Radio personality Andrew Urquhart has stepped up to the challenge of encouraging Kiwis to do their part in reducing global poverty and raising awareness of injustice around the world.
The popular broadcaster and former programme director of NZ’s Rhema and Southern Star replaces Paul Thompson as the new national campaign manager of Micah Challenge Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Micah Challenge aims to lobby signatory governments to meet their commitments to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to halve poverty by 2015.
Mr Urquhart is naturally anxious about the scope of the ministry.
“That’s some challenge,” Mr Urquhart said. “Global poverty is such an enormous problem; it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and think, `what can one person do?’”
Mr Urquhart draws inspiration from the organisation’s namesake, the prophet Micah, who answered the question of ‘What the Lord requires of us?’ by saying — ‘Seek justice — love mercy and walk humbly with our God’.
“This was the Micah Challenge”, he explained. “Let’s do our part and demonstrate God’s heart for the poor in the way we live our lives.”
The role of the Micah Challenge is to provide leadership in the planning and execution of advocacy activities that seek to alleviate the root causes of global poverty through raising public awareness, influencing decision makers and promoting justice issues within the Christian community in New Zealand.
Micah board member, education officer for Tear Fund, Frank Ritchie, is excited about Mr Urquhart’s appointment.
“He has a passion for the important work of The Micah Challenge as well as the communication and advocacy skills to get the job done. In addition he brings with him strong people skills and a management background from within the broadcasting industry,” he said.
Mr Urquhart’s broadcasting career has spanned 20 years working both in the United Kingdom with United Christian Broadcasters and in New Zealand. He believes his experience as a presenter, management consultant and programmer have prepared him for the new role.
Mr Urquhart can still be heard weekday afternoons on NZ’s Rhema as host of the Newsrun programme.
The Micah Challenge is a joint project of the Micah Network and the World Evangelical Alliance. Micah Challenge Aotearoa New Zealand is a network of over a dozen different Christian agencies and Church bodies including the Leprosy Mission, CBM, Laidlaw College, World Vision, NZ Christian Network, Maxim Institute and TEAR Fund.
