According to the United Nations, human trafficking is:

“the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.”

When I was in Thailand working with an organization that rescues girls purchased from their families and sold into prostitution, I was unaware of this definition of human trafficking.

When I spoke with the girls, my heart broke at the hopelessness filling their hearts. They were owned. And their captivity was the only thing providing food for their impoverished families living hundreds of miles away.

I don’t like thinking about it because the hopelessness creeps back into my heart. It was one of the darkest places I have ever entered.

Each night, after immersing myself in the lives of these trafficked girls, talking to them, not having an idea about what to say, I went home and sobbed. I have never experienced anything so evil.

I could not, and cannot, possibly understand how one human being can exploit another like this.

How can I (and so many people I know) be so overwhelmed and so outraged about human trafficking and have it still exist in our world today?

Part of the answer is knowing God.

That sounds simple, but I think it’s why this verse in Genesis came to my mind when I heard that today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day (in the U.S.).

“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in His own image.” — Genesis 9:6, ESV

The people in my life who know me best, know God … really well.

My husband is becoming an expert in all things Brianne. It probably helps that we live together ☺ but I think it is deeper than that. I know he talks to God about me. Which makes sense, because God made me.

I believe the same about my best friends. They talk to God about me too. And He tells them about me. He made me.

And the people who know Him and love Him look at me and see Him.

He made me in His image.

I think this verse came to mind not so much as a reminder of a law that God laid down several thousand years ago. I think this verse came to mind as a reminder that we are to deal lovingly with all human beings because “God made man is His own image.”

We can honor the children and human beings who are victims of human trafficking by committing to see every individual, every single human being, as a person made in God’s image. To truly treat other human beings with respect and to show love and mercy.

But how do we do that?

It’s just a matter of doing something.

Sponsor a child. Get involved with International Justice Mission, our partner in the 58: Alliance, or simply join us tonight at 7 p.m. MT for a Twitter chat with Zach Hunter, the teenage abolitionist and founder of Loose Change to Loosen Chains. (Follow the hashtag #cichats)

[1.12.12: If you missed out chat with Zach, here's a summary of how it played out.]

I believe human trafficking exists because someone looks at a child, a woman, a man and doesn’t see God’s image. And the consequences of that are grave and heartbreaking.

The second part of today’s One in Spirit devotional verse is quite fitting for today. Don’t you agree?

“We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” –- 2 Corinthians 4:10, NIV

As Zach says, “You are the someone. Today is the day.”

Especially today.

“Our world is a messed up place. People are hurting. Suffering is everywhere . . . . Where is the help?

. . . This morning when you woke up, there were people around the world and in your own community who were hoping that today might be the day. The day someone stepped in between slaves and their oppressors. The day relief from suffering begins. The day they could feed, clothe and educate their kids. The day someone showed kindness to them, or let them know they had value . . . .

Don’t wait for someone else. Don’t wait for someday. Because, YOU are the someone and TODAY is the day.”

– Zach Hunter

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This week’s limited edition t-shirt from Sevenly supports our Child Survival Program. Sevenly will donate $7 from each t-shirt sold this week. Once the week is over, the t-shirt is gone forever.

Purchase a t-shirt this week and you’ll be able to wear it on October 16, World Food Day, October 17, World Poverty Day, October 18, Tuesday, October 19, Wednesday, and any day you want to. We give you permission to wear it out.

Purchase a t-shirt now.

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We’re in the midst of a campaign to takeover the Water.org Twitter account.

Water.org’s 432,000 Twitter followers represent a whole new audience for us. An audience that may not know what we do, why we do it or who we do it for.

We’ve asked you to vote and to encourage others to vote.

And we need you to keep doing that so we can tell nearly half a million people that:

1. Our Water of Life system is a simple, cost effective and proven solution for providing clean water to families in need.

   The system effectively eliminates parasites and bacterial contaminants that cause cholera, typhoid, E. coli, amoebic dysentery and many other devastating diseases.

   

   And it will provide at least one million gallons of clean drinking water — more than enough for the lifetime of a child.

2. What makes us distinct from other organizations is we’re about Jesus and always will be. We are Christ centered. We “release children from poverty in Jesus’ name.”
3. Unlike other organizations which fight poverty in the developing world, we’re child focused. We develop children, who in turn develop their communities. We give children in poverty opportunities to succeed. Each child we serve is ministered to personally, spiritually, economically, socially and physically.
4. We do all of our work through the local church. The Church is the great hope for the world and is God’s instrument to advance His kingdom. We mobilize and connect the global Body of Christ to fulfill her mandate to care for the poor.
5. We are 100 percent donor supported. We do not take any funds from any government.
6. We are more than a child sponsorship organization. We are a child development organization. And we’re not just working for the children in our programs, we’re working for all children in poverty.

   Our programs are personal, individualized and relational. They’re tailored to age, gender, health, culture and family situation.

   Our commitment is long term because children have long term needs.

   And our commitment is to eradicate extreme poverty from the face of the earth by 2035.

That’s what we’re fighting for. Thanks for your help in this.

Here are some ready-made tweets for you to share.

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From the prayers, to writing letters, to a personal visit, being touched by God’s grace through a sponsored child is a tremendous gift.

Sponsors, you and I come to help, but end up receiving unexpected and wonderful blessings ourselves. If you are like me, you often pray that you could sponsor more children. Perhaps all of the rest of them.

Which is why Compassion is part of 58:. We want to end extreme poverty in our lifetime. 58: is about all of the other children that I can’t sponsor, but want to.

Starting today, at the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit, 58: will be introduced to 80,000 church pastors and leaders.

For the duration of the summit, a free promotional kit for the 58: film is available.

The 58: Film is a feature length movie that will be released in October to communities worldwide. It’s the inspiring true story of the global Church in action.

Please pray about the call of Isaiah 58 regarding the poor and what it means for you and I. Pray that we would all boldly rise up to take action in some way.

It is time extreme poverty came to an end!

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Water.org is a four-star charity working to draw attention to the problem of unsafe drinking water and inadequate water supplies in the developing world.

They also have more than 432,000 Twitter followers and are running a contest to turn the keys over to their Twitter account. We want those keys. And we need you to get them for us.

Please vote for us to takeover the Water.org Twitter account.

The person or organization that receives the most votes by August 31 will be able to tweet about anything and everything for an entire week in September.

We are currently in second place, up against some stiff competition with a broad social reach. (Updated: Aug. 13)

By voting you are opening the door for us to share our Water of Life initiative with Water.org’s followers, as well as allowing us to speak to a whole new audience about what we do, why we do it and who we do it for.

Since you can only vote once, it’s important that you encourage your friends to vote for us as well.

Here are some ready-made tweets for you to share.

Thanks for your time and support with this. We greatly appreciate it.

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For almost four years we’ve been talking to you about our ministry and children in poverty. During that time, one of the most common questions we’ve gotten is, “How can I get more involved?”

We’re constantly looking for opportunities you can connect with, that allow you to respond to the desire the Lord has placed on your hearts to get involved on behalf of children in poverty.

Here is one option we hope you find compelling: writing a guest blog post.

Consider this an open invitation, one you can take advantage of as often as you like.

It’s time for you to take the stage. Your perspective is valuable. We want to learn from you. And we want to be challenged by you.

If you’re interested in writing a guest blog post, we are happy to consider publishing it. We’re looking specifically for posts that do at least one of the following:

1. Provide a unique insight into the lives of children in poverty.
2. Detail specific experiences with our programs and ministry.
3. Call people to take action on behalf of children in poverty.
4. Teach others about Christ’s heart for children and/or the poor.
5. Encourage others into a deeper relationship with Christ through service to children and/or the poor.
6. Promote understanding of cultural differences between the developing world and developed countries, and how these differences play out in the fight against extreme poverty.
7. Explore different examples of spiritual, physical, social and economic poverty in our lives and/or the lives of children in poverty.
8. Redefine what is possible in the fight against poverty when we follow Christ.
9. Examine God’s leading in your life in relation to children in poverty.
10. Challenge people to engage deeply in their sponsorship.

Beyond this and a few other simple guidelines, you have a great deal of flexibility in writing guest blog posts.

Let us know what questions you have. We look forward to reviewing your posts.

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The inspiring true story of the global church in action.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

What do you think of that title?

Is it possible or is it heresy? Is it just a matter of interpretation or a matter of priorities? What do we mean when we use the word poor? And are we even talking about the same thing?

If you’re still with us and you’re wondering what this is about, the answer is 58:.

58: aspires to become the largest, most unified effort ever by the global Church to help the 1.4 billion people living in extreme poverty (income of less than $1.25 a day).

It’s a revolutionary, worldwide response to the call of Isaiah 58.

58: is an initiative founded on the Bible’s call to care for the poor and the shared conviction that the global Church has the capacity to relegate extreme poverty to the history books.

And we are halfway there.

Generosity and new engagement by the Church will propel us to the finish line.

So, what are the 11 reasons that 58: will be successful and extreme poverty will disappear by 2035?

There are actually two perspectives on this. The reasons:

1. Economic progress is already rapidly reducing extreme poverty rates.
2. Global health advances have cut child mortality rates in half.
3. School enrollment and literacy rates are climbing rapidly.
4. Transparency in government and rule of law are gaining ground globally.
5. International travel is allowing millions of North Americans to have direct experiences with the poor – changing the relationship.
6. There is a groundswell of new intentions, new expectations and new optimism that is fueling action.
7. Business is rapidly increasing corporate philanthropy and billionaires are making incredible pledges.
8. 58: has formed to galvanize effective, unified action.
9. Christians are praying, fasting, giving and working for it.
10. With God all things are possible.
11. God wants it.

And the poverty-fighting organizations committed to making this happen:

1. Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
2. Compassion International
3. ECHO
4. Food for the Hungry
5. HOPE International
6. International Justice Mission
7. Living Water International
8. Micah Challenge
9. Plant With Purpose
10. World Relief
11. THE CHURCH!

Do you believe us? Are you with us?

No? You’re not sure?

Then please watch The Poor Will Not Always Be With Us.

If your answer is yes, then please join us, and choose your fast.

• Read the 58: strategy.

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Ask any group of college students what their summer-break plans are, and here’s what you might hear: Road trip. Eat a lot. See the world. Work on a tan. Hang out with friends.

Jason Hardrath and Travis and Alissa Hilley plan to do all that and more. They will road trip for a grand total of 45 days.

They will eat a lot – nearly 5,000 calories by each sunset. They will see the world – or at least 12 states, stretching from Ocean Shores, Wash., to Liberty Island, N.Y. They will work on their tans; spending 70 to 90 miles a day on a bike should take care of that.

They will hang out with friends, camp under the stars in tents and keep in touch with buddies through email and blogs.

And by the end of their 3,000-mile bike ride, the Hilleys and Hardrath will have changed a small corner of Guatemala, providing lifesaving safe water systems for impoverished children and their families.

Going the Distance

As college students at Corban University in Salem, Ore., Jason and Travis often hop on their road bikes to take a break from studying.

Along with Alissa, Travis’ wife of nearly 10 months, the trio has long loved biking long distances.

Jason, a track and field athlete at Corban, competed in his first off-road triathlon in 2008, while Travis and Alissa biked together from Portland to Seattle while dating.

So it seemed natural to say yes to Jason’s wild idea of biking across the U.S. to raise money to fight poverty.

The impulse came to Jason during a game of Ultimate Frisbee. Why not raise funds for a great cause while burning a serious amount of calories?

Bike America Mission was born, with Jason as its president.

Alissa shares,

“We want to be in God’s plan, to see new places, challenge ourselves, meet new people and encourage them to do something about poverty.”

The recipient of the money raised on their bike ride was an easy choice. Within weeks of their wedding, Alissa and Travis, a junior majoring in biblical studies, began sponsoring Antoineta, a 5-year-old girl in Guatemala, through Compassion.

They quickly fell in love with the whole sponsorship experience, and so when Antoineta moved away from her child development center, they chose another little girl, this time a 6-year-old named Ester.

Together with Jason, they decided to raise funds for Ester’s development center. The first $2,000 raised along the route will bless the center as a gift. Anything beyond that will be used to fund safe water systems through Compassion’s Water of Life  program. Water of Life systems are portable, efficient and long-lasting.

Jason, who will graduate with his physical education degree just a few weeks before their departure, tells me that,

“Water is absolutely necessary [to Travis, Alissa and me] as we cycle 70 to 90 miles each day in the hot summer sun — as well as to families who have no accessible source of potable water.”

Water for All

The safe water systems make a small-but-invaluable dent in a worldwide problem: access to clean water. More than 4,900 children die each day from waterborne illnesses and poor sanitation – that’s one child every 18 seconds.

Children in impoverished areas suffer mightily because of this lack, sometimes carrying up to 1,000 parasitic worms in their bodies at one time.

Compassion’s Water of Life system uses filtration technology based on that of kidney dialysis machines. Weighing less than two pounds, the portable filters remove 99.99 percent of all bacteria from water, making it safe for drinking. At a cost of just $55, the system comes pre-assembled and can be set up for use in a child’s home in under five minutes. Education and sanitation training are also provided to each family as  part of the Water of Life program.

A system will provide a family with more than 1 million gallons of safe drinking water.

Geoff Peters, a Compassion product development manager, knows the value of these filters.

“As we looked to identify and serve the needs of our program beneficiaries, it became clear that while access to water was a problem in some areas, access to safe water was a problem almost everywhere.

“Water of Life, our safe water system, enables each child and his or her family to quickly and easily remove illness-causing bacteria from water regardless of its source – making the water safe to drink. The parents we have talked with give thanks for their health and that of their children and speak of renewed hope for the future.”

Coast-to-Coast Crusading

Jason, Travis and Alissa will have a support team back home as they travel from church to church and town to town. They have already raised more than $1,000 of their $25,000 goal.

Each member of the team will have plenty of time to think about the children and families they are helping during the estimated 2,677,765  turns their wheels will make between the Pacific and the Atlantic.

Travis Hilley knows their coast-to-coast trek won’t be a walk (or ride) in the park. He will be without any income for a good portion of the summer – a crucial earning time for most college students.

Yet he believes his financial uncertainty pales in comparison to what millions of children face around the world every day.

“I’m finding that God sometimes calls people to do seemingly unwise things and trust Him with the results.

“Getting out of a boat in a storm, freely giving money away and leaving a comfortable fishing environment for a vagabond lifestyle seemed like unwise decisions. Yet in each case, the people who make the ‘unwise’ decisions turn out to be on the narrow, joyful path that others miss out on. I don’t want to be one of the 11 disciples still in the boat. That is why I am biking across America this summer.”

For updates on Jason, Travis and Alissa’s trek across the country, go to their website at www.bikeamericamission.org.

Photos courtesy of Sheldon Traver of Corban University

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The Bible says a lot about the power of prayer and fasting. In the book of Joel the Lord calls His people to turn to Him with their entire heart so He can respond with kindness and not harm.

“Now, therefore,” says the LORD,

“Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the LORD your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm. Joel 2:12-13 (NKJV)

God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and the same kindness He wants to extend to His people in the verses above is the same kindness He wants to extend to us today.

The innocence, trust, and impressionability of children in the 4/14 Window make them open to Christ but also make them extremely vulnerable to the evils in our world that seek to forever ruin their lives and potential.

The 4/14 Window Global Initiative has called us to fast and pray today to promote the need for children worldwide to have an opportunity to experience the life-transforming hope of Christ.

Will you join us and the other supporters of the 4/14 Window Global Initiative by putting the power of fasting and prayer to work for children in our churches, cities, nations, and world?

Together, we can be a great, unified voice coming before God’s throne, praying for a new generation of Christ-followers who will transform the world.

There are three items we are highlighting about this day of fasting and prayer.

1. The theme of this fast is based on the biblical story of Esther, an orphaned girl, likely in her early teens, who called for a three-day fast to precede her intercession with the king that saved her people from annihilation. We are asking people to specifically ponder verse 4:14.
2. Join “The Esther Fast” today, fasting specifically for the protection of children in the 4/14 Window, asking God for their deliverance from the destructive influences of Satan.
3. Spend the day in prayer for the raising up of a new generation of Christ’s disciples from the 4/14 Window in your church, city, nation and world. If you are working today or have other obligations, we hope you will use your free times to pray.

Thank you for participating in this important event. Please come back and let us know how God touches your heart and mind today.

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