An 'unfair' football match will kick off at George Best's former primary school to 'blow the whistle' on global poverty at 11am on Thursday 17 May.
11 May 2007
Church leaders will be unequally matched against Irish League players, including Lisburn Distillery’s Michael Ferguson and Kyle Alexander from Dundela for the game.
The match, at Nettlefield Primary, is taking place to highlight the work still to be done by governments across the world to meet their promises to halve global poverty by 2015.
This year marks the half-way point to meeting that goal and on Sunday 20 May thousands of Christians across the UK will be ‘blowing the whistle’ on the Government at half-time.
Match referee Drew Gibson, who is also Professor of Practical Theology at Union Theological College, said:
“Irish League players in prime physical condition against a bunch of unfit middle-aged clergy doesn't seem very balanced, very fair – but that's just the point isn't it?”
“The game is supposed to be a light-hearted reflection of the unfair world in which we live. The UK Government, along with governments across the world, has made promises to tackle this unfairness and 2007 marks the half-way point to meeting their goal of halving global poverty by 2015.”
“Some progress has been made but there is still much to be done on issues like trade justice, climate change and the treatment and care of those suffering from HIV and Aids. By joining with thousands of other Christians across the UK who will be taking part in ‘Blow the Whistle Sunday’ on 20 May, we are calling on the Government to both honour the promises it has made and encourage other world leaders to effect change in their own countries.”
Other ‘Blow the Whistle’ events will be happening across the UK in the run up to the G8 Summit on 2 June.
Ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
1.The football matched is organised by Evangelical Alliance and Tearfund, key partners in Micah Challenge, alongside Athletes in Action, a Christian sports agency.
2.Micah Challenge was founded in 2004 and is a worldwide movement of Christians, churches, church organisations and key individuals across 32 countries, with 13 more national campaigns to launch throughout 2007, to make sure that the MDGs are implemented.
3.Micah Challenge is named after the Old Testament prophet Micah, Chapter 6, verse 8: 'what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.'
4.Core members working within Micah Challenge UK include: African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA), Alpha International / Holy Trinity Brompton, BMS World Mission, Christian Medical Fellowship, Christian Today, Evangelical Alliance, Faithworks, Global Connections, New Frontiers International, Oasis, Shaftesbury Society, SPEAK, Tearfund, World Vision UK.
Media Enquiries:
Karen Jardine
Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland
028 9029 2266/07733 358548
k.jardine@eauk.org
