Since we’ve been given the biblical mandate that we all belong to each other {Romans 12:5, NLT}, this fall at (in)courage we wanted to spend some deliberate time together unpacking what that means.
To focus on what it means to love my neighbor as myself.
To open our hearts for dialogue about what it might look like to walk around in someone else’s shoes.
So we’re hosting a conversation here every Wednesday for the next few weeks about what it looks like to do life in a way that reflects the timely truth that we actually are better together. Won’t you join us as we invite writers from our community to share what doing life Better Together has looked like in real time for them?
And then consider what living life — like we are better together — might look like for you too.
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When our pastors tell us to love our neighbors or we read the words of Jesus, we might conjure up notions of starving children in Uganda or Syrian refugees washing up on foreign soils. But the idea of neighbor can be as literal as the person you live next door to (who talks too loud and doesn’t take their trashcans inside).
Before we address the global scale issues, may we never forget our mission field is the first step outside of our front door.
Sure, some of us will be called to hold orphans, give water, and feed the hungry. But all of us are called to love our neighbors. And that? That is a war. There is a war for souls every single day and the cry of lost souls is, “freedom.” Whether held down from pain, loneliness, addiction, or debt, our soul’s cry is to be free.
But freedom is not only a desire on a cerebral level. Today there is a massive epidemic affecting every continent, every country, in every socio-economic structure. Currently around the globe there are over 27 million people enslaved, generating 32 billion dollars of revenue a year for the titans of industry who figured out how to buy stocks for beginners from their titan parents for generations. According to UNICEF, every 30 seconds someone is sucked into slavery.
The first time I heard about human trafficking I was overwhelmed. I began processing this with those around me and one particular friend honestly asked, “What can you do? This is impossible!”
It was something in the way she said it. Something triggered a thought deep down in the caverns of my soul that echoed back: Yes! It’s impossible! That’s why we must do something.
Don’t forget we serve the God of the IMPOSSIBLE. The God who caused the Red Sea to part is the same God who freed His children from slavery. The same God who caused manna to fall from heaven. And the same God who ushered his people into the Promise Land.
This is the same God who — in the New Testament — kept His promise for a Savior. The same God who empowered His son to heal the blind, the lame, the maim, and the dead. The same Savior who lived a sinless life and died a horrific death on a cross on Calvary and rose from a tomb three days later.
SisterFriend, we serve the God of the IMPOSSIBLE.
Do we as a people believe Hebrews 13:8?
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Do we believe that the God of Old Testament and the God of the New Testament is the God of today?
Then can we act like it?
In the face of 27 million slaves across the world, as we stand knee-deep in the darkness of despair, as the facts and statistics desensitize and dehumanize the names and faces of the enslaved, we don’t cower away because the problem seems impossible! We stand brazenly, boldly, and with unwavering belief as we speak out Luke 1:37.
“For nothing will be impossible with God.”
My dad asked me a profound question when I was entering graduate school: “Why would you want to waste your life doing something great for God?” I was taken aback by his question, especially because he started a church on the concrete jungle streets of East Los Angeles, California and raised all his five kids to love, honor, and serve God.
He went onto explain that there are good people who don’t pretend to know God and are doing great things. “But why would you want to do good things, when God invites you to do impossible things?!”
What is impossible in your life right now? What seems overwhelming and daunting? Now let me ask you what God you serve.
Yes, statistics show that only 1% of human trafficking victims are rescued.
Yes, the average age of entry into human trafficking in the United States is 11.
Yes, roughly 18,000-30,000 minors in this country are trafficked against their will.
BUT GOD!
But God is faithful. But God is good. But God is merciful. But God is still in the business of doing the IMPOSSIBLE.
In our short seven years of existence, A21 has seen some IMPOSSIBLE things happen. From convicting traffickers, to rescuing women, to freeing children, to empowering men from slavery, we have seen freedom move across the globe. Our 12 offices have been open doors to loving our neighbors and freeing those who are enslaved.
We can’t do everything, but we can all do something. Love your neighbor, fight for freedom. As Paul wrote in the Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”
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Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Bianca,
Yes, it’s hard to fathom that in this day and age there is human trafficking and that slavery still exists. Here in the US, I believe we are especially blinded to the fact. We don’t want to believe it. The organization I work with helps free children from the bonds of slavery as well. It is amazing how a heart can soar when it is set free…praying for you and the work that you are doing. Our God is ABLE…with Him nothing is impossible!
Blessings,
Bev
Penny says
Bev,
Thank-you for being a light in these children’s lives along with those working in the organization.
Bless you,
Penny
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Thanks Penny!!
xx
Keri Lynn Siegel says
I’ve been in my current residence for 5.5 years now; but before moving in, I was homeless for 5 years. Until I became homeless, I had no concept of what it meant to walk in someone else’s shoes, although I was arrogant enough to think I did. To me, “walking in someone else’s shoes” was just a mere expression people used. “You can’t understand a person’s pain until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes” and “You can’t judge someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” Guess what? It’s true. I live in the richest county in FL, a county that believes if you’re homeless you did something to put yourself in that situation. You’re either a washed up alcoholic, a burnt out drug addict, you’re too lazy to work, or you’re too mentally and/or physically disabled to work. THAT doesn’t match my experience. I came from an upper middle class family and I became homeless due unresolved family issues. I’m also epileptic; but until my dad passed, I was capable of working and actively seeking work. After he passed in Nov. 2008, my body crashed and it would take me 2- 3 years before I was medically cleared to return to work and school. I was also in school while I was homeless until my dad passed. After I was medically cleared to work again, I resumed my job search; but I’ve been unable to find employment. I am also back in school and doing well there. I had to go through that because prior to that, my perspective on homelessness was the same as my county’s. I’ve learned a lot and it began with being able to identify with them by uncovering my lifetime food addiction that I was unaware of because it had been undiagnosed. When I shared with those chemically addicted (which I have no experience with) how I handle food— emotional binge eating—, they explained to me that it works the same way. Then, I had something real to work through and I could identify with them, putting me in a position to demonstrate the love of Christ and minister to their needs instead of judging them. It took my losing everything. I wouldn’t wish what I went through on anyone; but at the same time, I wouldn’t change it because of what God did in me and through me, through that experience. Be blessed.
Penny says
Keri,
Thank-you so much for sharing your pain and triumph with us.
May you continue to be blessed,
Penny
Beth Williams says
Keri,
Prayers for you for good health! May God provide a good job for you and shower you with blessings beyond your dreams!! I pray you can feel His loving arms around you at all times!! Thank you for sharing your testimony here! You are an inspiration to me!
Father,
Help Keri with her medical, and financial issues. Shower her with blessings upon blessings!! Give her the strength to carry on each day and help her with the schooling and give her the job you want her to have!
AMEN!
(((((Hugs)))))
Penny says
Bianca,
Thank-you for your post and bringing us awareness. I am learning more and more of what goes on than I have ever realized. Thank-you, to you and the organization for being their light. You really define the meaning of, “love the neighbor.”My prayers are with you all.
Penny
JeanneTakenaka says
JUST before I clicked to read your post, God was reminding that our God makes the impossible possible. My “impossible” is on a much smaller, personal level. But, I’ve seen that as I (we) trust in Him, look to Him to do the impossible, he does indeed make it possible.
I love your passion and your truths in this post. We have to remember that in the travesties that seem too big for one person to come against, God is bigger. And he can show us what our part is in coming alongside Him in the work He’s doing.
Nancy Ruegg says
I felt tears prickle my eyes, reading those statistics, Bianca. With others I pray God multiplies your efforts, expands your reach, and supplies the needs of your organization. May those sad statistics miraculously and quickly change, to reflect God’s power, love, and grace working through you. Praise God for your passion and perseverance. P.S. I’m going to download your Prayer for Our Sisters of Sorrow and continue to lift you up.
Mary says
I learned about human trafficking several years ago and am part of a trucking industry that keeps our eyes out for situations where it may be occurring. I also support Night Lights International and share whenever I can information of how God is working thru them and others. Thanks for this post.
Lovelle says
Love this. If we truly try, we can make a difference. If the whole world got together and tried “a little” we could do a lot… 🙂
Beth Williams says
Bianca,
May God richly supply all the needs of A21 and help you rescue those men and women. Thank you for doing this work and obeying God!!
Thank you for this reminder “may we never forget our mission field is the first step outside of our front door.” Like you stated not everyone is called to go overseas, but each of us is called to love our neighbor. For me that looks like going to visit my aging dad 3X week and chatting with the other residents.
Blessings 🙂