IJM // Kids fighting against Slavery!

For those of us (myself included) who think they have nothing of real value to offer in the fight against modern day slavery, watch this: http://bit.ly/17p9LJL! Kayleigh and Hannah (two little girls from America) are taking initiative by using what they have and starting where they are to fight against modern day slavery! What a challenge to us all!!! 

So... what will you do to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves? How will you raise money and awareness and fight to free over 27 million people that are trapped in modern day slavery? It can be as simple as going door to door and spreading the word/asking for change (like Hannah), or setting up a regular lemonade stand (like Kayleigh). 

What can/will you do?

Blessings!

Ronell x

{photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/UN.GIFTVienna?hc_location=stream}

International Justice Mission Prayer Update

I received the following prayer update from the http://www.ijm.org/ (US branch / UK branch), so my post today is a prayer request of IJM’s behalf. Please take the time to pray for/into the situations mentioned below:

Africa: Praise God that several cases of sexual violence against children ended last month, with several perpetrators convicted of sexual assault in Rwanda. Pray for these girls and boys and their families as they heal from the abuse and pray for the IJM social workers who are walking beside them. Though their road to recovery will be long, we thank God that this act of justice is now an important milestone in the lives of our clients.

Latin America: In Bolivia, Brianna’s* mother is suffering from serious health problems. (Brianna was previously raped by her landlord’s brother and gave birth to a daughter as a result. IJM has walked with her family for the past several years). Pray for wisdom and healing for Brianna’s mother, as the appropriate surgery may be quite risky. Please also pray for Brianna, who already carries a heavy load caring for her daughter, working and going to school.

Praise God for the fourteen churches in La Paz and El Alto, Bolivia, who are ‘doing justice’. Pray that God would continue to work within these churches to build the movement for justice against child sexual violence in Bolivia and that in this coming year new churches would grow a passion for justice.

South Asia: Pray as IJM searches for Chaitra*, a young girl who was trafficked for sex. Last year, the police called IJM for help with a rescue operation, but the place where she was believed to be trapped was empty upon arrival. IJM has been searching for Chaitra ever since. Please ask God to show us where Chaitra is hidden, so we can help bring her out of darkness and into light.

Praise God for a massive rescue operation last week in South Asia: 149 were rescued from a life of slavery in an abusive brick factory! Ask God to grant each person peace and renewal of spirit and body as they begin new lives in freedom. (Read more about this rescue operation).

Southeast Asia: Pray for a breakthrough in Thailand, where IJM is advocating for hundreds of people who qualify for legal status as Thai citizens. Without citizenship, stateless people are extremely vulnerable to violence and exploitation like trafficking. In a single district in Northern Thailand, IJM is advocating for 800 citizenship applications that were filed last year. Ask God to give IJM favour with the government officials who are in charge of processing these applications. And ask God to protect the 800 people who are waiting for their citizenship rights.

HQ and Partner Offices: Pray for IJM Canada as they launch a campaign aimed to petition the Canadian government to include a focus on apprehending and prosecuting Canadian traffickers and child sex tourists living abroad in the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking.

Pray for the IJM staff speaking at the Freedom Summit on 25^th – 26^th January 2013, as they teach how to take practical action on behalf of those in modern-day slavery. Pray that the participants would be encouraged and equipped to promote justice for the oppressed.

Blessings!

Ronell x

“ ‘Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord.” {Jeremiah 1:8}

International Justice Mission: Seek Justice

Tonight we had a guest speaker for Life Skills (re:think) at re:generation church. Maggie is originally from Atlanta, Georgia and is currently working with an organisation called International Justice Mission at their UK partner office.

International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to secure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to prosecute perpetrators and to ensure that public justice systems - police, courts and laws - effectively protect the poor. 

IJM's justice professionals work in their communities in 16 field offices in Asia, Africa and Latin America to secure tangible and sustainable protection of national laws through local court systems.

IJM investigators, lawyers and social workers intervene in individual cases of abuse in partnership with state and local authorities to ensure proper support for the victim and appropriate action against the perpetrator. Such collaboration is essential to obtain convictions against individual perpetrators and to bring meaning to local laws that are meaningless if not enforced. Find out more about the work of IJM.

In the tradition of heroic Christian leaders like abolitionist William Wilberforce and transformational leaders like Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King, Jr., IJM's staff stand against violent oppression in response to the Bible's call to justice (Isaiah 1:17): Seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

IJM seeks to restore to victims of oppression the things that God intends for them: their lives, their liberty, their dignity, the fruits of their labor. By defending and protecting individual human rights, IJM seeks to engender hope and transformation for those it serves and restore a witness of courage in places of oppressive violence. IJM helps victims of oppression regardless of their religion, ethnicity, or gender.

There are currently more than 27 million slaves in the world (including the UK) and 40-50% of that number is represented by children under the age of 18!! Worldwide trafficking is worth and estimated $32billion (roughly £20 billion)! IJM is an organisation which is not only working on the ground, but is also fighting to change legislation to prevent injustice.

You can donate financially  (UK / US) to the work of IJM, or you can get involved (UK / US) in other ways (e.g. volunteering).

Blessings!

Ronell x

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” {Micah 6v8}