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September Devotion: Spirituality or Secular Vocation???

17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)

At one of our Micah Network events last year one participant asked the question whether it was acceptable for Christians to work in secular organisations? This is not the first time I have seen this distinction made. We tend to hear it in our churches when people are introduced as working in part time or full time ministry. It would appear that we have some how made a distinction between what we would call a secular vocation or a spiritual vocation. Linked to this we seem to also make the leap that those in “full time” work are more worthy than those in “secular” work. Added to this we start distinguishing between what we call service vocations (social welfare, health care, education, aid work) as opposed to people working in industry or commerce, thinking the former better than the latter in terms of spirituality.

Sadly, we also start to see categories appearing in our churches linked to roles – it is the minister (pastor) who should teach and visit the sick, it is the women who should serve the refreshments, etc.

We are always trying to put people into boxes, decide on categories in an “either or fashion” and this is so limiting.

Integral mission is about recognising that everything we do is for God and his glory. In fact I found working in what we may term a “secular” organisation, one of the most profound spiritual times I have had, as we can often become too complacent about our faith when surrounded by only Christians. All our work and activities should be moving toward transforming our communities, complimenting one another in this endeavour.

Similarly we need to recognise that though some may have gifts of teaching and service, we are all called to serve and disciple one another.

As we start this new month let’s reflect together what divisions, and categories we have intentionally or unintentionally allowed to creep into our lives that cause a false approach to life in which one option is spiritual and the other secular. Rather let our choices be framed by recognising that all we do and say should always be for the glory of God!

Strategic Framework

Promoting Integral Mission

1. Micah Network Cambodia: this week Micah Network is having on integral mission conversation in Phnom Penn. Please pray for the national coordination group and Sundar Daniel as they co-facilitate this gathering. Pray too for wisdom on how to we can together support the growing understand and application of integral mission throughout Cambodia

2. Bolivia: this week an integral mission conversation will be held in Santa Cruz, with an emphasis on considering indigenous people groups. Please pray for the Latin America coordination group as they facilitate this meeting – we especially long to see marginalised people groups being welcomed and united in the family of God.

Enhancing Capacity

Regional consultations for 2011:

1. Africa: The Africa Consultation has been cancelled and instead we are looking to host an integral mission conversation. Please pray for arrangements and discussions this week as we try to establish this important gathering.

2. Asia: 17th to 21st October in Sri Lanka: registrations are slowly coming in – please pray for more people to register and benefit from this event.

3. 5th Triennial: 10th to 14th September 2012: please pray for ongoing preparations.

4. Disaster Management Gathering: we are looking to host a disaster management consultation in Kenya focusing on the crisis occurring in Somalia, Northern Kenya, Ethiopia. Please pray for deliberations as we plan for this.

Networking

August has been a very tough month as we have tried to hold off the painful decision to reduce some of our staff. We have had to say good bye to:

Timothy Sands – our office manager / executive assistance who has been a great asset in getting our new web site up and going, the newsletter and prayer focus mailing done. Please pray that Timothy will be able to find a new job quickly and that he will know God’s peace and guidance at this time.

Ben Akpera – our Africa Regional Coordinator. Ben will try and keep doing some work for us as a volunteer and is looking to continue with the integral mission conversations where possible. Please pray for Ben and his family as they face the pressure of limited finances and seek income as a consultant.

Greg Manning – our HIV Project Officer who has served so faithfully over these last few years through the HIV Forum, HIV Theological Forum and numerous events, drafting papers and promoting a call to action consistently for those affected and those serving in HIV and AIDS support work. We hope we can keep connections with Greg in the coming months. Please pray that Greg will continue to find opportunities to touch lives for God.

Please pray for wisdom as we continue to seek God on how we can strengthen the service of Micah Network especially as we go through these structural changes and challenges.

Global Prayer

South African Mine Workers: Pray for South African gold mine workers, who face the highest rates of TB in the world. At up to 7,000 cases per 100,000 population, the gold mining industry experiences rates of disease 28 times a declared TB emergency by the WHO, and an astonishing 1,400 times TB rates in western countries!  This is because mineworkers are exposed to both silica dust and some of the highest rates of HIV in the world, up to 70% in some mining areas. Because silica dust and HIV attack the immune system in a similar way, the combination of these two elements increases the risk of TB multiplicatively, not additively. Meaning an HIV+ mineworker exposed to silica dust can face up to 15 times the risk of active TB infection compared someone in the general population. Unfortunately, this is not where the story ends – in fact, far from it. Over 90% of the miners are migrant, and once they contract TB, legal loopholes allow them to be sent home with little or no continuation of care or referral. They return to their families and communities while being highly infectious and with little access to essential medicines.  This practice is often referred to as, “sending them home to die” by leading health officials.
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Libya: the ongoing civil war in Libya reached a climax this last week as rebels moved into the capital Tripoli. We saw the shocking news of how many assassinations and other atrocities that had been committed as the loyalists had left Tripoli. Please pray for the transitional leaders that they may be able to keep those law and order and especially that retaliation crimes would not occur. Pray also for the summit that is about to start in which leaders will discuss Libya’s new future.

India – Pakistan: 3 more deaths occurred this week on the border between India and Pakistan. Please pray for calm and for a break through in this long disputed battle for Kashmir

There is so much shocking news from various parts of the world that it can be overwhelming. It would be good to have news of transformation shared in our prayer focus and so much is happening for good. Lets stop here and thank God that he is a God who walks amongst us, is present and concerned and is indeed acting!

Grace and peace!

Micah Network Values: Humility

Humility: nurtured by a proper appreciation and understanding of God, self and others, is critical to godly relationships (1 Peter 5.5). We aspire to the humility that will enable us to learn from each other. Such humility liberates us from the need to dominate and own, to serving one another in love (Philippians 2.1-8).