|PIC1|Christians across the UK and around the world will join in praying this week for world leaders and decision makers to unite around a new vision for the global economy based on values like partnership and care for the vulnerable.

The Rise Up prayer initiative is being organised by the Micah Challenge coalition of Christian organisations to coincide with the G20 summit in London on April 2.

From March 28 to April 3, Christians will commit to individual daily prayer for the summit and join together in a day of prayer on Sunday. On the day of the summit, Christians are being encouraged to meet up with friends to pray that measures to recover the global economy will be fair and take the poor into consideration.

Other countries taking part in Rise Up include Kazakhstan, Malawi, Haiti and India.

Ron Sider, author of Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, said: “The G20 meeting offers a truly historic opportunity to reshape global economic structures in such a way as to dramatically reduce global poverty and empower the poor.

“The Bible tells us that God and his faithful people are on the side of the poor; our faith compels us to actively work for justice.”

Andy Clasper, Micah Challenge UK Executive Director said: “Isaiah told God’s people to rise, shine and to bring light to a world in darkness. I think he would say the same today. In the current financial climate we are seeing what happens when narrow self-interest is played out on a global scale.

“In Rise Up we are calling Christians to pray for world leaders and decision makers at this crucial time, that there is a change of values and that fairness and justice for the poor would be put at the heart of our global economic systems.”

Micah Challenge is one of the Christian groups supporting an ecumenical service on Saturday ahead of a major march through central London with other campaigners to put pressure on world leaders to put people first.

Christian leaders taking part in the service include the Bishop of London Dr Richard Chartres, Father Joe Komakoma of the Episcopal Conference of Zambia and Joel Edwards of Micah Challenge.

“As global leaders gather in London, it is crucial that the world’s poorest communities are not forgotten,” said Dr Chartres.

“The Put People First service and rally is our opportunity to make the case for a global society that is committed to tackling poverty, injustice and climate change with the aim of creating a brighter future for the many and not just the few.”


On the web:
www.micahchallenge.org.uk/riseup
www.riseupinprayer.org