February 2011 - Micah Network

Micah Network Monthly Newsletter
February 2011
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Letter from the International Director - February 2011
News - Strategy Update
News - Project Updates
Regional News
Micah Network on Facebook & Twitter!
January Joiners
Micah Network Events
Watch out for…
‘What can I do?’
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1. Letter from the International Director - February 2011
I had the privilege of attending a conference in Ouagadougou this month called Vision Africa.
As you can imagine the overriding theme throughout the week was about vision. One speaker
quoted the infamous verse from Proverbs 29:18 „Where there is no vision, the people perish:‟
(King James version).
Over the last few months we have been working through what the vision of Micah Network is
and have drawn on what motivated our founders and what we believe God is calling us
towards. This is what we have tried to capture in the vision statement below:
A global Christian community mobilised for transforming mission through the Gospel
1. Global Christian community: a group of people linked because of our identity in Christ and
having a shared commitment
2. Mobilised: prepared for, organised and engaged in….
3. Transforming mission: mission that transforms as well as itself being transformed
4. Through the Gospel: at the heart of all we do is to see the transformation of communities
so that they too become engaged in transformational ministries. We also long to see, in
and through the power of the Gospel, the transformation of mission, so that mission is
transformed and results in transformation.
At the Vision Africa Conference I was sharing about our need to mobilise and stand together
and one of the delegates asked the question „but how do we do this?‟ This is an extremely
important and practical question. I answered:
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Recognition that our lives are to be lived absolutely for Jesus Christ
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Prayerfully seek God‟s direction and commit ourselves to obedience to it.
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Be informed about what is happening
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Engage. This usually means faithful intercession, financial support, giving ones time / gifts
/ skills / capacity and energy towards it, standing with others as they too engage. (It‟s
Micah 6:8)
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Be equipped to so that you can engage and be more effective.
Coming back to Proverbs 29:18, the NIV translates this as „Where there is no revelation, the
people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.‟ The New Living Translation
states „Where people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the
law is joyful.‟
We welcome your thoughts on the Micah Network vision. Our prayer and hope is that we will
be inspired and challenged by it. That we will not run wild or cast off constraint, but that the
vision and mission will help us to focus our energy. That we will be mobilised!
A practical way to be engaged in Micah Network is:
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Join the weekly prayer focus
Keep informed about what is happening and see how you can contribute and share in
Ask the question in your organisation and in your church – in what way are we mobilising
for transforming mission?
Participate in the national, regional and global events and help others to do so too
Seek practical and tangible ways to engage so as to make sure we can mobilise for the
change we want to see.
One urgent practical way is help cover the financial needs that currently exist in Micah
Network. For a financial guide that outlines our ministry needs please request from
[email protected]. Thank you in advance.
Warm Regards,
Sheryl Haw
International Director
Micah Network
2. News - Strategy Update
The new 2011 to 2014 Micah Network Strategic Framework will be accessible on our web site
by the end of February. We invite you to read through both the summary version and the
detailed version. As a framework its intention is to help give direction, yet be flexible enough
for regional and national contextualisation and prioritisation. Below is a glimpse:
Purpose:
What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to
walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Vision:
A global Christian community mobilised for transforming mission through the
Gospel.
Mission:
To motivate and equip a global community of Christians to embrace and
practice integral mission.
Values:
Christ centred
Equity
Humility
Unity
Focus:
Social responsibility: relief, rehabilitation, development, environmental care
and advocacy / justice ministries.
In order to achieve this, three core programme objectives have been established:
1 - Integral Mission:
To promote, encourage and motivate Christians to embrace
and practice integral mission.
2 – Equipping Members:
To enhance the capacity of members as they strive to make
a biblical-shaped holistic response in our world through
active engagement in relief, rehabilitation, development,
environmental care, speaking out and standing for justice.
3- Networking:
To serve, support and share with one another, strengthening
our inter-dependence and increasing our impact and mutual
accountability.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback.
3. News - Project Updates
Disaster Management Project: Phase one of this project is now completed and the report
will be available for review on our web site.
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Review of Micah Declaration on Integral Mission: 2011 marks the 10 year since this
declaration was drafted. It has been used globally and continues to make its mark on
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transforming mission. On the 23 and 24 June 2011 our panel of references and incited
theologians and practitioners will gather in The Wycliffe Centre in High Wycombe to review
this document and see whether we need to revise any part of it.
To have your say and feed into this process we would like to invite you to send your feedback
to Sheryl Haw at [email protected] using the Declaration as your reference
document. Feedback is collated each month and sent around to all those requesting
involvement and this in turn will be reported back monthly up until the review in June where
the review group, led by C. René Padilla (President of Micah Network) and Rev Dino L
Touthang (Chair of Micah Network International Board) will deliberate on all the feedback.
HIV & AIDS
HIV & AIDS Project: Lausanne Congress offers a reading of Ephesians 5 in an HIV
epidemic
In January, the Lausanne Congress released a document entitled, „The Cape Town
Commitment‟. This „call to action‟ was distilled from discussions involving more than 4200
people from 198 countries. These discussions took place in the context of one of today‟s
large and prominent HIV epidemics. They also took place amidst a Bible study of
„Ephesians‟.
Reading Ephesians 5 in an HIV epidemic risks perpetuating attitudes and practices of
judgment and stigma, which can originate in religious belief and teaching. Therefore the fruit
of this meeting has the potential to offer a useful reference point regarding Evangelical
Christian thought and action on the subjects of stigma and judgement.
Ephesians is a frequent reference point throughout the Lausanne Movement‟s core
documents. However, neither the „Lausanne Covenant‟ (1979), nor the „Manila Manifesto‟
(1989) refer to Ephesians 5 beyond a reference to verse 2, which urges believers to „Walk in
love, as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us.‟
The „Cape Town Commitment‟ builds on the „Lausanne Covenant‟ and „Manila Manifesto‟.
Section V of the „Cape Town Commitment‟ is entitled „Calling the Church of Christ back to
humility, integrity and simplicity‟. This section offers references to Ephesians 5. Also in this
section are four paragraphs which specifically focus on HIV and AIDS. These notes on HIV
and AIDS are included in the sub-section entitled „Walk in love, rejecting the idolatry of
disordered sexuality‟. The notes on HIV and AIDS conclude with the following commitment,
referring to integral mission.
“We commit ourselves to such urgent and prophetic action as part of the integral mission of
the Church.”
The document‟s thematic association of HIV infection with disordered sexuality and this
association with integral mission make it an important document for further discussion within
the Micah Network.
The „Cape Town Commitment‟ is available at http://www.lausanne.org/ctcommitment
If you would like to offer comments about the document and participate in discussion about
integral mission, HIV and AIDS and the imitation of Christ, you can join the Micah Network‟s
HIV Forum. To do this, please send an email to Greg Manning at [email protected]
4. Regional News
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Vision Africa Conference, Ouagadougou – Burkina Faso. 31 January to 4t February
2011. The host organisation that facilitated this conference was CREDO (Christian Relief
and Development Organisation), a member of Micah Network. The CEO of CREDO is
Rev Dr Moise Napon. Over 600 delegates attended from countries around Africa. The
Micah Network Africa Regional Coordination Group was present to share in this exciting
promotion of integral mission. A statement of commitment and conference communiqué
will shortly be available for downloading.
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Shillong, India: Micah Network is working with NEICORD to run a workshop on integral
mission at the Presbyterian Church this month.
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Amahoro Africa City Conversations: The Amahoro City Conversation was developed
to convey the content of the larger Amahoro conversation (and the integral mission
worldview that is their foundation) by creating small interactive seminars where local
leaders can participate in a time of learning, conversing, connecting and dreaming
together. This is a time to consider ideas that fall under three categories: theology,
context and praxis. They will discuss a fresh understanding of the Story of God, take a
look at the local context and then begin to imagine what the Story of God looks like in our
own communities. In particular, they would like to engage the question: How does
following Jesus in our community bring about transformation, in accord with His gospel of
peace, reconciliation and love? Micah Network encourages members to participate in a
city conversation when it is near you. The next city conversations can be found on:
www.amahroro-africa.org
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Together Movement for Children, Argentina: Argentina‟s government has approved
the new bill incorporating the country‟s Penal Code which recognises femicide, the killing
of women as a specific crime, is continuing to work on the law against people trafficking
and criminalises being a client‟ of prostitutes.
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Peru: The torrential rains that are recorded in the Ayacucho, Peru in the central
highlands are forcing authorities to declare a state of emergency in the region. It is
estimated so far that 1200 hectares of cultivated land has been lost, valued at USD
400,000. The same situation is happening in Ica on the south coast where the Pisco
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River flooded 35 hectares of cotton fields. The river‟s flow increased by 100m per
second in 1 week. On the other hand, on the north coast, in Talara, residents are
concerned by the lack of water. There have been water shortages for several weeks and
local authorities have not yet acted to help the situation and the risk is that disease can
set in and aggravate the already fragile health of children in the region.
5. Micah Network on Facebook & Twitter!
Micah Network has joined the new media revolution!
You can now find us on Facebook and Twitter where you can follow our latest updates and
alerts.
Invite your friends, colleagues and partner organisations to link to these pages so that
together we can promote integral mission to the millions of people engaging with these new
forms of social networking.
Our Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/pages/MicahNetwork/109755462435765?ref=ts
To follow us on Twitter visit www.twitter.com/micahnetwork
6. January Joiners
It is great to see the network growing and developing at the start of this New Year. We look
forward to strengthening relationships with our new members and partnering with each other
for the sake of the Gospel and integral mission.
Our new members from January are:
Full members
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Media Village, Nigeria: A Youth With A Mission initiative. Media Village seeks to use
video production to share the Gospel and promote stories of integral mission and
transformation.
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Christian Holistic Development Foundation, Nigeria: An organisation committed to
partnering and supporting local churches to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of
their communities.
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ACOE-CONFOR, DRC: Action Chretienne Des Oeuvres Evangeliques, Conférences des
formations en sigle or ACOE-CONFOR work for the development of Africa, serve the
church and seeks to partner with all Christian denominations to bring transformation to
the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Associate Members
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Church Missionary Society - Australia, Australia: CMS-A wants to see God‟s Church
growing in the entire world as lives and communities are transformed by Christ and
sends missionaries all over the world to glorify God by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus
Christ.
Individual Members
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Stephen Owino, Tanzania: Stephen leads a newly established and growing network of
Christian leaders in East Africa
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Jannet Opio, Uganda: Jannet works for ACLAIM Africa and is on the Micah Network
Uganda National Coordinating Group
7. Micah Network Events
2011
Integral Mission Conversation Sri Lanka
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25 - 26 March
Africa Regional Consultation „Mobilising Africa for Integral Mission‟
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17 - 20 November 2011, Zambia
Latin America Regional Consultation „Integral Mission & Arts‟
Dates and Location to be confirmed
Asia Regional Consultation
Watch this space!
2012
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Micah Network 5 Triennial Global Consultation on Integral Mission
September 2012, Europe (tentative)
For more details email [email protected]
8. Watch out for…
Amahoro Africa
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The annual Amahoro Africa gathering will be held in Mombasa, Kenya from the 2
May 2011.
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For more information go to: www.amahoro-africa.org
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INERELA+ Retreat: 9 - 11 March, India
A retreat for leaders from India who are living with or are personally affected by HIV. Travel,
meals and stay will be fully sponsored by INERELA+ Asia Pacific.
The confidentiality of those attending will be strictly maintained, both before and after the
meeting.
For more information email [email protected]
Not a Tourist - Incarnational Living, Crossing Cultures & Grass Roots Development
The Scots‟ Church, corner of Collins & Russell Streets, Melbourne, Australia
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Saturday 26 February 2011, 10.30am - 3.30pm
RSVP to Lu-Yee Miller at [email protected] and for more details.
Faith2Share Regional Events
ASIA
24 February to 2 March in Hyderabad, India in association with the India
Missions Association and the Indian Evangelical Mission.
AUSTRALASIA and OCEANIA
19-22 July in Wellington, New Zealand in association with the Anglican Province of
Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia and SOMA International
AFRICA
4-10 September in Abuja, Nigeria in association with MANI (Movement of African National
Initiatives) and COMIBAM (Latin American Network of Mission Movements)
EUROPE and NORTH AMERICA
5-10 November in Stuttgart, Germany in association with the Missions Commission of the
World Evangelical Alliance
Urban Neighbours of Hope
Shane Claiborne and Ash Barker and Darryl Gardiner speaking at UNOH Sydney. “An
economy of love and justice”. March 30 and 31 – contact Jon: [email protected]; (Bangkok
is offering a similar seminar with Ash, Darryl and Anji Barker on May 21/22 in Klong Toey –
contact Murray: [email protected];)
2) Mick Duncan speaking for 1 day in Melbourne: “Spirituality and the Activist”. July 27 at
UNOH Dandenong. Contact Jim: [email protected];
3) Tony Campolo (with Cheryl Catford and Jim Reiher): “Putting faith to work”. Oct 13 and 14
at UNOH Melbourne. Contact Jim: [email protected];
Dates for Missio Dei this year: (note that these are the most recent accurate dates. Some
were changed since the publication of our training booklet).
Missio Dei is a terrific 2 day intensive where participants explore God‟s work in their lives and
what might be lying ahead for them to embrace.
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Sydney: Sep 30 and Oct 1 . Contact Jon Owen: [email protected]
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Melbourne: August 26 and 27 . Contact Naomi Dekker: [email protected]
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Auckland: August 5 and 6 . Contact Dave Tims: [email protected]
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Bangkok: May 19 and 20 . Contact Murray: [email protected]
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Argentina, 12 - 13 May 2011
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2 National Congress of Internal Trafficking and People Trafficking
„Working for a country without slavery‟
Villa Maria, Córdoba, Argentina
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Kairos Foundation invites you to participate in the “2 National Congress of Internal
Trafficking and People Trafficking”. There will be over 50 panellists giving presentations
touching on topics such as human trafficking in Argentina and the world, migrant smuggling,
trafficking in women and girls for sexual exploitation, prostitution, disappearances of people,
public policies of prevention and reparation, amongst many others.
9. ‘What can I do?’
There are many exciting ways for you to be involved in Micah Network in 2011 and because
there are so many, we thought we‟d provide a helpful reminder and summary about each one:
Membership: the most important and best way to connect with Micah Network. Membership
in Micah Network not only gives you discounted prices at our events, but puts you in a
position to contribute and not just take from the network by contributing to forums on key,
topical issues relating to integral mission; provide best practice resources to be shared with
your peers; and make use of the network‟s broad membership to partner with like-minded
organisations, whether in disaster management, community development or mobilising the
Church to proclaim and demonstrate the Gospel.
Member‟s financial contributions are the primary way Micah Network funds its work all over
the world and our member‟s contributions have accomplished so much since 1999! If you
haven‟t paid your membership contribution for 2011 or want to make back payments for years
you have missed, email [email protected] for payment details.
New website: the launch of our new web site has now been delayed another month as we
await we anticipation the trial and finalisation of the design. Apologies for this lengthy process
- we hope the long wait will be worth it. For now you can still get all the information you need
from www.micahnetwork.org
Micah Network Events: take a look at our calendar to see which events you are able to
attend and prioritise in your busy schedule. We are holding national, regional and global
consultations over the next 18 months focusing on motivating and equipping us to be a part of
God‟s mission in an integral and holistic way.
Social media: Micah Network is now on Facebook and twitter where we will be posting and
tweeting for God‟s glory and the need of the nations.
Prayer Focus: each week Micah Network collates and sends out prayer points that have
been shared within our network. If you are not receiving these then we encourage you to send
your request to be added to the list to Steve Bradbury, who faithfully compiles this for us each
week. His e-mail is: [email protected]
New points should be with Steve by no later than Thursday each week as the Prayer Focus is
sent out every Friday. Urgent prayer requests will be sent out as and when they arrive.
Member’s Journal: we will be sending out a quarterly communication to all our members,
which will focus on the network news, initiatives and outworking of the strategy. We
encourage you to send in your case studies, stories of transformation or examples of good
practice.
Give: you can give financially in membership contributions, funding specific projects and
expenses, seconding staff to carry out initiatives, advocating and promoting integral mission.
There is obviously a huge need in our world and in Christian ministry that finances can
contribute to meeting and you can play a significant role in that in your financial support of
Micah Network.
If you are interested in funding Micah Network projects or need information about how to pay
your 2011 (or 2010?) membership contribution then please email [email protected]
Monthly Newsletters: no need to tell you about these because if you are reading this you are
already on our mailing list! However, that‟s not the end of the matter! We want you to
contribute articles, stories, news and events to the newsletter so that our members can
celebrate with you and prayerfully stand in the gap for you, in each season the Lord brings.
Please forward this newsletter to as many people as you want; friends, family and colleagues,
and get them to email [email protected] to be added onto our mailing list to receive it
directly from us.