The Micah Challenge
It has now been 24 years since my family and I “left our hearts” in the hands of our Quechua “compadres” and friends in the Central Andes of Peru, and returned to Calgary, Alberta, Canada after accomplishing our literacy and bilingual education contractual goals with the Ministry of Education of Peru. Four years thereafter we left SIL International/Wycliffe Canada to “live a normal life” in Canadian society, never forgetting our previous mission and mandate.
During those four years, 2002-2006 I was allowed by Wycliffe to serve as its Canadian representative which included serving the goals of the Micah Challenge, “a coalition of Christian development agencies, organisations, churches and groups, mobilising UK Christians against global poverty. As one of 39 campaigns worldwide it formed part of the wider international Micah Challenge movement of Christians seeking to hold governments to account to see that the Millennium Development Goals are met by 2015, at which point the organisation formally closed down internationally” [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micah_Challenge_UK#History].
During that time, with “feet on the ground” in Calgary, I personally contacted all 444 churches in an attempt to pass the vision to the Christian community to “see with different eyes” the need of the global and local poor (i.e., Micah 6:8). I challenged them to greater involvement in the Food Banks, and Drop-in Centres, as well as to designate church members to be voluntarily trained in English as a Second Language to help serve the growing immigrant communities. Of the 440 churches, only four responded in some meagre way: I was depressed. The ESL Teacher training program I was overseeing a ABC College had to close due to a lack of student enrollment. The United Nations goals became anathema to the more conservative congregations, thus dividing the community at large. “No politics in religion” became the mantra and I was simply denied access to speak publicly. This was in 2005 and my financial and spiritual support-base also dried up forcing me to officially retire from Wycliffe, then later from The Micah Challenge.
But during those initial years I was able to rub shoulders with some amazing leaders and am continually inspired by them and convinced of the value of such work.
Today, after CoVid and the issues with inflation, the economy, and the US political polarization, I now see our whole society struggling morally and economically. North America has become much more militarized and controlling, so my wife and I made the decision to move to Mexico and start anew in a more affordable, more approachable Latin community. Presently we’re very close to closing on the purchase of our 22 yr old home we’ve been renting, in a nice neighbourhood in Puerto Vallarta which is also close to our son and his wife, Yesi, and our 2 grandsons, Mati and Leo.
I volunteer once a week for Vallarta Cares, preparing hot meals for those in need. Where we see the need around us we are able to lend a hand. So we are now content to focus on the community around us and are grateful for the opportunity.
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." [Micah 6:8]
