In August, Global Mission Partners staff members Carly Cassidy and Cathy Chang had the privilege of joining Micah Australia’s Women’s Delegation in Canberra, standing alongside an extraordinary group of women united by faith and a vision for a safer world for all.
The delegation brought together leaders from across Australia, diverse in culture, profession, and experience, yet deeply committed to justice, compassion, and the flourishing of our global neighbours. Cathy was humbled to be in attendance, “What a privilege it was to represent Global Mission Partners with the Micah Australia Women’s Delegation for the ‘Safer World For All’ campaign.”
Over the course of two days, the collective of women gathered, listened and learnt from the Micah team, and then engaged in more than 40 meetings with ministers, senators, and MPs from across the political spectrum. “Each conversation was a reminder of both the complexity and the possibility of politics. 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,” Carly reported.
The delegation carried two clear and urgent asks: first, that Australia’s aid budget be restored to 1% of the federal budget, recognising our capacity and responsibility as a nation to contribute generously to the global good. Secondly, that our government respond swiftly to the crisis in Myanmar by committing an immediate emergency package to provide humanitarian assistance in a situation that is deteriorating daily.
Carly shared, “For me personally, this advocacy work is deeply connected to my role as National Church Relationships Manager with Global Mission Partners. Each day, I see the ways our Church 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.”
Cathy’s appreciation deepened for organisations like Global Mission Partners that can pave the way for moments like this, sharing with the team, “Thank you all for the work you do that makes it possible for us to stand together on important issues like this. It’s inspiring to see the impact we can make when we raise our collective voice”.
One of the most moving parts of the experience was simply being among such a diverse group of women. “We represented different denominations, organisations, cultures, and callings, but when we were woven together in our lobbying groups, together we bore witness to the conviction that faith must be lived out in action. That advocacy is a form of love for our neighbours. There was a deep sense of solidarity in the room, both with one another and with those we sought to represent: families in Myanmar facing violence and displacement, communities in the Pacific vulnerable to climate change, and millions living in extreme poverty,” Carly shared.
As Carly walked the corridors of Parliament House, she reflected, “I was reminded that advocacy is not just about policy outcomes, it is about presence, persistence, and faithfulness. We may not see immediate change, but seeds are planted in conversations, relationships are built, and the vision for a more compassionate world is kept alive in the places where decisions are made.”
Both Carly and Cathy left Canberra encouraged by the thought that when women of faith come together, diverse yet united, grounded in prayer and committed to justice, their voices can and do make a difference. The call to seek a safer world for all is both urgent and hopeful.
“I am grateful to have played a small part in carrying that message forward, on behalf of Global Mission Partners and the wider Churches of Christ Network,” Carly said.