Prime Minister Backs Aims of 'Micah Challenge' on Global Poverty

Prime Minister Tony Blair has publicly pledged his "complete support" for Micah Challenge's aims to alleviate global poverty, thanks to the
determination of one Baptist church inspired by the Blow the Whistle
campaign.

The congregation of Gilgal Baptist Church in Porthcawl, Wales, blew
whistles down the telephone during a call to the office of their MP,
Madeleine Moon, during a Blow the Whistle Sunday service on 20 May.

Blow the Whistle is an anti-poverty campaign launched by the Micah
Challenge coalition of churches and Christian organisations.

The church's call prompted Ms Moon, Labour MP for
Bridgend, to question Mr Blair during Prime Minister's Question Time on his commitment to the MDGs last Wednesday.

"At 10.42 on Sunday morning, my office answer phone picked up a message from the congregation of Gilgal Baptist Church during their morning service," said Ms Moon.

"They asked me to bring a message to the Prime Minister and the
Chancellor that they should continue to force through the standards and
changes in the Millennium Development Goals. What answer can I take to
them?"

Mr Blair said his reply was "one of complete support".

Micah Challenge focuses on the Millennium Development Goals to halve
extreme poverty by 2015 - agreed by world leaders at the United Nations
Millennium Summit in 2000.

The half way point for meeting those goals is 2007 and Christians are being urged to Blow the Whistle at half time to ensure governments honour
those promises.

Exactly halfway through its Sunday morning service, Gilgal Baptist
Church pastor, the Rev Ashley Lovett called the MP's office on behalf of the congregation and said: "We're leaving this message because we want to remind you that we are now half way to the deadline set for the Millennium Development Goals.

"We believe these goals are really important and we'd like you to tell
the Prime Minister and the Chancellor that we are asking them to do
everything they can to deliver on the promises they have made for the
sake of the world's poorest people."

At the end of the message, the congregation blew their whistles down the phone.

Mr Lovett said he was amazed Ms Moon had asked the question. He said:
"For Tony Blair to say his response was one of complete support was very
positive but I am more impressed with Ms Moon for asking the question."

Andrew Tanswell, Micah Challenge Executive Director, said: "It is hugely
encouraging to know that Christians across our nation want to speak out
and take action and hold our Government to account to honour the
promises we made to the world's poorest people to halve poverty by 2015.

"It is also tremendously encouraging to know that Christians are being
inspired to speak into our democratic political systems to influence
change."

He encouraged more Christians to follow in the footsteps of Gilgal Baptist Church and contact their MPs.

"This week, the actions of one church led to a question being
asked of the Prime Minister, to which he responded by giving his
support," he said. "Can you imagine the impact that Christians around the UK would have if every church contacted their MP every Sunday about the injustice of global poverty?"