In 2006, Bono humbly comes before a National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC, to address politicians and faith leaders. He passionately delivers a speech about the AIDS crisis in Africa. This speech was published in the short book On the Move, which is accompanied by compelling photos from Ethiopia. He draws upon Scripture, and the fact that it is no coincidence that poverty is mentioned over 2,100 times in the Bible. This evidence is a call to action to end this tragedy, and break our hearts.

Bono is pleading with all people, from all ways of life, to take action on behalf of justice, equality, love, and mercy. During his speech Bono requests an increase of support from the federal budget by ONE percent. This is known as the ONE campaign. ONE percent more means proper education, medicine and clean water for the poorest of poor countries.

“I truly believe that when the history books are written, our age will be remembered for three things: the war on terror, the digital revolution, and what we did — or did not do — to put the fire out in Africa. History, like God, is watching what we do.” — Bono, lead singer of U2.

-Kerri Landes

Check out ONE.org online or the book on Amazon.

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“There are times to read history, and there are times to make history. We live right now at one of those epic moments in the fight for human freedom. We no longer have to wonder how we might respond to our moment of truth. It is we who are on the stage, and we can change the winds of history with our actions. Future generations will look back and judge our choices and be inspired or disappointed”. -David Batstone

When we speak of slavery, many think of it as a problem of our past. But in reality it has only taken on a new face — many faces, in fact. According to David Batstone, human trafficking (modern-day slavery) “generates $31 billion a year and enslaves 27 million people around the globe, half of them under the age of eighteen.”

Does this shock you? My guess would be yes. The invisibility of both the victim and the trade is a key to the survival of this booming business. If you knew that “girls and boys, men and women of all ages are forced to toil in the rug loom sheds of Nepal, sell their bodies in the brothels of Rome, break rocks in the quarries of Pakistan, and fight wars in the jungles of Africa,” wouldn’t you want to do something about it?

Most people might say that knowing about such things isn’t enough — well, I am here to tell you that it is. If invisibility is our enemy, then we need to bring light into this dark world of corruption and abuse. Not for Sale is a tool for the average person to find out what is going on and what they can do about human trafficking. Start talking. Talk to you friend, your neighbor, your best-friend’s ex-boyfriend’s twice removed uncle … but just start talking. Let those around you know that this is happening in the world.

-Bonnie Rapp

Check out Not for Sale’s website or the book on Amazon.

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In the last few years justice issues have come to the front of popular opinion and culture. Whether it was Bono and his work on AIDS in Africa or a news article, more and more people are looking for practical way to improve the situation of everyone all over the globe and especially fighting injustices. Popular culture has used the power of story to fan the flames of these issues on the popular level. While you have probably already seen films like Amazing Grace, Hotel Rwanda, Crash and Blood Diamond, there are many less well-known films that also engage the audience on issues of justice and tell stories of what that can and may look like. Here is are a few that I think are worth watching and discussing.

• When it comes to issue of justice the “must-see” film is the classic Gandhi - the story of his remarkable non-violent fight against injustice.
• Spike Lee’s When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts tells of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, both personally and politically.
• Sophie Scholl: The Final Days - A small group of college students stand up to Nazi Germany.
• Girl in the Cafe and Michael Clayton ask the question: in our giant bureaucratic/corporate system is justice still possible?
• North Country - one woman’s struggle to find acceptance working in a mine
• Catch a Fire - tells of the fight against apartheid in South Africa.
• Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room - One of the biggest corporate injustices ever.
• The Constant Gardener - shows the integral connection between the developed world and the developing world.

Also, Ben Harper’s Both Sides of the Gun is a great album that deals with issues of justice intelligently.

-Greg Veltman

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So here’s something we should all consider: the Gaza strip borders Israel and Egypt, yet it is not recognized as a part of either country. There have been and continue to be wars over the ownership of this land. It is presently being controlled — dare I say ruled — by Hamas, a group that has been described as “a murderous terror organization.” Israel, an ally of the United States, has decided to cut off power to the Gaza Strip as a form of “economic warfare.”

Pause here to think about everything we use electricity for. There will be no electricity in homes, schools, hospitals and public places. The Gaza strip has 1.5 million residents that include innocent civilians — men, women and children; sick, healthy and dying. They all need electricity to purify their water, incubate their babies and run their dialysis machines, among other things. What is truly unjust? Yes, we can take a stance even in such a long-standing problem. Find out more about the war, make petitions, talk about it, raise awareness — but most importantly, PRAY!

-Ibukunoluwa Akinboyo

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During Justice Week we are engaging people that are on different levels of knowledge about injustices around the world. After learning and dealing with these issues during Justice Week, we hope that people will be motivated to respond to their calling. Below is a list of just a few organizations in which you can get involved in to help further the cause for justice:

Campus Coalition Against Trafficking (CCAT)
This is a university campus movement that seeks to build the anti-trafficking movement by training emerging leaders, fostering youth empowerment, raising awareness about human trafficking and encouraging linkages among social injustices. (www.ccatcoalition.org)

He Intends Victory
This organization has been active since 1990 and has worked to promote the hope of Jesus Christ to those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. He Intends Victory is committed to sharing the hope of Christ as a cure for the hopelessness that comes with HIV/AIDS. (www.heintendsvictory.com)

ONE:: The Campaign to make Poverty History
ONE is Americans of all beliefs and every walk of life united to help make poverty history. As ONE, we are raising public awareness about the issues of global poverty, hunger, disease and efforts to fight such problems in the world’s poorest countries. As ONE, we are asking our leaders to do more to fight global AIDS and extreme poverty. Everyone can join the fight. (www.one.org)

The Micah Challenge
Micah Challenge is a global Christian-run campaign. Our aims are to deepen our engagement with impoverished and marginalized communities; and to challenge international leaders, and leaders of rich and poor countries, to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, which could halve global poverty by 2015. (www.michachallenge.org)

There is a long list of Justice Organizations with which you can get involved. A few more to add to this list are: Not for Sale, The Simple Way, Trade as One, Compassion, International Justice Mission, Free the Slaves, World Vision, World Relief, Acting on AIDS, The Salvation Army, Tearfund and Bread for the World.

-Katie Martin

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With an album title inspired by Flannery O’Connor’s haunting words “Grace must wound before it heals,” Justin McRoberts uses his musical platform to usher listeners into the far reaches of grace. He draws a needed distinction between our ways and the identity of Christ, since Christianity in itself fails to exhibit pure grace. Nothing makes this theme more clear than his cover of Pedro the Lion’s “Secret of an Easy Yoke,” a critique of the Church who reduces God to a distant figure accessed through feel-good rituals.

If there is going to be change in the world, McRoberts knows there must be “Change” that brings each individual life and then offers it to the broken. Such surrounding brokenness is illustrated powerfully in “When They Bring You Down,” a song from God’s perspective to those who have done injustice. Christ fights for a healing justice on behalf of the oppressed, enslaved and demeaned individuals described in this song, and it is because of God’s special interest in justice that we can join McRoberts in asking Him to “Be Not Far Off (Psalm 22).”

Grace Must Wound is a collection of honest songs that showcases McRobert’s unique acoustic-driven sound. His picture of grace paves the way for his upcoming work Deconstruction, scheduled to release this spring. This album will focus more specifically on issues of justice and mercy, as well as the God-given capacity for humans to respond.

-Tesni Searles

Listen to Justin McRoberts on Myspace

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“What are you living for? What is the deep secret purpose that controls and fashions your existence? What do you eat and drink for? What is your marriage — your money-making and toilings and plannings? Have you the assurance that the ruling passion of your life is the same as that which brought Christ to the manger, led Him to fight the foul fiend of Hell in the wilderness … nailed Him to the Cross of Calvary … If not, you may be religious … but I don’t see how you can be a Christian.”

These are the words of William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army. In a book that shattered my life, Trevor Yaxley outlines the lives of two people who did the unthinkable with Christ. William & Catherine: the Life and Legacy of the Booths is an account that will take you to the heart of our warrior God.

Yaxley’s book provides black and white examples of how to take action, especially significant during Justice Week. The converts of the Salvation Army took on staggering injustices including the infiltration and abolition of child prostitution, revolution of factories that had taken countless lives, the fall of brothels and revival in the most unthinkable place and lives of their time. You will see the mighty works of God in the past and be faced with the question of what against hell are you doing now?

This same Salvation Army is still fighting for the lives of the innocent in this very city of Beaver Falls. On Sunday afternoons from four to six, come with us to serve along-side these weary soldiers. Go to the Facebook group “God Lead” for details. Last Sunday I spoke with one of the officers as she prepared the evening meal. She shared past victories and her sadness that not many were brave enough anymore to proclaim Salvation in the streets. Then she looked at us.
“You must do it. You must go down amongst the perishing crowds. Your happiness now consists in sharing their misery, your ease in sharing their pain, your crown in bearing their cross and your Heaven in going to the very jaws of hell to rescue them. Will you answer His call? Will you go?” — William Booth.

-Amanda Griffith

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