Project Rescue

Note: This post contains some details that may not be suitable for younger readers.

My first introduction to Project Rescue came in picking up the book Beyond the Soiled Curtain (unfortunately already out of print) at a thrift shop in the Ozarks. Before I had time to begin reading I googled "Project Rescue" and read everything I could find on the mission. Wow.

Here was an organization with a similar passion as Natalie Grant's The Hope Foundation and the International Justice Mission, both of which I have supported through the years specifically because of their work with young girls who are sexually exploited. Why had I never heard of Project Rescue before? They are helping the girls that some would never touch; they are battling an evil some will not even acknowledge as existing. Human slavery has not ended in America, much less other parts of the world such as Asia and Eastern Europe. Did you know that one million new children are drawn into the commercial sex trade every year? Can we even comprehend such a number? Do we even care?

A girl who is purchased by a trafficker for as little as $150 can be sold to customers as many as ten times a night and can bring in $10,000 a month profit. With minimal expenses, police as co-conspirators, and almost unlimited victims to prey upon, trafficking for sexual exploitation is surpassing the sale of illegal drugs as the preferred industry for criminals. In India, there are approximately 10 million prostitutes, and an estimated 300,000 - 500,000 of them are children. In the city of Mumbai, 90% of the 100,000 women in prostitution are indentured slaves. - Project Rescue Issue Overview

I am selfish and stupid if I ignore reality. I've seen it with my own eyes. I know it exists. This organization's purpose to Rescue, Restore, and Prevent is one I whole-heartedly support. The need and magnitude of this issue could easily seem overwhelming and too difficult. I may not be equipped or able to save one million children this year from slavery, but I can do something.

Maidens Quest Ministries

Written in September: Two sets of sisters are leading the third Maiden's Quest retreat next week. From origins in Texas, the September retreat is being held in Seattle and plans for more are in the works. It has thrilled my heart to see Katrina and Tara heading up this much-needed ministry for young ladies and we are excited to help spread the word.

Katrina writes: "Tara and I have been friends for many years, but due to the distance between our homes, we have only been able to see each other at select times throughout each year. In September of 2006, we met up again at a mutual friend’s wedding, much to our delight!

"As we visited together about the things of the Lord and the latest ministry opportunities He had given us, we discovered a like-hearted passion for investing in the lives of young ladies. Having both experienced the tremendous blessing of Godly older role models during our teen years, we shared a similar burden to faithfully pass on the baton of encouragement to younger girls now facing the choices that come with growing up....

"An idea came to me that I now know was from the Lord. What if Tara and I could join forces and host some sort of retreat, conference, or weekend event for the young ladies we knew? The event could provide edifying messages, feminine skill-building opportunities, and an atmosphere for encouraging fellowship."

Caption: Katelin, Tara, Katrina, and Kelly, the leaders of the Maiden's Quest retreat for young ladies.

Remember those in chains

Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. Heb. 13:3

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed, and do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 1 Pet. 3:13-17

The passage in 1 Peter was my theme verses as I graduated from high school...4 years ago (there, I dated myself!). Never did I see them incarnated in human form than the night in a Beijing hotel room when I met and prayed with two leaders in the Chinese underground church. One had been running from the police for four years, never able to go home to her family. In these faces shone the courage and simple faith of believers who lived the reality of the above passages every single day.

Since then some of my Chinese friends have been arrested. One friend's father has been in and out of prison and news reaches us so slow that sometimes I am not certain how he is--but we pray all the same to the All-knowing One. And we thank Him for what He has given to us and vow to not take our Bibles, our freedom, our families for granted.

I highly encourage all of you to visit Prisoner Alert to view brothers and sisters all over the world being imprisoned for their faith. You can sent them a letter of encouragement in their own language, write to the officials in charge of their incarceration, and help spread the word to your friends and family.

What are you giving this Christmas?

I don't know about you, but I feel incredibly blessed this year. Being back with my family will be the greatest gift I could ask for--and I have zero desire for cluttering up my life with more material possessions. Living in Japan, with only the few personal items I could bring over in my suitcase and duffel bag, has reminded me again how little we really need in this life. I have not even needed/used all that I brought--surely I have been blessed with so much, how could I not want to help others who are in real and earnest need?

The Samaritan's Purse ministry run by Franklin Graham is responsible for providing millions of children living in poverty with Christmas boxes of toys, candy, and an opportunity to hear the Gospel. Samaritan's Purse also offers a way that you can give gifts in honor of your friends and family, making gift-giving have eternal impact all around the world. You can visit Samaritan's Purse and see all of the opportunities to help--ranging from a couple dollars up to thousands. Every bit helps.

North Korea is the most dangerous place for a Christian right now

The North Korean government is persecuting Christians more brutally than any other place in the world. Do we even know what is going on? Gene Veith directed to an article in a Canadian newspaper which gave some information on the consequence of being caught with a Bible in your possession: death.
Read Veith's comments here.
Read the article in the National Post here.
And as always, the best source of information on the persecuted church all around the world is the Voice of the Martrys. If you are not already receiving their monthly newsletter and/or emails, be sure to sign up.

Bright Lights

I don't believe I've ever linked to Bright Lights before, but after getting to know the founder Sarah Mally more at this past weekend's convention, I wanted to give the heads-up to those of you who have never heard of this discipleship program for young girls. Geared for preparing young ladies for their teenage years, Bright Lights is centered around groups which meet for fellowship, Bible study, and service to their community. I was too old to take part in one by the time they were going in my area, and now God has led me to other areas of ministry, but what a great opportunity this is!

If this doesn't make you...

...cry or say "aww" or want to thank God for the work faithful in China are doing...!

I love Chinese kids and I love what the Philip Hayden Foundation is doing!!! Looking through this scrapbook of kids when they were first abandoned, and what they looked like when they were adopted is incredible! Look at Abigail and Maria. Are they not precious?

I've been watching Petal grow up for a year now and she is sooooooo cute! And Peter is one of many, many babies with cleft lip who Langfang Villiage takes care of until they can have surgery. These babies like Hayden are beautiful BEFORE and after their surgeries!!

God is good all the time!

Bible Classes

Have you ever wanted to take just one or two Bible courses? Either for personal enrichment or college credit? Have you ever wanted to do such while living at home, but there is no good school nearby?

May I suggest pursuing college-level theology and Biblical studies courses via the Moody Distance Learning center? You can take classes either online on a regular semester schedule or through correspondence and move at your own fast or slow pace. I have taken many of my undergraduate required classes this way in the past two years, and all of the books and notes are still on my shelf for easy reference. The information presented and the emphasis on practical application make these classes the best available, in my opinion.

I'm finishing Church History right now and it has been one of the most difficult but also my favorite thus far. I'm also enrolled in Interpersonal Ministry Skills and that has been interesting and very practical.

A Calvary Bible college grad starts a new revolution...

in internet ministry!

Have you ever visited www.GotQuestions.org ? In the past few years it has exploded and there are thousands of visitors each month...viewing over one million pages and asking 16,000 questions just since January of this year. It is a wonderful resource for any lay person, and if you are a writer looking for ministry opportunities, you can apply to serve as one of those who researches and answers the questions.

VOM's Action Packs

a sure-fire cure for feeling down is to do something to help others. I did not fill the Action Pack tonight because I thought it would cheer me up--but it did. It was fun to fill, and it was even more fun getting my little bro involved to help close up the vacuum-seal on the bag. He enjoyed that. Anything that uses muscle, you know. ;-) So now this Pack will follow the other my family did last year, sending a blanket, gloves, hats, socks, a jacket, and three sweaters to someone in Iraq...

Voice of the Martrys is providing a tangible ministry of love and encouragement to the needy in the Middle East and Asia: Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan. They also receive the chance to hear and read the Gospel in their own language. Check it out. It's an awesome ministry, and a way we in America can connect with our brothers and sisters overseas.