American Idol's recent 'Idol Gives Back' effort highlighted the vital role of The ONE Campaign in influencing public awareness and government policy to consider the desperate needs of the poor.

The ONE Campaign offers you streamlined ways to connect your church with the poor and oppressed — those Christ especially calls us to serve: "... I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40, NIV)

Last month you may have watched — perhaps with the prodding of your teenage son or daughter — a special edition of “American Idol” called Idol Gives Back.

For two nights, Hollywood's spotlight shone on the world's poorest children as millions tuned in to watch stories about their lives and the organizations working to help them. One of the organizations featured was ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History.

Two years ago, World Vision joined Irish rock singer Bono and more than 50 other humanitarian organizations to help launch the ONE Campaign in an effort to rally Americans to help make poverty history.

Does that goal sound familiar?

As you know, World Vision’s commitment to fight poverty is centered on children experiencing life in all its fullness. But, if we're going to have any hope of ending poverty, it has to be a concerted effort — one that involves all of us. We have to change the way Americans think about and respond to the urgent needs of children and communities around the world.

Social movements change the world when enough people come together to say, "enough!" Our voices and our values can make a difference. That's why the ONE Campaign is so strategic. It unites people from all over America behind the common goal of ending extreme poverty in our time.

As we approach the 2008 presidential elections, The ONE Campaign has another opportunity to achieve dramatic gains for those in desperate need. We want poverty to be a key part of the election debate. We want the world to see the generosity of Americans, and we want to see millions of voters raising their voices on behalf of the poor … and making a statement to the candidates (of whatever party) that tackling extreme poverty must be a vital part of their policy agenda.

The ONE Campaign can play a vital role to influence public awareness and our government's policies, but to succeed it needs your support. World Vision supports the campaign because we believe it will help us achieve our mission of ending poverty.

Now is the time to act. Let's follow in Jesus' footsteps and use our voice to bring some good news to the poor. Let's become the generation that finally makes extreme poverty a thing of the past.

Rich Stearns
President, World Vision (United States)

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