Hitting reset. Then what? It is what we get to do. Human trafficking does not simply end with “reset”.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” (Matthew 28:19 ESV)
I have come to realize that in many places where we send people to “go and tell and make disciples”, where we work now thanks to a slew of supporters, the hearers need a lot of mentoring to shift from being hearers to being trusters and doers.
This step is not automatic. Nurturing and mentoring is needed. Is this not the role of believers and the church to new believers? What if the church has little generational depth in believing and following? This is where the missionary who is sent steps in. Encouragers who help new believers hit “reset” in their lives.
I have learned that when you teach someone to hit the “reset” button they will need to know the hows and be mentored in the new way as it unfolds. There is no familiar path and very few to follow or lead the way.
“…. teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 ESV)
Hitting “reset” in American culture affords many opportunities through churches, small groups, para church groups and multiple resources for the new believer to become trusters and doers.
Hitting “reset” in a foreign culture does not often afford the same support groups and materials. Except when there are “senders, supporters and goers” who can become the resources for the new start.
Our focus is those lost, trapped and often unseen in the world of human trafficking. When they decide they want to to reset their lives the things they must shed are often dark, heavy and so discouraging that hitting reset will only begin a loop back in a very short time. Sustaining the reset takes mentors.
That is what we get to do. Set the captives free and walk with them in “reset mode”.
We say thank you to our senders, supporters who make it possible for us to be goers and mentors.
We pray 2018 will bring Good News to those around you. Help someone hit “reset” in their life.
If you are interested in helping to end modern human trafficking, we would love to have you on our support team. Visit our donor page at Click here
It seemed obvious to me that the little girl’s face showed signs of insecurity and even perhaps fear. She shared no glances with the man as though he was a “grandfather” or someone familiar. They were racially dissimilar. Nothing suggested the situation was comfortable.
little girl, if my sighting was accurate, has never dreamed of the atrocity she was about to encounter. The future that her perpetrator might bring upon her.
But, Hope is alive and growing in them and it is infectious. They are changing the darkness around them to light. Wow!
eep, very deep, in poverty. The families are primarily fishermen by trade but when the rivers and ponds are not swollen, human trafficking is common. Even within the starving families of the church who with great shame, still traffic children believing it is the only means of avoiding starvation and death. The situations are desperate beyond comprehension.
And it is the local church-plant that gets the credit. Not us. Not the foreigner. Not incurable Fanatics. We are careful to make sure the local leaders are seen as the wise helpers and are present ourselves simply as people helping them. And the church begins to grow in stature and become an integral component of the community.
Debbie and I are engaged in a cause focused effort seeking to provide hope and restoration to those victims of trafficking. We engage in education initiatives, job training for victims so that they can overcome their past and move into a hopeful future. A future they could not imagine without help. The garments made in one of our village development enterprises is made by the hands of a victim who is being assisted in ending a life of abuse that surrounds them. Your garment gives them hope for better tomorrows. Your garment is a piece of restoration.
We are now working with village craftsmen making garments, beautiful hand crafted jewelry, and items native to their community. We then work to develop export opportunities so that the profit they make provides a sustainable, non-weather dependent income. Your garment is a piece of reintegration.
means to feed, educate and care for their children without the atrocity of sex-trafficking. The wage they earn, the opportunities we offer, fill the void that once seemed impossible without engaging in the tragedy of trafficking. Your garments are a piece of prevention.
a few holes; like we are only making things look better. But then it happens, someone sees there is hope and a future in Christ and there is joy unimaginable. Truly, we are seeing enormous progress and new life directions are becoming more common. So is the end to the filth of treacherous perpetrators. Every rescue uncovers more victims deeper within the travesty of human trafficking. More opportunities to set captives free with an understanding of the work of the Gospel.
delivered from a trafficked life, or one family gains enough work so that their children are not for sale, then we know it is a very worthy work. Even just one life is worth all the effort. As the Word of God says, when Christ enters in, “all things are new”. When a generation or two fail to understand the Gospel, they fall into natural choices and that leads quickly and deeply into horrendous sin. That is Cambodia, that is much of the world where the Gospel has not yet penetrated the lives and living of people. Following Christ is so much more than just saying a prayer and being baptized or growing up in a Christian family or going to church. Following Christ is actually about letting him lead your daily life. Not some decisions but all decisions. And that following, as these victims and high risk families are learning, takes them to a joy unimaginable. This is our work. This is our joy. To our supporters, this is your joy too!