Standing for a cause

Last Sunday night we had around 160 – 170 people attend our ‘Stand Up’ Make Poverty History event. I thought that was pretty good for our little church. We heard from speakers Greg Hewson (TEAR Australia) and Federal MP for Aston Chris Pearce, on the Millennium Development Goals, Australia’s progress and what we can do to further our efforts. I interviewed Shobie Owen about her work with Urban Neighbours Of Hope and what they are doing to help make poverty history in the slums of Bangkok and the Burmese refugee camps on the Thai/Burma boarder. We had amazing musical acts from the Surrender 06 band, Vox Congo, Verity Skye and Shobie Owen.

At the end of the night we all stood together in solidarity with a cause to verbally commit with a ‘Stand Up pledge’. We then took up an offering to support the work of UNOH among people who live in the slums in Bangkok. This money was specifically for helping people start their own businesses. The offering combined with the BBQ money raised $1040.05.

I received an email during the week to inform me that the total number of people to ‘Stand Up’ around the world within a 24hr period was 23,542,614 people at over 11,000 different events. The total number in Australia was 19,987. The number set a phenomenal world record for the Guinness World Records, ‘The most amount of people to stand for a cause’. There was also a second record set! It was the largest single coordinated effort in the history of Guinness World Record’s. Well done people and thanks for participating.

However (There’s always a but from me isn’t there?), it’s not all about big events and world records. What we were able to do over the weekend was raise awareness about a cause. It is a cause that each speaker and musician believes passionately in, because they are passionately committed to the cause Jesus lived for, to do justice, love mercy, help the poor experience ‘good news’, stand with the marginalized and oppressed.

So while our verbal pledges and financial donations are great we are called to so much more. Greg Hewson made a point of this on Sunday night. We are called to action, there is so much that is within our capabilities to do. What we need to do is educate ourselves about the needs and how we can respond. It’s about taking a step out to the edge of our own comfort zones so we may meet those who aren’t so comfortable.

Two young people from the Knoxfield Church of Christ join others from various other Churches of Christ to step out and do something over the next two weeks. Adam Booth (20) and Jesse Van Der Ende (15) boarded a plane for Bangkok on Friday night to visit with UNOH workers in the Klong Toey slum and assist with teaching conversational English. Why? Because they are able and they know this can make a profound difference creating opportunities that liberate the poor in Bangkok. This is how far out to the edge these two are stepping, they’ve never been on a plane overseas before let alone visited another culture.

Jesus says come follow me. If we allow him to, he takes our verbal commitment seriously, takes us by the hand and leads us to the edge where we are called to the business of helping people experience the love, grace, freedom and liberation of the Kingdom of God on earth.

Shalom
Mark