“Through mismanagement, illicit business practices and poor governance, well over US$1 TRILLION goes missing every year! A report by the Global Financial Integrity group suggests that corruption and tax evasion cost the developing world as much as $903bn in 2009.” Exposed 2013
DION: Hi Andrew, thanks so much for your willingness to give EXPOSED some ‘exposure’! We are trusting that God will use our collective witness, advocacy and action to care for the poor and transform the corrupt.
TSK: Hi Dion. Can you tell us what EXPOSED is all about?
DION: EXPOSED is about shining a light on corruption. Its a coalition of Christians and Christian organizations that aim to challenge the Church, business and governments to witness, act and advocate on behalf of the poor and to transform the corrupt. Simply stated, global corruption is a cancer that is killing the world. God wants Christians to be informed and empowered to bring transformation in small and large ways to stem corruption and care for the poor. We understand that we will never deal with systemic poverty unless we deal with systemic corruption.
God sees the child that dies of hunger, the community that falls into chaos, the nation that is overrun with abuse – God cares. Christians and the Church can do significant and practical things to establish God’s will and show God’s love in these situations. EXPOSED is helping to activate Christians and the Church globally to this wonderful opportunity!
Dion, what is your role?
I have the joy of serving as the international director of the campaign. The founding coalition parters are the World Evangelical Alliance, MIcah Challenge International, the International Bible Societies, the Unashamedly Ethical campaign, and the Salvation Army. They wanted a person from the ‘Global South’ to help form and shape the campaign. I have the honour of doing that!
We having a growing list of partners from all spheres of society and the Church. There are prayer orgainsiations like the Global Day of Prayer and 24-7 Prayer, there are advocacy organisations like Tear Fund and CAFOD, there are denominational groupings like the WEA and Anglican Communion, there are ministries and secular groups such as the Global Poverty Project, the ONE campaign…
I think you get the idea! We have huge support and buy in for the campaign. Each of these ‘partners’ will be doing something for 14-20 October 2013. For example the Bible Society are busy with an EXPOSED Bible, our prayer partners are developing prayer resources around poverty and corruption and setting up prayer events, International Justice Mission and the Tax Justice Network will be passing legislation. Tear Fund and Micah Challenge will be encouraging citizens to petition their governments to sign the United Nations Convention on Anti Corruption (UNCAC).
By the way, the United Nations Development Program is also a partner (UNDP).
Is EXPOSED focused solely on government and business corruption or is there a place to deal with corruption in Christian organisations?
Because we are mobilizing such a large number of Christians (100 million!) we are aiming to touch three spheres of society: The Church, business and government. As such we are developing partnerships with networks, ministries and groupings that work in each of these spheres and asking them to do their work ‘publicly’, together with others in their area, for a short space of time in order to offer the best and strongest witness we can to God’s power and love in the world.
What can Christians do to participate in Exposed?
If I can ask that you encourage people to do four things (well maybe 5!):
A) Pray for us and our work! The darkness does not like to be exposed to the light, we do face, and will continue to face opposition in this Kingdom task.
Not too much at all. What can Christian organisations do to contribute?
We would love to connect with any Christian or secular organisation that cares about the poor or is concerned about corruption! Please ask them to make contact with me on dion@exposed2013.com– we would love to highlight their work to our growing community, celebrate what they’re doing and partner with them.
Thanks Dion. We are looking forward to partnering with you. Thanks for having my presence on your blog.