Catalyst
Catalyst is Baptist World Aid Australia’s advocacy program. We believe God calls His people to speak up for the poor, the oppressed and the marginalised.
Our purpose is to equip our community to make a difference in our world through raising awareness, prayer, giving, advocacy and consuming fairly.
Visit www.baptistworldaid.org.au/get-involved/be-vocal to learn more.
What does the Bible say about poverty and injustice?
The Bible has a lot to say about how we are to act towards the poor and the marginalised. We are to be generous and kind.
The prophet Isaiah reminds us to “... seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow" (Isaiah 1.17).
Jesus shows us that those who follow him will use what power they have, not primarily for themselves in the pursuit of pride, prestige or material gain, but to serve others. “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,” he said. “And whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” (Mark 10:43-44).
Many of us may not realise it, but we do have the power to influence the world around us. Advocacy, the act of influencing those who have the ability to effect change, is one of the best ways to show servant-like love and use the power we have. For Christians, advocacy should focus on calling for change that looks to the interests of the poor, the vulnerable and oppressed. Our voices can help ensure that the world we live in is a just one.
Aboriginal Justice
Blackheath Baptist Church acknowledges the Dharug and Gundungurra peoples on whose lands we meet.
We acknowledge the terrible injustices that have been and are still being inflicted on Aboriginal people. We want to do what we can to change this and work with Aboriginal people to create a better future.
Only together, with lament and grief, apologies and forgiveness, friendship and solidarity, can we build a strong reconciled Australia.
We seek to pursue justice and #changetheheart.
The Micah Challenge
Baptist World Aid (and thus Catalyst) is a member of Micah Australia, a global movement that brings together Christians from all different denominations and backgrounds as well as over fifty Christian aid and development agencies, united in the shared belief that addressing poverty is integral to our faith. Micah Australia seeks to do its part in addressing the problem of poverty through advocacy and education. To learn more, visit www.micahaustralia.org
By working with Micah Australia, we can have a greater impact on issues of poverty and justice.