WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 4, 2007 -United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon will address a group of prominent evangelical Christian leaders on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at Sheraton Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Va.
This Global Leaders Dinner is designed to educate and inform evangelical opinion leaders about the Millennium Development Goals and the significance of this critical moment in history for making a lasting impact on poverty.
Convened by the National Association of Evangelicals and Micah Challenge USA, this event will bring together top evangelical leaders from the United States and the Global South.
In addition to the historic dinner with Ki-Moon, leaders will meet for the Global Leaders Forum on Friday, Oct.12 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to discuss various issues, including poverty, hunger, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, bioethics, human rights, creation care, torture, and peacemaking.
"Evangelicals are the 'new internationalists' with a record of legislative successes and expect to shape U.S. foreign policy in ways unimaginable even a year ago. What remains to be seen is whether we'll rise to the challenge of partnership being articulated by our brothers and sisters in the Global South," said Richard Cizik, vice president of Governmental Affairs at the National Association of Evangelicals.
"The Millennium Development Goals echo the calls of the biblical prophets to care for the poor and defend the weak. These calls to justice and compassion are absolutely integral to the Gospel and the Church's mission in the world," said Peter VanderMeulen, social justice coordinator for the Christian Reformed Church and co-chair of the Micah Challenge USA.
"In obedience to the prophet Micah's call to 'do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.' (Micah 6: 8) American evangelical leaders at this gathering intend to listen carefully to the Secretary General and then have significant, authentic conversations NOT just among ourselves as Americans but with key evangelical Christian leaders from around the world."
Additional sponsors for the event include, among others, Bread for the World, World Relief, Frontiers, the Evangelical Environmental Network, and the UN Millennium Campaign.
Richard Cizik and Peter VanderMeulen will be available for interviews. A press availability will immediately precede the dinner at 6 p.m. Press credentials required. To request interviews with Richard Cizik or Peter VanderMuelen and/or register your attendance, contact Sarah Kropp, 202-789-1011, skropp@nae.net.
The mission of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) is to extend the kingdom of God through a fellowship of member denominations, churches, organizations, and individuals, demonstrating the unity of the body of Christ by standing for biblical truth, speaking with a representative voice, and serving the evangelical community through united action, cooperative ministry, and strategic planning. NAE represents more than 45,000 local churches from 61 different denominations and serves a constituency of millions.
Micah Challenge is a global campaign to mobilize Christians against poverty. The campaign aims to deepen Christian engagement with impoverished and marginalized communities, and to influence leaders of rich and poor nations to fulfill their promise to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
The Christian Reformed Church's Office of Social Justice and the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) are active members supporting the Micah Challenge USA.
...................
Henry Hess
Director of Communication
Christian Reformed Church
To learn more about the Christian Reformed Church visit us at www.crcna.org <http://www.crcna.org