Christian Colleges Urge Students to Fight Poverty
Many Christian colleges across the nation on Thursday have called on their students to pray and fight for the end of extreme poverty and injustice in observance of World Vision's Day of Prayer and Action.
The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, an association of 180 higher education Christian institutions around the world, partnered this year with global humanitarian group World Vision to promote the day of prayer and action for poverty among college students.
For 25 years, World Vision has dedicated Oct. 1 as an organization-wide time of prayer for the issue. Meanwhile, Oct. 1 also marks the beginning of Christian Higher Education Month.
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"Activism through engagement is growing and thriving and the CCCU is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with World Vision, an organization who is focused on showing the love of God through word and deed," said CCCU President Paul R. Corts, in a statement.
Students are encouraged to contact their elected representatives about addressing extreme poverty and injustice as a top government priority.
In addition to the Day of Prayer, Oct. 1 also marks the introduction of the World Vision ACT:s college activism network. Formerly known as Acting on AIDS, ACT:s is a movement of college students who explore what their faith teaches about poverty and injustice, and uses creative activism to raise awareness about the issue on college campuses and among elected officials.
"College students today are passionate and influential. World Vision believes it is essential to engage with Christian college students in using their voices and energy to speak out and take action on behalf of the poor and suffering," said Richard Stearns, president of World Vision.
This year ACT:s participants will pray and advocate specifically for four areas of poverty and injustice: global hunger, HIV/AIDS, child slavery and trafficking, and malaria.
On the Web: http://www.worldvisionacts.org
