A few months ago when I went to Orlando, not having a clue what I would run into, I met the president of an organization called Shared Hope International. Meeting this lady was a really cool experience and God-thing for me because I first became interested in fighting against human trafficking when a friend told me about this particular organization. He told me a little about their organization and one of their success stories of rescuing a victim.
So me coming into contact with this lady (and sitting at her table) was a milestone for me. Please pray for them as they continue fighting for these girls. Here is a link to a book the organization released concerning minor sex trafficking: http://www.sharedhope.org/Portals/0/Documents/SHI_National_Report_on_DMST_2009.pdf
On December 1, they will release the Protected Innocence Initiative, which is a, "comprehensive legislative response to child sex trafficking in America." It will be a sort of report for all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C. concerning their efforts to end trafficking. It also reveal the laws, if any, which states have in effect concerning traffickers and their victims.
Oct 26, 2011
Oct 22, 2011
Heaven Come My Way
14 hours later, 3 traffic jams, 1 dead GPS (it died a hour and a half after I left, but lucky my resourcefulness and McDonald's wifi got me to my destination), 1 damaged cigarette lighter, and 1 time zone change, I made it to Largo, FL, yesterday. ---apparently something doesn't want me here??
The church I am helping at has a service on Friday night, so I went to it. There were around 125 in attendance with multiple services going on (big church, Hispanic church, kid's service). Every single person on campus was happy and life was radiating out of each. I was and still puzzled by this occurrence, for I can count on one hand the church services I have been to in which this occurrence has happened (and my hometown leads the nation per capita with the most churches in the nation).
Anyway, in the past few weeks, my team has helped to rescue 50 victims from the trafficking industry. Pretty awesome, and pretty excited to join in with them!
Prayers are appreciated!
The church I am helping at has a service on Friday night, so I went to it. There were around 125 in attendance with multiple services going on (big church, Hispanic church, kid's service). Every single person on campus was happy and life was radiating out of each. I was and still puzzled by this occurrence, for I can count on one hand the church services I have been to in which this occurrence has happened (and my hometown leads the nation per capita with the most churches in the nation).
Anyway, in the past few weeks, my team has helped to rescue 50 victims from the trafficking industry. Pretty awesome, and pretty excited to join in with them!
Prayers are appreciated!
Oct 18, 2011
Chapter One, page 1
This dream started in the summer of 2010. I wasn't sure what I was looking for, I just knew it was something God ordained and that I was not going to settle for less.
Last summer, I began attending Refuge Church of Laurel, MS. While there, I was the Small Group pastor. The senior pastor (this is your SHOUT OUT) and I would discuss how and where the group was going (we were hoping for more but for whatever reason, only one stuck). Through these talks we became much better friends, and today I consider him to be one of my spiritual mentors. So for much of the past year, he has helped me discern this dream as well as help me with other struggles. It was only fitting that when I received the call a few days ago to begin this dream, I was with him.
Now for the In Between story:
On July 4, 2011, I went with the leadership team of Agape Church to Pearl, MS, to see the MS Braves play ball. Wasn't much of a game at all (the other team forgot to show up, Braves won 10-0), so a friend and I began to talk about life. He mentioned an anti-human trafficking agency that is located in Washington, D.C. and went into a few details about how they work. I thought that was so awesome, but it did not affect me at all so I tucked it away in the back of my mind and forgot about it.
Weeks later, for whatever reason(s) I lost my job. Another close friend of mine suggested that I write down different careers that interest me and that when we met again, we would go over them (still waiting to talk about them all with you!). When I had written down 6 different options, I sat back and considered them and what it would take to achieve them. BORING!!! These options looked nice and shiny, but I knew that one day they would begin to rust. Then, when I was brought back to the place of failure, I remembered the story my friend had mentioned to me at the Braves game.
Right then, this dream was manifested to me: Go rescue victims of human trafficking. AWESOME!!!
So my journey began.
I randomly went to Florida one week not having any direction where to go. I stayed with friends in Cocoa Beach. Went to Orlando on Tuesday of that week hoping to run into someone or something. A friend and I were driving along and off in the distance I saw this billboard glowing radiantly with arrows pointing to it saying "Jacob, this is for you." Not really. But the billboard did advertise a conference on human trafficking that was going on the three days that we would be in Florida. A coincidence?? I think not. But you know what I did? I ignored it. (Only I would go to God knows where and see the perfect sign and ignore it) But God being who He is and knowing what He knows, knew I would ignore it so He put another advertising the conference 10 minutes down the road. I still wasn't convinced. I thought, "Let's go to it and see what happens, but it probably sold out." We went. What was supposed to cost us $230 only cost us $100. How does this happen?
At that conference were many people from all over the country, whom were very passionate about obliterating the human trafficking industry. I learned soooo much. In fact, within the first few hours of the conference, my head was hurting with everything I learned.
While there, I got connected with a ministry that helps out victims of trafficking, homelessness, addiction, etc. Within the next few days, I will be moving to Florida to continue my journey fighting injustice. I hope that one day many of you will be able to join me in the fight. In the mean time, however, I pray you start your own journey. Wherever you are, stop injustice, bring life back to dead cities, help the helpless, etc. I hope and pray you get involved doing something, somewhere.
Last summer, I began attending Refuge Church of Laurel, MS. While there, I was the Small Group pastor. The senior pastor (this is your SHOUT OUT) and I would discuss how and where the group was going (we were hoping for more but for whatever reason, only one stuck). Through these talks we became much better friends, and today I consider him to be one of my spiritual mentors. So for much of the past year, he has helped me discern this dream as well as help me with other struggles. It was only fitting that when I received the call a few days ago to begin this dream, I was with him.
Now for the In Between story:
On July 4, 2011, I went with the leadership team of Agape Church to Pearl, MS, to see the MS Braves play ball. Wasn't much of a game at all (the other team forgot to show up, Braves won 10-0), so a friend and I began to talk about life. He mentioned an anti-human trafficking agency that is located in Washington, D.C. and went into a few details about how they work. I thought that was so awesome, but it did not affect me at all so I tucked it away in the back of my mind and forgot about it.
Weeks later, for whatever reason(s) I lost my job. Another close friend of mine suggested that I write down different careers that interest me and that when we met again, we would go over them (still waiting to talk about them all with you!). When I had written down 6 different options, I sat back and considered them and what it would take to achieve them. BORING!!! These options looked nice and shiny, but I knew that one day they would begin to rust. Then, when I was brought back to the place of failure, I remembered the story my friend had mentioned to me at the Braves game.
Right then, this dream was manifested to me: Go rescue victims of human trafficking. AWESOME!!!
So my journey began.
I randomly went to Florida one week not having any direction where to go. I stayed with friends in Cocoa Beach. Went to Orlando on Tuesday of that week hoping to run into someone or something. A friend and I were driving along and off in the distance I saw this billboard glowing radiantly with arrows pointing to it saying "Jacob, this is for you." Not really. But the billboard did advertise a conference on human trafficking that was going on the three days that we would be in Florida. A coincidence?? I think not. But you know what I did? I ignored it. (Only I would go to God knows where and see the perfect sign and ignore it) But God being who He is and knowing what He knows, knew I would ignore it so He put another advertising the conference 10 minutes down the road. I still wasn't convinced. I thought, "Let's go to it and see what happens, but it probably sold out." We went. What was supposed to cost us $230 only cost us $100. How does this happen?
At that conference were many people from all over the country, whom were very passionate about obliterating the human trafficking industry. I learned soooo much. In fact, within the first few hours of the conference, my head was hurting with everything I learned.
While there, I got connected with a ministry that helps out victims of trafficking, homelessness, addiction, etc. Within the next few days, I will be moving to Florida to continue my journey fighting injustice. I hope that one day many of you will be able to join me in the fight. In the mean time, however, I pray you start your own journey. Wherever you are, stop injustice, bring life back to dead cities, help the helpless, etc. I hope and pray you get involved doing something, somewhere.
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