Rise and Shine and give God the G20

Christians across the UK and the world will participate in Rise Up

28 March 2009

Christians across the UK and the globe will utilise the power of prayer for world leaders and decision makers as part of Rise Up, a seven day stint of prayer led by Micah Challenge in the week leading up to the G20 summit on the 2nd April.  

At this crucial time the G20 will be discussing reform of financial systems in the light of the global financial crisis.  Campaigners are urging G20 leaders to set a new direction to a world based on values such as partnership and care for the vulnerable.  

Micah Challenge is presenting three calls for the week 28th March – 3rd April: Rise Up everyday – by committing to daily prayer individually; Rise Up with the Church - by praying together on Sunday 29th March; and Rise Up with your friends – as the sun rises on the day of the summit to meet with friends to pray.  

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."  

The Micah Challenge movement across the globe has been mobilising Christians to pray.  Rise Up is drawing participants in places as diverse as Kazakhstan, Malawi, Haiti and India. They have committed, alongside UK Christians to rise up in prayer for the G20 as they rise on the morning of the 2nd April, creating a wave of prayer across the time zones.

A 7-day prayer guide will lead participants through the topics as they are discussed in London.  They can also follow and contribute to the Rise Up prayer blog

Day one of the Rise Up challenge fell on Saturday 28th March when thousands of people called for justice as part of the Put People First march and rally in London. Micah Challenge is part of the large group of organisations that put together an ecumenical church service as part of Put People First on the themes of justice at Central Hall Westminster, which then fed into the march and rally.