October 14, 2005

Calling for a... "global poverty public education initiative" and asking president Bush for a chance to discuss ... "your plans for providing leadership toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals" an unusual coalition of Christian organizations – many of them evangelical – and representatives from other major religions asked for an early meeting with senior White House staff.

The letter to president Bush, signed by representatives of 14 organizations, including World Vision, Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation, National Association of Evangelicals, and the Islamic Cultural Center of New York, noted that they ."..were encouraged to hear your unambiguous support for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) during your speech at the recent United Nations World Summit..."

The group went on to take some credit for Bush's MDG support as an ."..answer to the prayers we offered during that public three-day vigil in New York City, as well as to the prayers of 10,000 supporters around the country..."

Peter Vander Meulen, Co-Chair of one of the organizing groups, the Micah Challenge USA, stated that this request was: "A follow-up to an earlier meting with senior officials at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and a subsequent public call to the Bush administration to follow its words with actions."

Christian Reformed Church