What is an Offering of Letters?

1. What is an Offering of Letters? It’s an activity of Micah Challenge, a campaign which supports Christians living out the words of Micah 6:8 to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God We want to see change in people’s hearts and in public policy so that the terrible effects of global poverty can be addressed.

2. Just as we offer our money and our time to God, we can also offer our voices on behalf of the poor. This is part of our worship, and gives us the opportunity to “do justice and love kindness” by prayerfully writing letters to our Prime Minister. We can encourage generous action by our nation.

3. Why write a letter? Many of the world’s poor have no voice with the powerful decision makers of our world – but your letter can bring the concerns of the poor to our nation’s leaders. A hand-written letter is very effective advocacy. Imagine the potential impact of many thousands of letters to our Prime Minister written on behalf of the poor!

4. What can we do about poverty? There’s a lot we can do. The nations of the world have agreed on 8 poverty goals called the Millennium Development Goals. They are ambitious goals but they are achievable. Individuals can be involved but we also need government action on the big issues like aid, trade rules, crippling debt, climate change and effective governance.

5. The Millennium Development Goals • The goals, which have a target date of 2015, are: • Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger • Achieve universal primary education • Promote gender equality and empower women • Reduce child mortality • Improve maternal health • Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other disease • Ensure environmental sustainability • Develop a global partnership for development addressing issues such as trade, debt, aid and public health to promote economic growth and poverty reduction

6. What do we need to do? Increase Overseas Aid to 0.7% In 1970, the world’s rich countries (including Australia) promised to increase government aid to poor countries to 0.7% of national income.This is just 70 cents in every $100 dollars of our annual earnings. This level of aid is needed to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

7. What we can do • Prime Minister Rudd has announced that Australia’s aid will increase from the current level of 0.32% to 0.5% of national income by 2015. This will still leave Australia 17th of 22 rich countries and falling well short of doing our fair share towards achieving the MDGs. • We call on the Australian Government to take the following steps: • Make a timetabled commitment to increase Australia’s overseas aid to 0.7% of national income by 2015. • Actively encourage other nations to match (and exceed!) Australia’s effort.

8. Praying over our letters All: Lord, we come to pour out our grief at the suffering in our world – the physical pain, spiritual poverty, political oppression and economic injustice. Instead of despairing when we read the news, we want to be making the news; changing the world rather than accepting the status quo. Leader: As Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth.... You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” All: God, we can't thank you enough for lighting up the world when you sent your son to us. Now shine through us with the power of your spirit. Motivate us to become the answer to the prayers on our lips. Fill us, we humbly pray with power, persistence and wisdom so that we can be a prophetic voice in our land.

9. Leader: “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house... In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven.” All: Help these letters we offer as a form of worship to you to shine your light of compassion and justice into the offices of our political leaders. Prompt them to respond to our call on behalf of the poor. Leader: Jesus also says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” All: Dear God, remind us to hunger for your righteousness and mercy so that through us you can change the lives of people near us and around the world through our prayers, words and actions. Amen

10. (Date)  Dear Prime Minister, I am writing because….(write a sentence about why you care about poverty) I believe we can act to stop hunger, prevent disease and save lives. Thank you for your commitment to the Millennium Development Goals and to increasing Australia’s overseas aid to 0.5% of our national income by 2015. I appreciate your commitment to fighting global poverty. We have reason for hope - more babies are surviving, more children are in school and more people are immunised against disease. But 1.4 billion people, about 20% of the world’s population, still live in extreme poverty. In times of economic uncertainty, please remember your commitment to the global poor who will not receive any bailouts and who will suffer most in the downturn. Please make the aid target of 0.7% of national income a firm promise by the next Election. Please also encourage leaders of other nations like the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Japan, to make a firm commitment to meet the aid target. I pray that you will have wisdom and courage as you lead Australia. Yours sincerely and prayerfully, (Your name and address)

11. Your letters will be collected and hand delivered to the Prime Minister at ‘Voices for Justice’ in September Thank you!