Pastor Lawrence Temfwe the National Facilitator of Micah Challenge in Zambia and Bishop Paul Mususu a Board 
Member of Micah Challenge International and a member of the Steering Committee of Micah Challenge Zambia where part of the nine member team from the Global South who were invited to a Leadership Forum that was co-hosted by the National Association of Evangelicals (NEA) and the Micah Challenge USA.
Photo: Pastor Temfwe second from left & Bishop Mususu second from right with Ban Ki-moon in Washington.
The two days Leaders Forum was officially opened by the U.N Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. In his opening remarks he highlighted the common social concerns of the UN and the Christian church community. He also informed the 400 Christians of the progress toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). He assured the participants that, like Christians “who contribute so much to the causes close to our hearts-peace, good works and prosperity for all- … I believe in moral passion grounded in concrete action.”
The NEA’s president, Leith Anderson emphasized that the focus of the gathering was on the teaching of the Gospel. Fedelis Gathoni Wainaina a Kenyan and a member of the Micah Challenge International encouraged leaders from the Global North to listen carefully to needs and effective strategies the Global South was engaging to respond.
During the session dialogues Pastor Lawrence Temfwe led the discussion on “Holding Nations Accountable to the Millennium Development Goals.” He shared on how churches and communities are holding their elected leaders accountable by having them sign a declaration to address the stated needs of the community. Bishop Mususu and Andy Atkins of Tearfund UK led a discussion on “Global Climate Change”
Later in the week Bishop Mususu traveled to New York where he told the church and the community gatherings that “Our advocacy on MDG was rooted in our understanding of biblical justice.” Lawrence spoke at a large church in Michigan and encouraged them to be a church where people who live in the community are sincerely thankful for your presence. Lawrence also spoke at Calvin College Chapel and reminded the students of Isaiah 42 which calls us to be servants of God by being concerned with things that are not right in our communities and in our world. He called on the students to serve those in need with humility and with joy of the Lord.
Lawrence then traveled to Las Vegas where he was joined By Rev. Adam Phillips Chair of Micah Challenge USA. In Las Vegas Lawrence addressed volunteers from the One Campaign at a Luncheon that was attended by church leaders and community leaders. He shared on why Micah Challenge was mobilizing Christians to engage politicians on the MDGs. He was quoting from Mt 9:35-38 he said, “The kingdom of God is in part about relieving suffering: recognizing people’s mental or physical pain. And in part helping people see their own contribution to the suffering and pain through their own personal or social sin.”
Lawrence and Rev. Phillips attended the Barack Obama campaign and had an 
opportunity to pass him the bracelet with “Make Poverty History” written on it. Rev. Phillips asked Obama on what he was going to do about world poverty. Obama responded that he was first going to start by addressing USA poverty. Lawrence concluded the trips with interviews on the state of poverty in Africa. He was interviewed on Radio and Television stations at different times.
Photo: Pastor Temfwe with Barack Obama USA presidential candidate.
The trip was fruitful in that it helped the church from Global North hear from Christian leaders from the South about the challenges of poverty and HIV/AIDS and what the church was doing about these issues.
