Claiborne joins youth in calling for justice for world's poor

Anti-poverty activist and writer Shane Claiborne was in London on Saturday addressing the Generate Justice Rally at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster.

The poverty awareness event, organised by Share Jesus International’s youth department Emerging Culture – with Tearfund, Christian Aid and Open Doors – saw campaign supporters sharing his heart for justice as they worshiped together in a service before walking to Trafalgar Square.

Opposite Downing Street their cardboard placards read ‘I’m not for sale and nobody should be’ – reflecting a central theme that those trapped in poverty are more likely to be drawn into the global trafficking industry.

Claiborne told the rally that "when both brother and sister are made in the image of God, it’s not good enough".

"The truth is if we lose a generation in the church it won’t be because we didn’t entertain them but because we didn’t dare them and challenge them to really take Jesus seriously in light of the world we live in," he said.

"It’s important for Christians to hold the bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other."

Tearfund is discipling young people in their efforts to tackle poverty and raise awareness of injustice.

Together with other agencies, Tearfund has been calling for a commitment to international development aid to be maintained at 0.7% of GDI and for the new coalition government to immediately reinvigorate the climate talks, pushing harder for a global deal on renewable energy levels and climate finance.