambodia Canada Dominican Rep Egypt El Salvador Countries represented through Micah Ethiopia France Georgia Germany Ghana Guatemala Guinea Guinea Bissau Honduras Hong Kong India Kazakhstan Kenya Liberia Malawi Malaysia Mali Mauritius Mexico Mongolia Mozambique Myanmar Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Republic Nigeria Pakistan Peru Philippines Rwanda Serbia Sierra Leone South Africa Sri Lanka Switzerland Tanzania Thailand Tunisia Uganda UK USA Zambia Zimbabwe 2
Paul Kennel USA Saul & Pilar Cruz Mexico Alfonso Wieland Peru Rene Padilla Argentina David Boul UK Doug Balfour UK Jennie Collins Nepal Dino Touthang India Tesfaye Yacob Ethiopia John Wesley Kabango Rwanda Jane Furniss Australia Steve Bradbury Australia Micah Co-ordinating Group (MICOG) Rene Padilla (President) Steve Bradbury Chair (TEAR Australia) Dino Touthang (EFICOR, India) Jennie Collins (UMN, Nepal) Doug Balfour (Integral) David Boul (Secretary) Tesfaye Yacob (Kale Heywet, Ethiopia) Paul Kennel (World Concern USA) Alfonso Wieland (Peace and Hope, Peru) Saul & Pilar Cruz (Armonia, Mexico) John Wesley Kabango (Chrisian Network, Rwanda) How is it funded? Initial core finances from trust Events are self funded Member contributions External funds sought for some key projects which have multiplying effects How do we work? Small secretariat facilitating global and regional initiatives Micah Network consultations held in each region Members work together on projects of interest People from 75 countries meet as equals Events Aims include: To build capacity To nurture Christians responding to injustice and poverty in their communities To encourage a deeper understanding of integral mission To facilitate linkages To set up regional working groups Micah past events Sept 2000, Thailand: Christian Leadership June 2001, Ethiopia: Christian Leadership Sept 2001, Britain: Integral Mission Apr 2002, Hungary: Globalisation Sept 2002, Thailand: HIV/AIDS Sept 2003, Mexico: Globalisation & the Poor Nov 2003, Bosnia: Integral Mission & Advocacy 3
Micah past events April 2004, South Asia (regional): Advocacy & Justice June 2004, Bangladesh (national): Advocacy & Justice Sept 2004, Africa (regional): Advocacy and Integral Mission May 2005, Australia (global): Partners in Integral Mission Other Micah events in 2005/06: July 2005, Nepal: HIV/Aids and a Christian response Nov 2005, S and SE Asia consultation Nov/Dec 2005 USA consultation Jan 2006, East Asia consultation May 2006, Australia and New Zealand:The Micah Mandate Sept 2006, Global consultation: Integral Mission in a world of conflict micahnetwork.org Articles, reflections and event papers on: Community development and relief work Advocacy and justice HIV/Aids Christian responses Globalisation the impact on the poor and the poor Christian leadership and management 4
Academic Cluster Aims: To share resources on integral mission to facilitate linkages between academics and Christian relief, development and advocacy organisations Academic Cluster Regional groups HIV/Aids part of the curriculum at Thai theological colleges? Opportunities to learn from other countries/regions experience Aim to: Meet specific regional needs Facilitate capacity building (Aim 1) Encourage integral mission (Aim 2) Facilitate advocacy initiatives (Aim 3) Facilitate activities at a national level 5