Thursday, May 1, 2014

SOBO Project

A year ago, I had a very young baby who slept like a champ. One night, however, he was inconsolable and I took him into the living room to watch TV so that his daddy could get some sleep for work the next day.
Flipping mindlessly through the channels, I came across a random news story about human trafficking in Quincy, Massachusetts. My heart was overwhelmed with grief as I listened to the stories and statistics of what was happening right in my own backyard. I spent hours that night after Jonah had finally fallen asleep searching news stories, blogs, statistics, and anything I could get my hands on - overcome with interest, sorrow, and a feeling of "SOMETHING MUST BE DONE!".
The next morning, on very little sleep, I decided to Google "Fighting human trafficking in Quincy Massachusetts". For some strange, Godly reason, a familiar name came up as the very first link : Kristina Kaiser - pastor from the River Church. Just a few weeks prior, their church had attended our church's Good Friday Healing Service and also held their Baptism ceremonies in our sanctuary. I read a blog post, I believe, (or perhaps listened to a sermon - now I can't remember) about how she, too, had learned about the problem in our city and was searching for ways to become involved.
I contacted her that morning, asking if we could get together to discuss. I was representing Glad Tidings Church, with permission from my pastor, as the Outreach Coordinator - and I truly felt God was pulling us in this direction.

A few days later, I sat in her kitchen - and neither of us really had any clue where we should go with this. We agreed on all points; this was a very real issue, we needed to help, and God was calling us. So we decided to start small, and planned a book reading club during the summer months of the International Justice System's "The Just Church".

The 'small group' went well, and by the end of the summer we had established a fairly solid "Justice Task Force" - a group of dedicated people, responding to God's call. We held a food drive at the local Stop N Shop for a Boston-based rescue home for trafficked women, called Amirah House (Who, by the way, spoke at my home church the week after my initial meeting with Kristina - talk about a confirmation from the Lord!), and split ourselves up into a few groups - One group leading fundraising, one group creating a smartphone app, one group focusing on the possibility of opening our own safe shelter, and one group - the one closest to my heart - focused on reaching out to the youth of Quincy; educating and equipping our children before trafficking becomes a reality in their lives.

Today, a year from the strange night I first learned about this issue, we are 3 days away from launching our very first Community Youth Program with the SOBO (See the One. Be the One) Project, as we've come to call ourselves. We are now officially a Not-For-Profit Organizaton (NGO). 

For four Sundays in May and June, we will provide Free Professionalism training through a Workshop taught by one of our very talented and experienced SOBO members, Kimberly Meyer. A former intern for the POTUS, Kimberly has an AWESOME curriculum put together and I am BEYOND excited about what God is doing through her! We have this great opportunity to equip the young people of Quincy with the information and knowledge needed to be successful and active professionals in the community, providing them with the resources they need to provide for themselves - keeping them out of the "at risk" zone for trafficking - and equipping them to go out into the world and make a difference.
HOW.GREAT.IS.THAT?!?

I will, of course, keep the blog updated as the SOBO Project grows. I undoubtedly believe that, as long as we stay open to responding to His call, the Lord is using us - and will continue to use us - to bring Freedom to those in Bondage. 

ISAIAH 61:1-3
"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."…

This was the purpose of Christ's life, death, and resurrection - And the calling of all of His chosen people.
Will We Answer His Call???