“The ultimate aim of advocacy is to demonstrate the good news of the coming of the Kingdom of God.” – Jenny Yang, World Relief
Throughout Scripture, God moves for justice. Time and again, through ordinary people, God brings his vision of justice to a broken world, taking action on behalf of the most vulnerable. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. (Deuteronomy 10:18)
At World Relief, we believe it’s our call as Christians to speak with those who are often oppressed or overlooked in order to address the underlying causes of injustice and oppression. Speaking out can influence the policies and practices of people in power, and we believe it can demonstrate the good news of the coming of the Kingdom of God.
The injustices of our world and this time demand action. And though speaking out isn’t always easy, we believe we must.
We must speak out because:
- As a nation, we have chosen to be blind to the suffering of those seeking refuge from violence and persecution, or worse, scapegoated them
We must speak out because:
- Political ideology and religious identity have become inextricably conflated and truth has become a matter of subjective preference
We must speak out because:
- Climate change is ravaging more and more places in the world, forcing more than 20 million people a year from their homes by sudden onset weather events
We must speak out because:
- Systemic racism and the denial of equity and opportunity has been blatantly laid bare for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.
We must speak out because:
- Patriarchal attitudes and the acceptance of gender injustice is still far too prevalent both here in the U.S. and around the world.
Above all, we speak out because to NOT do so, would be to abdicate our role as followers of Jesus.
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority.”
We, the Church, speak out to guide, to highlight critical issues, to influence public attitudes and enact or implement laws and policies.
Will you join us by raising your voices with courage and conviction today?
Francesca Albano currently serves as Director of Branded Content at World Relief. With a background in Cultural Anthropology and a graduate degree in Strategic Marketing Communications, she connects her interests in societal studies and global cultures with her training in brand strategy and storytelling. Francesca is especially passionate about grassroots community development and the treatment and advancement of women and girls around the world.