March 28th

Hi Everyone! Thanks for your continued partnership and the time you take to pray for people impacted by trafficking around the world each month. I wanted to take a few moments this month and share a little bit about a group project that I am involved with at UT this semester and to encourage you all by things going on in Tennessee. For those of you who do not know, this is my final semester in social work school, and one of my courses is a course in policy change and development. Our main assignment in this class is to chose a policy, advocate for changing it, or for the enforcement of this policy, and then evaluate what happens. Because of Jamie's email in December I had a little bit of knowledge about the William Wilberforce Act, and this ended up being the policy that my group decided to go with for the semester. Our plan has been to raise awareness in the Knoxville area about trafficking and connect with groups already working throughout Tennessee to bring some connection and support to their efforts. To make a long story short, today I got to sit at a table with my group mates and tell students about trafficking and get them to sign a petition asking for our Senators and Representative to start the formation of an anti-trafficking task force in Tennessee. It was really exciting, and one thing I learned was that many students didn't know what I was talking about when I said "human trafficking" and their next question was, "Why should we need something like that here? Isn't that just happening in Asia?" Sadly, the answer is no. I came across a letter on the organization Shared Hope's website written from the Mayor of Atlanta to the owner of a popular website that was being used by traffickers for marketing. The letter stated that half of the prostitutes in Atlanta were teenagers. I've read news articles of people being caught trafficking Latin American girls in Nashville and the risks that runaways have in Chattanooga of being caught up in trafficking within two days of hitting the streets. It's alarming. The good news is that right now Georgia and North Carolina have anti-trafficking task forces to help boost prevention efforts as well as work with police forces to recognize situations and individuals who have been trafficked. Organizations like Second Life in Chattanooga and coalitions like Nashville Rescue and Restore are forming in Tennessee to bring awareness and change. It's exciting stuff! You know what's even more exciting? A lot of these groups are led by Believers responding to injustice by offering hope through the Gospel, and, it's getting the attention of the community. I know we've done this before, but, I think it would be good to pray for these grassroots efforts and people working on this issue in their communities. Here is a list of organizations you can pray for (I apologize for those who live in non-Tennessee states, right now I don't have the info on other states, but, we would love for you all to pass on any information to us about groups and work going on in your area! Non Tennesseans feel free to pray generally for your state or, you can pray for these too, pray however you feel led) : *Second Life of Chattanooga (http://www.secondlifechattanooga.org/blog/) *Nashville Rescue and Restore (http://www.nashvillerescueandrestore.org/) *Chattanooga Matters (http://www.chattanoogamatters.org) *The World Next Door Market (Jency and Nathan are going to Nepal in April, pray for their trip as it is an opportunity to offer the gospel, hope, and a new life to girls who decide not to go into India and avoid being trafficked! I am so excited!) *10/40 Connections (http://www.1040connections.org) *Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (http://www.tcadsv.org) *Catholic Charities (http://www.ccetn.org) *STOP student group at the University of Tennessee *Shared Hope International (http://www.sharedhope.org) *International Justice Mission (http://www.ijm.org) *Pray that these efforts would be successful, organized, and effective. Pray that Christians would display leadership as well as offer the hope and healing of the gospel to their communities. *Pray that anti-trafficking task forces would be started across the country so that more survivors of trafficking are identified and get the support they need, perpetrators are brought to justice, and the communities can have the supports in place to help meet the needs of survivors of trafficking. *Pray that the police forces and area agencies would recognize that this is could be going on in their cities and is a problem. Pray that they would begin looking for ways to train their officers. As it stands right now there are 22,000-24,000 police forces nation wide. Only 2 are trained to identify and handle situations of trafficking. *Pray for the people being trafficked across the United States daily. Pray that this country would become aware of the problem, and that more survivors can be rescued. Pray that these survivors would have the opportunity to hear the gospel and that they would find healing and hope through Jesus. Thanks again! Love, Amanda from the 28th gals

January Prayer Requests

Dear praying friends,

This weekend my husband Nathan and I (Jency) went to a human trafficking conference at Bryan College. We were encouraged by the number of students that had the desire to know more about this horrible injustice and to spread that awareness. The number one question we heard though is a question that so many of us ask all the time: "But what can we do?" I thought I would share with you this month a topic that is near to my heart and one that the conference highlighted- Fair Trade.

Nathan and I run a fair trade store (World Next Door) in Chattanooga, TN and we get to hear the success stories all the time of people coming out of poverty and no longer being exploited. The basics of fair trade are that the person making the item or growing the crop gets a fair wage for their work under good working conditions. In countries where sweatshops are the norm or prostitution is the only option for survival, being treated fairly and having enough money to support a family totally transforms a community. There are many fair trade organizations that have offered women in brothels, who have no skills, job training so that they can get out of prostitution (or prevent them from ever getting into it). We have found some organizations that do this in the name of Jesus- so the women hear the gospel as well- but sadly, most of the organizations we have seen are "do-gooders" who might be giving these people a chance to feed their family (which is great!), but the people do not get the chance to be spiritually fed. Our hope is to see the Church catch on to the "fair trade" movement- we want to be in the lead when it comes to fighting for justice!

The following are organizations that have rescued women from prostitution by offering job training. These women also get to hear the gospel and learn of the way that Jesus can transform their lives. You can support these women by praying for them and by buying the products they make.

Freeset Bags- these women are taught how to make bags out of jute. http://www.freesetbags.com/story

International Princess Project- These women are taught how to make pajamas out of recycled saris. http://intlprincess.org/

Sari Bari- These women make blankets and bags out of recycled saris. http://www.saribari.com/

Prayer Requests

- pray for the women that have been rescued from prostitution and are being taught a skill. Praise God that they are able to take great pride in the work they are doing. Pray for their salvation- that they would see the spiritual restoration that Jesus brings while they are being restored physically.

- Pray for the church- that we would support these ministries in the work that they are doing. Pray that more ministries would be able to be a part of the fair trade movement in their community overseas.

- From 10/40 Connections: At the border between India and Nepal many girls make life-changing choices – go ahead or go back home. Our friends seek to council girls/women who are being trafficked. Pray God will give this ministry grace, protection, and wisdom. Pray many girls/women will choose to go back home. (This ministry also has begun to teach girls skills such as driving and making hats out of banana fiber.)

- Pray for the Fair Trade organizations that are helping to rescue women. Pray that the Lord would greatly bless their work. Pray for the physical and spiritual protection of these workers as they engage in fighting for these girls.

September 28, 2008

Dear praying friends,

Last night, I (Jency) went to a Sara Groves (and Sandra McCracken, Derek Webb, Charlie Peacock, and Brandon Heath) concert, and this month for the 28th, I wanted to share some things that Sara Groves shared at the concert. It was her "Art, Music, Justice" Tour, and the whole night was filled with hope and completely centered around Jesus. The musicians are also raising money and awareness for Food for the Hungry and the International Justice Mission. It was a great night.

Sara told us the story of Elizabeth- a girl she had gotten to hear speak at an International Justice Mission event. Elizabeth had grown up the oldest of 7 children in a Christian home and wanted to go to Bible College. She realized that she needed a job to save money for college, but jobs were hard to come by where she lived. A lady in the community told her she could find her a job in a neighboring community. Elizabeth and her family had no idea that this lady would then take Elizabeth captive. Before she knew it, at age 15, Elizabeth was in a foreign country where she did not know the language, living in a brothel. Everyday, though, she got on her knees and prayed. She was made fun of by the other girls- they would laugh at her when she said her God would rescue her from that awful place. She was surrounded by people telling her that her God could not hear her there, that He had turned His back on her.

And then God rescued her- IJM raided the brothel and rescued Elizabeth and several other girls. When they walked into Elizabeth's 6'x8' bedroom, above a small mattress on the floor she had written Psalm 27:

The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

Sara Groves said that she believes Elizabeth knows a side of God that she does not know- but she wants to know. Elizabeth has been to a place with the Lord that most of us have never been to, but when we work alongside the oppressed and the poor, we will get to see another beautiful characteristic of the Lord. If we want to go to a deeper level with Jesus, we should ask people like Elizabeth what they know.

Another event Sara shared about last night was IJM's Global Prayer Gathering. The event has different rooms set up that represent different countries and prayer issues. She walked into the room for the Philippines, and the man that was facilitating the prayer at the front of the room seemed a little rushed. He said, "everything prayer request we've had has been answered so we better hurry because there is lots to pray for." The Lord listens to our prayers, and he answers.

And finally, Gary Haugen, founder of IJM, said once that he used to focus 98% on the problems and despair in the world and only 2% on Hope and the good things that were happening. But then he realized that he was wrong in doing that. Our God is mighty to save, and we should praise Him for the mighty things He has done and is doing in the world. As a good friend once said to me, "Jesus will make it right."

It is easy for us to dwell on the hopelessness of the situations we read about, the ones we see on TV, and the ones we see with our own eyes. The 28th of every month could easily be filled with one horrific story after another. But that is not giving our Lord Jesus the praise He deserves. So, while we will continue to spread awareness about injustices going on in this world on the 28th day and earnestly pray for the Lord to deliver the oppressed, I ask that you all hold us accountable to not forgetting to give Jesus the praise He deserves for the things He has done and is doing and will do.

So, I don't have any prayer requests this month- only praise requests. Yes, please please please continue to pray for the women and little girls in brothels around the world. But let's focus this month on praising our amazing Savior for who He is and what He is doing in our lives and in people's lives around the world!

Praise requests:

- Praise the Lord for your Salvation and for being a God who rescues us.
- Praise the Lord for people like Elizabeth, who even when they are in the midst of darkness, still cry out and cling to Jesus- praise Him for the comfort He gives
- Praise the Lord for organizations that are fighting injustices in this world- for people who have left careers and safe, comfortable lives to fight for people for the sake of the Gospel- praise Him that He is on our side.
- Praise the Lord that He is mighty to save!
- Praise the Lord that He truly does what it says in Psalm 10

Psalm 10
1 Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
5 His ways are always prosperous;
he is haughty and your laws are far from him;
he sneers at all his enemies.
6 He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me;
I'll always be happy and never have trouble."
7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent,
watching in secret for his victims.
9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover;
he lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.
11 He says to himself, "God has forgotten;
he covers his face and never sees."
12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself,
"He won't call me to account"?
14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;
you consider it to take it in hand.
The victim commits himself to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man;
call him to account for his wickedness
that would not be found out.
16 The LORD is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.
17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,

18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

August 28th 2008

Dear praying friends,

We've started a blog to try to encourage and connect with one another. The four of us keep in touch pretty regularly but there are so many of you that pray and fast with us that we do not even know. We would love for the blog to become a place that people post comments about what the Lord has been doing in our hearts on this day. The four of us really struggle sometimes in having hope for this situation- but because of Jesus, we have every reason to Hope. And as the body of Christ, we want to join together. Thanks for reading, praying, fasting, partnering with us! Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments about this day and what the Lord is showing you.

Thanks! -Jamie, Jency, Jeanne, and Amanda

May 11, 2007, 10:27 am

Sex Trafficking in India

By Nicholas D. Kristof

Last month I visited India and wrote about the horrific sex trafficking situation there, through the story of a woman named Meena who had been imprisoned in a brothel herself, was bred, and then had her daughter prostituted as well. Meena is an incredibly gutsy woman, and she was able to rescue her teenage daughter, Naina.

So here’s an update. Ruchira Gupta, head of a first-rate anti-trafficking group called Apne Aap, helped Meena rescue Naina and has been trying to keep her alive. Ruchira is now visiting New York, and she says that Naina has finally gotten out of the hospital and is getting counselling. Lots of Times readers sent checks to Ruchira for Apne Aap, and the money was used to start a boarding school where the girls will — hopefully — be safe from the brothels. I’d been terribly worried about Meena’s two younger daughters, for fear that the brothel-owners would punish Meena by kidnapping and prostituting them, but now they’re safe in the boarding school.

Ruchira sends her thanks to the donors, and she also says she would welcome any Americans who want to volunteer to work with her group for a few months or more. So for those of you who didn’t win the “win-a-trip contest,” here’s your chance. I can’t think of an experience more eye-opening than working in Bihar, one of the most wretched places in India, trying to stop this 21st century slavery.

Prayer Requests:

-Pray for Apne Aap an anti-trafficking group and the International Justice Mission and their efforts. Pray for the employees. Pray for their spirits as they engage in such a dark and depressing issue, and combat an industry that's only growing. Pray for their hearts to be encouraged through the words of friends and the Word.

-Pray the same things for other organizations that are fighting sex trafficking such as International Princess Project and Word Made Flesh

-Pray for Jolli, a women the four of us met in India. She used to work with IJM. She and her husband have since gone to law school to tackle the legal aspect of the issue. When I (Jamie) went back to India this sumer she visited with our team again. She shared with us some stories of trying to rescue girls from brothels and the difficulties of knowing what to do them. Pray for her and her husband. Pray that the Lord would minister to them and continue to encourage them in the difficult work that they're doing.

- Pray for all of us who read these articles and pray once a month. Pray that God would by His grace allow us to continue delving into deeper awareness of this issue. If you're like me, ask God to give you Hope and to encourage you to continue praying.