By Heidi Wright
In August, Carly Cassidy from Global Mission Partners joined a group of 48 women of faith in Canberra as part of the Micah Australia Women’s Delegation.
Over two days the group met with more than 40 ministers, senators, and MP’s to call for two urgent actions: restoring Australia’s aid budget to 1% of the federal budget and responding swiftly to the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.
The Micah Women’s Delegation outside Parliament House, Canberra.
Carly Cassidy is the National Church Relationships Manager at Global Mission Partners and works to connect people and ministries across Australia to GMP’s heart for the nations and marginalised. Reflecting on her role and its natural fit with the recent delegation, Carly shared,
“Each day I see the ways our churches of Christ network in Australia is making a difference through prayer, generosity, and partnership with communities around the world. Joining this delegation was an extension of that calling. I felt like I was representing not only my own convictions, but also the collective heart of our movement, a movement that desires to see God’s love and justice extended across borders.”
Carly also shared with me about the delegation’s lasting personal impact. “I left Canberra encouraged that when women of faith come together, diverse yet united, grounded in prayer and committed to justice, our voices can and do make a difference. The call to seek a safer world for all is both urgent and hopeful, and I am grateful to have played a small part in carrying that message forward.”
“Walking the corridors of Parliament House, I was reminded that advocacy is not just about policy outcomes, it is about presence, persistence, and faithfulness,” she shared.
Carly Cassidy outside Parliament House.
Micah Australia empowers Australian Christians to advocate on the most urgent global justice issues facing our world today – extreme poverty, rising conflict and climate change. The project is set up to give Aussie Christians easy access to resources and pathways they need to be able to be part of real and immediate positive political change.
“As Christians, we have a moral and faith-based understanding of why we need to give and why aid is so important,” says Taylor Blair, Micah’s Government Relations & Events Officer. “The Bible teaches us to be good neighbours. Micah provides the tools to actually do something about it.”
The Micah Women’s Network is just one part of this multi-faceted organisation and, speaking to Taylor, her passion for this area of their work is evident. “What I love about Micah is it gives women who are on fire for social justice issues and the state of the world at the moment, a platform where they can show how much they care about it and also make a real difference in a way I don’t think they probably thought they could.”
Members of the recent delegation represented 13 different denominations and a wide variety of cultural and professional backgrounds.
Carly shared what it was like to be part of such a diverse group. “One of the most moving parts of the experience was simply being among such a diverse group of women,” Carly said. “We represented different denominations, organisations, cultures, and callings, but when we were woven together in our lobbying groups, we bore witness to the conviction that faith must be lived out in action.”
“While our contexts and convictions were varied, what united us was the belief that Australia has a vital role to play in building peace, stability, and hope beyond our borders.
“There was a deep sense of solidarity in the room, both with one another and with those we sought to represent,” she said.
Delegates pose for a photo during the Parliament House visit.
Taylor, who has been with Micah Australia since she was about 19, was struck by how unique this recent delegation of women were. “Of the 48 women, 32 were brand new to the delegation,” she shared. “We’d never had a cohort of so many new women. That was a moving part of this specific delegation.”
Delegations like this one are not the only work Micah is doing. Equipping Aussie Christians to bring their concerns before local representatives is a major focus.
When I ask how our readers can get involved, Taylor explains more about this. “Beyond national delegations, Micah helps Christians meet with local politicians year-round to advocate for Australia to show leadership as a compassionate and generous global neighbour.”
Members of the delegation meet with National Leaders.
On Micah Australia’s website the call is clear: “Australia should continue to stand with the world’s most vulnerable as other nations retreat. A generous and effective aid program saves lives, prevents crises from spiralling into catastrophes, and reflects the best of who we are as a nation.”
To find out more about Micah Australia and how you can get involved in advocacy in your local area, visit their website at micahaustralia.org
