Halftime! News
2007
August
WORLDWIDE
National campaigns are gearing up for events marking the end of Halftime! and to Kick Off! the second half. Calendar of Events
07/07/07: WORLDWIDE
Halftime! prayer and advocacy set to go off around the world Calendar of Events
June
25: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Micah Challenge organised a conference for non-government organisations, Christian development organisations and Congolese syndicates. The title was Millennium Development Goals: Blow the Half-Time Whistle! More than three hundred people took part in the conference, part of the inaugural Congolese Social Forum, attended by 15,000 people.
16-19: AUSTRALIA
Voices for Justice makes impact in Canberra
183 people, aged 13 to 73 from every part of the country, ventured to Canberra; 73 politicians were visited. Bishop Alexis from Rwanda spoke powerfully about the hope Christians can offer; the art exhibition "Create to Advocate" had a powerful impact in the main exhibition area of Parliament House; and 2300 signed postcards which were handed to Mr Greg Hunt, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Another 3,000 postcards arrived at the MC office in the 2 weeks that followed). MC Coordintor Amanda Jackson says: "Prayer and polite persistence have helped our voices to be heard!"
4, 22-23: CANADA
Micah Challenge Canada blows halftime!
Micah Challenge Canada paired with Make Poverty History Canada to do a ‘send-off’ for Prime Minister Harper before he left for the G8 meetings. The ‘halftime whistle was blown’ at the event. A Micah Challenge Canada conference was held in Edmonton 22-23 June.
3-12: USA
Micah Challenge presents at three US prayer and advocacy events, and MCUSA and NAE firm plans for watershed forum of evangelical Christian leaders
Lawrence Temfwe, Chair of Micah Challenge Zambia and Joel Edwards, Co-chair of Micah Challenge International joined MC USA leaders to move and inspire thousands of participants in three US events in early June. The events were:
Micah Challenge USA and the National Association of Evangelicals (USA) firmed plans to co-host and International Christian Leaders Forum set for October 11-12 in Washington.
2-6: GERMANY
Micah Challenge brings prayer and advocacy to the G8 and Kirchentag
50 young 'Pilgrims for justice' from the Netherlands, France and Germany came together in Rostock for an international prayer event organised by Micah Challenge Germany and Netherlands. Together with many other Christians the group participated in a service before the big afternoon rally on June 2 that was organised by German Civil Society organisations. As part of the 3 day program they also had seminars, workshops and times that focused on prayer for the world. In the days that followed, Micah Challenge International leaders held talks with Chancellor Merkel's senior staff and delivering letters to her from Andean children. More Micah Challenge G8 news and analysis
PERU
Letters from Andean children to Chancellor Merkel
The International Director of the World Evangelical Alliance, Geoff Tunnicliffe has delivered letters, handwritten by children in Peru, to Chancellor Merkel's office. The letters were gathered by Micah Challenge in Peru to remind the German Government that any decisions it and other G8 governments make in Heiligendamm will have a real impact on those at the grassroots level, particularly children who are depending on their help for a future of opportunity rather than poverty.
2: UNITED KINGDOM
Micah Challenge blows the whistle at World Can't Wait rally in London
Micah Challenge UK held a worship service in London at the culmination of its ‘Blow the Whistle’ campaign ahead of the G8 Summit. The worshippers then joined the ‘World Can’t Wait’ rally, prayerfully walking to the banks of the Thames, where they joined thousands of others on the ‘World Can’t Wait’ rally.
Earlier:
‘Blow the Whistle’ officially launched on Thursday 15 March with a press launch to Christian media. On the panel were Charles Badenoch, Chief Executive of World Vision; Joel Edwards, Executive Director of the Evangelical Alliance; Matthew Frost, Chief Executive of Tearfund and Rudo Kwaramba, former head of World Vision Zimbabwe. Read the press release here
The launch followed an open letter sent from Micah Challenge UK to Prime Minister Tony Blair on March 7. The letter introduced the ‘Blow the whistle’ campaign and invited Mr Blair to meet with senior church figures in the UK ahead of the G8 in June.
May 20 was ‘Blow the whistle Sunday’ providing the opportunity for churches to actively engage in Micah Challenge and focus on the MDGs, poverty and justice. Church leaders were encouraged to focus the three preceding Sundays on the themes of Justice, Mercy and Humility using resources provided by Micah Challenge.
May
28: NIGERIA
The work of Micah Challenge and the Blow the Halftime Whistle campaign was promoted at a gathering of 44 representatives from Civil Society Organisations, Community Development Organisations, Faith based organisations and NGOs. The aim of this pre-campaign event was to raise public and stakeholder awareness to the 'Blow the Whistle' campaign events on 3rd-5th July, and for them to be stirred in seeing their role in pressing Nigeria's leaders to the work towards attaining the MDGs.
27: Pentecost FRANCE
3500 attend Pentecost Festival
Micah Challenge France mobilised 3500 young people at a Pentecost festival in Valence, which was organised by the Evangelical Alliance of France. Micah Challenge France shared about poverty issues and encouraged these young people to raise their voice against poverty. 3000 signed postcards to be sent to the new French President Nicolas Sarkozy together with a letter from MC France.
NEW ZEALAND
Micah Challenge NZ published articles in all the denomination magazines and newspapers, and sent emails and a DVDs of resources to churches and Christian radio stations ahead of planned events in Auckland and Christchurch on 07/07/07. Calendar of Events
20: NETHERLANDS
'Blow the halftime whistle!' begins with eight weeks of prayer in churches across the Netherlands
Churches began eight weeks of prayer. Each Sunday focusing on one MDG. Churches received a list of the MDGs, prayer points and an example of a country/village/project. The prayer campaign is being well received by the main churches and is being communicated by Micha Campagne through direct mail, press and various articles in newspapers and magazines.
See previous 'Blow the Halftime Whistle!' Updates
here