"10 concerts, 100 artists, a million spectators, 2 billion viewers, and 1 message... To get 8 men, in 1 room, to stop 30,000 children dying every single day of extreme poverty. Live 8 truly was an historic event....

"30,000 children dying every single day of extreme poverty"

I, like millions of others, texted to join the lottery to be at Hyde Park in central London, UK, on the 2 July and tried to put on a brave face when I came up dissapointed,"writes 24-7's Carla Trundle.  "I was denied the live experience but crashed out in front of my TV Saturday night with a few good friends and a growing sense of excitement to experience a night of incredible performances and moving appeals.

I have vague memories as a very young child of Live Aid, the 1985 prequel to Saturday's event.  I mostly remember the impact it had on my parents, the pictures of kids my age dying in a strange far off country and the expectation that if enough people get together we really can change the world.

 

Two decades later, a little older and if I'm honest more jaded, I'm not always as certain as I once was that we really can stand against exploitive political and financial powers and see them take notice. I hope they will, I pray they will but until Saturday I wasn't entirely convinced.

 

As the BBC's coverage flicked between the UK, the USA, The Russian Federation, France, Germany, Japan, Canada and South Africa, I watched famous faces sporting Make Poverty History bands and determined expressions strut their stuff before billions of viewers and it began to dawn on me... who could ignore this?

 

Billions of viewers = billions of voters; billions of citizens asking the leaders of 8 of the wealthiest nations on earth to make a difference, to make an easy decision, to forego a little profit and give to those who need it.

Every now and then you get a glimpse of God's reflection in creation, the Father's desire to see justice not exploitation, sacrifice not selfishness, life not death. As I enjoyed an evening of great live music something inside me was stirring, a growing cry of 'YES!' was calling for my attention. When I woke up early this morning and started to pray I began to beg God, 'Please, this has to stop, you have to do something, you have to use these 8 world leaders to transform Africa, start there, please God.'

I haven't felt this moved to pray in a really long time, I guess I'm nervous that if I don't we'll only see a job half done. As people we can influence leaders, we can campaign for aid and fair trade but without a move of God we won't change the hearts and minds and solve the problem at it's root. If we don't pray for a change in the selfish attitudes of our nations then this problem will only reacure with a different face but a similar taste throughout the world.

 

"I haven't felt this moved to pray in a long time, I'm nervous that if I don't we'll only see a job half done."

The G8 is meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland this Wednesday - do you fancy praying?  You can find out how a group of 24-7ers are prayerfully joining the protest here.  Prayer isn't a half hearted subsistute for being there in person, it's the spiritual muscle that'll win this battle and allow God to move."

 

Make Poverty History
LIVE 8