Remembering the Poorest of the Poor

World leaders met in New York this week to discuss the progress of global efforts to reduce poverty, hunger and disease. It was a reminder that even as Americans face financial turmoil there are millions of people around the world who face the life and death financial crisis of extreme poverty.

The echoing refrain from the meetings on the Millennium Development Goals this week was one of both worry and wonder: Worry that the Wall Street financial crisis will dangerously dampen efforts to address the MDGs. And wonder about how we can somehow find $700 billion to bail out wealthy banks but not the $25 billion needed to help the 30,000 people who die every day just because they're poor.

At the assembly the leaders of countries renewed their commitment to achieving the MDGs by 2015, but with bold actions these commitments remain empty promises. Throughout the week Micah Challenge USA worked to bring attention to the need for action and to raise the voices of Christians working on the frontlines of poverty all over the world. On Thursday, Micah Challenge joined a gathering of more than 70 national religious leaders (organized by Bread for the World), who committed together to make sure that the poorest of the poor are not forgotten in the commotion of the financial crisis and presidential politics.

Yesterday, Jim Wallis wrote about Micah's Challenge to Christians in the US:

A ‘Micah Challenge’ to U.S. Christians

You can also read Brian's blog from today on God's politics:

Micah’s Challenge to the Future President