“And what does the Lord require of you but to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 >>
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Mandy Campbell, Director of Lifelink, recently shared her heart and passion to make a difference in the lives of people across the world that are suffering and marginalized, for the poor and those treated unjustly. Mandy spoke about God’s deep concern for such people and how Scripture teaches us that to care about the poor is not an option; God commands that we do it.
Mandy and the Lifelink Team have been moved to respond and here we share with you the five key areas they have identified where we can get involved. Also included are some of the projects that fit into these areas, but this list isn’t exhaustive and there are many other areas to get involved with.
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| POVERTY: |
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"But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" 1 John 3:17
Did you know that almost half the world, over three billion people, live on less than £1.50 a day, there are 2.2 billion children in the world - 1 billion of these (every second child) lives in poverty. Of those 2.2 billion children, 22,000 children die each day due to poverty - they die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and conscience of the world
The shocking reality is that the poorest 40% of the world’s population accounts for 5% of global income. The richest 20% accounts for 75% of world income.
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| HUMAN TRAFFICKING: |
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"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?" Isaiah 58:66
People trafficking is the world’s fastest growing illegal trade. Family members and friends deceive parents to release their children or sell them for as little as £10.
Over 2.4 million men, women and children are trafficked across borders and within their own country every year and there are an estimated 27 million people held in slavery worldwise.
Each year more than 2 million children are exploited in the global commercial sex trade
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| ETHICAL TRADING: |
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"A poor man’s field may produce abundant food but injustice steals it away away" Proverbs 13:23
For every person trafficked into the sex industry, there are nine more trafficked into unfair work. Women and certain minorities are often confined to the lowest paid job and some 12.3 million people globally are forced to work for their employers. It is shocking that every day 6000 people around the world die from work-related accidents or diseases.
Lifelink is helping to taking this global issue with their SHOP WITH INTEGRITY >>
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| HEALTH CARE & SPECIAL NEEDS: |
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"I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me" Matthew 29:36
It is unbelievavle that is today's world there are still around 28% of all children in developing countries living underweight or stunted and 1 billion children are deprived of one or more services essential to survival and development
With all that is known about HIV/AIDS it is unforgivable that nearly 2 million children under 14 are HIV positive and that 43% of children in sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to something as basic as safe drinking water
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| EDUCATION: |
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"Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. Wisdom is a shelter, as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor" Ecclesiastes 7:11-12
101 million primary age children do not attend school, with more girls than boys missing out and that has resulted in nearly 1 billion people entering the 21st century unable to read or sign their names
It is sobering when we realise that less than 1% of the world’s spending every year on weapons would be able to put every child into school
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