By Clare BruceWednesday 19 Oct 2016Social JusticeReading Time: 2 minutes
If you’ve got any inclination to make the world a better place, there’s no shortage of like-minded Australians to rub shoulders with.
Coming up soon are two separate conferences focussed on justice and advocating for those in need.
First up is the simply-named The Justice Conference, in Melbourne on October 21 and 22. Founded in the USA in 2010, The Justice conference is now replicated around the world in cities including Hong Kong, Chicago, Auckland, Sao Paulo, Amsterdam, Cape Town and Melbourne.
On its website the event promises to “celebrate the beauty of justice, and foster a community of people who live justice together”, to “discover new ways to disrupt broken thinking and catalyse movements of justice”.
With more than 30 speakers and artists lined up (see video below), the Melbourne event promises to be a weekend full of inspiration and challenge.
Be Inspired and Challenged
Speakers include anti-pornography activist Melinda Tankard Reist, author and justice preacher Eugene Cho, World Vision’s Tim Costello, Mike Gore from Open Doors, Rebecca Neep from Australian Christian Churches, and Christie Buckingham of Bayside Church in Melbourne – who done extensive work in Africa for young people and abandoned children, but is best known for her prison ministry in Bali and advocacy for people on death row.
The Justice Conference is being presented by organisations including TEAR Australia, International Justice Mission, the Salvation Army, Common Grace, Collective Shout, Habitat for Humanity, ADRA and Micah.
Find out more at thejusticeconference.com.au.
Lift up Your Voice and Make a Difference
Once you’ve been inspired and motivated, there’s an opportunity only a month later to put your passion into action at the annual Voices For Justice National Gathering in Canberra, November 19 to 21.
Organised by Micah Australi, Voices for Justice is a chance to meet with hundreds of Christian believers from around the country – not only to pray and worship, but also to influence members of Parliament through advocacy.
Participants will attend workshops to learn about political engagement, then go and represent the world’s poorest people by meeting and speaking with politicians in Parliament House.
Speakers include Micah Australia co-ordinator Ben Thurley, whose career in justice has included working in Nepal, as well as Pastor James Baghwan, a Fijian pastor with a passion for the marginalised.
Voices for Justice has been running since 2006, and has played a key role in raising political awareness of poverty and injustice.
For details see the Micah Australia website.