Porn = Human Trafficking

Today we watched and discussed a clip from a broadcast through Joyce Meyer Ministries where Joyce Meyers interviews Christine Caine, founder of the A21 Campaign. The A21 Campaign is a Christian organization that is set on abolishing slavery in the 21^st century.

We discussed what we as Christians can do to help to stop the demand for modern day slavery, especially in the sex industry. Christine discussed the story of the good Samaritan in the Bible. Her take on this story really challenged me! We were challenged to ask ourselves: ‘Have you ever been like the priest and the Levite and ‘passed by’ on the other side of the road?’ (Read Luke 10, 25-37 for The Parable of the Good Samaritan).

Christine said that God told her, ‘My Church has confused compassion for emotion.’

And challenged us that we need to ensure that we aren’t just emotionally moved when it comes to the issue of human trafficking, but are truly compassionate. She spoke about the difference between emotion and compassion being action. 

The thing that shocked me the most was (because I had never made the connection before) was just how great an effect the porn industry has on modern day slavery and human trafficking! The presenter kept talking about how people sitting in their homes don’t make the connection between the demand they create by consuming any kind of pornographic material and the horrors of the sex trafficking industry. Supply and demand. Basics, but it just doesn’t seem real until you see it.

As a Christian, I don’t believe it is right to engage in watching any type of porn (films, pictures, magazines, prostitution, etc) and this gives yet another facet to my argument against it. You may not agree with this stance, but next time you are about to view any kind of porn, remember this: often these girls are forced through threat of death, lack of other options, or through being kidnapped to perform these explicit acts. They are someone’s daughter, sister, or friend and YOU are fuelling the industry in which they are slaves and keeping them captive by looking at this pornographic material.

To watch the clip online, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9mbJW2VBNs 

Please fight for those who are unable to fight for themselves by supporting the work of The A21 Campaign or Hand of Hope (Joyce Meyer Ministries).

Blessings!

Ronell x

“None of us can do everything but we can all do something.” {Christine Caine}

Compassionart: Joining the dots between art and poverty

For those of you who follow this blog regularly, I just firstly want to apologise. I completely forgot to post yesterday, as I was completely caught up with packing! I am moving tomorrow on very short notice, so things are a bit hectic my end!

Today’s post is about Compassionart, a charity that joins the dots between art and poverty. It raises money to help breathe life into the poorest communities, restoring hope and igniting justice.

This is how Compassionart’s describes its beginnings:

It all started with a sense that music really ought to be able to sit well with justice. Yet in a world of album sales and royalty cheques, it can be hard to see how the two link up. So, a plan evolved; create a little music (and eventually, quite a bit more) and use all of the proceeds from album sales and royalty cheques to support those working among the world's poorest communities.

These thoughts came first to the heads and hearts of Martin and Anna Smith. Martin's years at the front of the stage with Delirious have given him a unique perspective; across every continent he has seen at first hand the potential that music has to connect. And he has seen poverty – the crushing sort, the type that chokes hope and suffocates life. And he has seen remarkable people doing remarkable things to break poverty's hold.

In January 2008 – after more than a year and a half of planning – Martin and Anna were joined by 11 other songwriters from the world of Christian music for a week of writing. Out of it came 22 songs, but something much more; a sense that there might be something in this – that compassion and art might just be a relationship worth investing in.

You can support Compassionart by shopping online or donating. Or why not take a leag from their book and create music, or any other kind of art, that supports and promotes a cause that you are passionate about! The four main causes supported by Compassionart are:

·      Joyce Meyer’s Hand of Hope

·      Ray of Hope

·      Watoto

·      Stop the Traffik

Please support this cause, or take inspiration on how to support another!

Blessings!

Ronell x

“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all you lands.” {Psalm 100v1}

Joyce Meyer’s Hand of Hope

Today I am posting about Joyce Meyer’s Hand of Hope ministry, which is a Christian ministry that is sharing the love of Christ through practical assistance in 54 countries.

Hand of Hope World Missions exists to help people grow in their faith through media outreaches globally, but they also work to alleviate human suffering and to help the most marginalized and hurting people in the world. To see the kind of work that they get involved with and how your support is meeting needs in some of the most desperate situations, go to the following pages:

·      Feeding & Water

·      Disaster Relief

·      Medical & Dental

·      Human Trafficking

·      Inner City Outreach

So support The Hand of Hope (part of Joyce Meyer Ministries) by becoming a partner, or making a one off donation.

For daily encouragement, read Joyce’s Daily Devotional.

Blessings!

Ronell x

“Grace is God’s power coming to us free of charge to help us do with ease what we could never accomplish on our own.” {Joyce Meyer}