Through my good friends at The You Are Project, I was introduced to Kelly Master and her anti-trafficking organization, Dining for Dignity. Kelly’s boldness, tenacity, passion, and commitment to women inspires me and challenges me every time I think of her or listen to her speak. I asked Kelly to share some of her story and the birth of Dining for Dignity with us today and I hope she is as much of a blessing to you as she is to me.
From their website: “Dining for Dignity (DfD) is a non-profit organization that utilizes social media and public forums to expose the reality of sex trafficking. Understanding the complexity of trafficking, DfD is linking arms with government agencies, local leaders and the public to influence change. Our goal is to educate communities through discussion, awareness and prevention.”
Think you’re not qualified to truly make a difference?
Think again!
During a season of great frustration and stress, I longed to make a greater impact on my world. Learning to be content in this season, understanding that doors would open in due time became key in my peace. One day while doing my laundry a “God idea” dropped in my heart. Start a monthly breakfast and call it Dining for Dignity. Immediately I sensed we would gather to dine and highlight ministries that restored dignity to women and children’s lives. So I gave it a go. Little did I know what God had in store for me.
The Discovery
Stumbling upon human trafficking stories on the internet seized my heart! I was undone at the reality that millions of women and children were being sold for sex across the globe. Consumed with this discovery, I read every story I could find and watched every video clip available. Conscious that children five years old were being sold for sex in undercover footage from Cambodia rocked my world. Viewing pictures and reading true stories of the red light district in India and Thailand pierced my heart. Fully understanding that my life as I knew it would never be the same, I began raising my voice and sounding the clarion call. I became a woman on a mission! These monthly meetings quickly turned the corner. No longer was I simply highlighting other ministries, but now, I was going full force to raise awareness about human trafficking.
Team Effort
Trafficking is a beast! There is not one simple solution to bring down this giant. Realizing a team effort would be our best defense; we linked arms with government officials, media, community leaders, churches and other trafficking advocates. In addition to our monthly meetings, I began to speak at Universities, churches, Q&A panels, and special events. Our sphere of influence continues to grow as abolitionists are joining the ranks.
Exotic Evangelism
In addition to sex trafficking advocacy, our team expanded to outreach the adult industry. Each month I lead a group of women into strip clubs across South Jersey and Philadelphia sharing the unconditional love of Christ. Our motive is purely to encourage, love and inspire these young ladies lives with the reality that they are valued and purposed. Christ called us to shine our lights and we have discovered that our lights shine brightest in the darkest. Our witness of love is building bridges into a community that has typically been shunned by the church. Jesus truly loves strippers, porn stars, you and me. How will they know unless we tell them? How can we tell them unless we go?
Father: I pray that each person that reads these words will be encouraged in walking out Your word. I ask that Your precious Holy Spirit lead, guide and direct us. More than that, I ask that every excuse be wiped away and a fresh tenacity to love would light our paths. In your precious name I pray.
Has Kelly’s story encouraged or challenged you in some way? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
At the moment that I’m writing this post (Sunday evening, June 30, 2013 to be exact) I am on a United Airline Express flight from Cleveland to Charlotte. All I can see out the window to my left is the white of a bank of clouds. But inside the plane is a ray of light that I wish I could experience on every flight I take. Her name is Debbie. She is the stewardess, and without exaggeration, the best flight attendant I have met in my 17 years of flying experiences.
Why does Debbie stand out among the crowd of men and women who have served on other flights I have been on before?
It could be that she gave me an entire can of Diet Coke instead of the four sips in a cup of ice that I am usually handed on a flight, (anyone that knows me knows that this is a significant gesture, skyrocketing a person to the top of my favorites list) but one other stewardess has graced me in this way, so that isn’t it. She also wrapped the can with a napkin, which was a lovely touch, but not worthy of the top flight attendant award either. She complimented my sweater (bonus points boost), but again, not what put Debbie over the top in my mind.
To be honest, it wasn’t any one thing. It was everything she did. Upon boarding, she enthusiastically greeted every passenger on the plane with Sound of Music quality cheer and a smile that went from her chin to her eyes. She engaged in conversation with the kids on the flight. She chatted with each person as she served them drinks. When we hit a patch of turbulence, her reassuring “Whew! That was fun! Wasn’t it?” made you feel less like you might plummet from the sky to your death and more like you were on a ride at Disney. She was happy and spunky and obviously loved her job.
Just to be sure, I asked her. Yup, she loves her job. She loves her customers. Her least favorite thing was when she was forced to play the bad guy and enforce the rules, but hey…who wants to do that?
I’ve met average flight attendants from a variety of airlines that did their job professionally and I appreciated them. I’ve met flight attendants from a variety of airlines that were snappy and grouchy and appeared to be having a really bad, no good day. I can understand that. Being in charge of a flying hunk of metal filled with tired, frustrated adults and the occasional screaming toddler takes a special sort of person. But it takes a saint to do it with a smile and a happy heart.
Debbie’s attitude set the tone for everyone on that two hour flight. When she told a passenger near me that “I have the best customers! I just love them!”I believed her. And I felt a little special because I was one of them.
We all have the opportunity every day to be a Debbie to someone.
If it’s your job to man the drive-thru window at McDonalds, be the CFO of a major corporation or break the tension at 30,000 feet…you can choose to kick average under the bed in the morning and be awesome. So can I. And we should…because the world needs more Debbie’s.
Have you ever wondered what made Paul the man that he was? How could he set aside the guilt from his past and go on to rock the world for Jesus? How could he stand before kings and share the gospel without fear? How could he remain joyful despite being literally shackled in the harshest of circumstances? I think he shares the secret with us in the book of Ephesians.
I have been especially enamored with Ephesians the last week or so. One of the passages that amazes me is almost a PS of sorts. It’s at the very end of the book where Paul is wrapping up his letter to the church and says, “Oh by the way…pray for me.” That’s a pretty normal request. But what isn’t normal is what he asks prayer for. He doesn’t say, pray that I can get out of these chains. Pray that the rulers will understand that I’m innocent. Pray that I can get a good night’s sleep in these uncomfortable conditions. Paul doesn’t say any of that. Paul asks for prayer, “that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.”
This seems ludicrous to me. If I were to request prayer for boldness, that totally makes sense. I’m a big chicken. But this is Paul—Master Missionary, Preacher of the Gospel, Apostle to the Gentiles. This guy wrote half of the New Testament and he’s asking his friends to pray for him to be bold? Why would Paul feel weak in such an area? The answer is in the preceding verses.
Ephesians 6:10-20
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and takethe helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
There is so much darkness in this world. So much pain. So much evil. But every physical manifestation is a fruit of the unseen spiritual force that is running the show.
We have to stand up to the darkness. We must use our voices to speak for the unborn, the abused, the impoverished. We each have God-given passions on behalf of those in need. But what we need to realize is that we aren’t just fighting against violence, trafficking, abortion, and poverty. We are fighting against the forces of evil. And we can’t do it alone. Even Jesus and Paul needed prayer. They didn’t attempt to do God’s will in their own strength and neither should we. We need to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might,” and the only way to do that is through prayer.
God places us in unique positions (like prison in Paul’s case) to reach those around us with the gospel and thereby spread light that can defeat the darkness. So yes, raise your voice in the area God has called you to. But do so in the power of the Holy Spirit, motivated by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Hand out food and necessities to the poor. Drill wells of fresh water where there is none. Reach out to frightened young mothers. But keep the main thing the main thing.
Pray for boldness. Pray for wisdom. Pray for discernment. Pray for opportunities. Pray, pray, pray for yourself and for others in the fight. AND THEN jump in the fight and share God’s love—the only thing that can provide true healing and make a lasting difference in this world.
What do you think of when you hear the word “counterculture?” For many, hippies spring to mind. For Christians, Jesus is the ultimate example.
In a day when pharisaical hypocrisy was the norm, Jesus was authentic and honest. When culture looked at women and children as property, Jesus welcomed women into his inner circle and encouraged children to come to him without fear. Whey political authorities threatened to end His life if he didn’t end His ministry, Jesus humbly declined (and even disappeared on one occasion) and continued to do that which His Father had called Him to do.
In order to make a difference, we must be different.
There are numerous examples of this concept playing out in Scripture. Joseph was taken from his homeland and forced into slavery in Egypt where promiscuity was a way of life. And yet, when confronted with an opportunity to sleep with the most powerful women in the known world at the time, Joseph declined. Esther tried to stay incognito for a while, but when the time came to do the right thing, Esther buckled her shaking knees and stood up for the sake of her nation. Daniel was taken captive and groomed to become one of Babylon’s leading men, but instead of choosing to go along with the program, Daniel chose a daily reminder of his heritage by politely asking permission to not violate his convictions and eat the king’s meat.
None of these role-models held up giant signs damning their captors to hell. None of them threw a “righteous anger” tempter tantrum. (Except for Jesus cleansing the temple, but seriously…He was the Son of God. You don’t mess with His house and get away with it.) In each case they were respectful, gracious and humble, but they stood their ground. They did the right thing. And the world took notice.
How is Jesus calling you to be different in your culture? Does he want you to volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center? Mentor kids at the local YMCA? Take a training class for an anti-trafficking cause? Smile and speak kindly to the Starbucks barista? Take cookies to your grouchy neighbor that likes to throw trash in your yard?
Every day we are faced with a multitude of choices. We can choose to blend in with the crowd, or we can choose to be a counterculture Christian. Which will you choose today?
In this video I attempt to communicate my vision for the women in the city of Charlotte. I say “attempt” because my faltering words come so far short of the vision in my heart. The needs in this city are great, as they are in every city. But Charlotte isn’t just any city. It’s the city where God has lead me to do a work for His glory. It’s a city where every time I look around I see hurting women in as many difficult and heartbreaking situations as there are individuals.
But that isn’t all that I can see in this city.
As I consider God’s grace overflowing in this place, I can see healing coming to the woman who has only known abuse. I can see wholeness in the one whose life has been torn apart by sin. I can see redemption for every woman crying herself to sleep tonight. I can see restoration for every teen girl being forced to stay awake to work the streets.
I know that there is hope for these women. I know that Jesus came to give His life to bring them into relationship with Him.
I know this…but they don’t.
My vision is for every single one of these women to hear the life-changing truth that Jesus loves them and has a plan for their future. (Jeremiah 29:11) Will you help me pray that my own shortcomings will not impede the message of God’s grace for this city? Will you pray that I will find away around time constraints and financial needs to do the work that needs to be done? Will you pray that I would have boldness and that I would recognize opportunities God brings across my path?
I can’t do this alone or even as part of Citylight’s team. We need you to stand with us in prayer. The vision is great. As Christ said, the fields are white unto harvest. (John 4:35) Will you be a part of reaching Charlotte for Him?
Today is the official launch of the End It Movement. A coalition of seven anti-slavery organizations have joined forces to spread the message that not only does slavery still exist in our modern world, but that there are more slaves now than at any time in human history.
Shine a Light on Slavery
The mission of the End It Movement is simple.
We want every man, woman and child to know that there are 27 million men, women and children, just like them, living in the shadows. In brothels. In factories. In quarries. Working as slaves. In 161 countries. Including our own. We are here to shine a light on slavery. No more bondage. No more sex trafficking. No more child laborers. No more, starting now.
Approximately 27 million people are enslaved worldwide, many of them in the United States. Eighty percent of them women. Many, many of them children. For an average of $90 per person, a slave can be purchased and put to work where ever their owner deems fit, making them part of a $32 billion dollar industry.
This has to stop NOW.
One of the passages that I consider to be part of my personal calling and manifesto for my life is Isaiah 61: 1-4.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.
This prophecy foretelling the coming of Christ and His mission says that He came to “proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.” How can we as His ambassadors do anything less? We must make freedom a top priority in our lives. Freedom from physical captivity as well as spiritual captivity.
I understand that this is a difficult thing to grasp—men, women and children being forced to do unspeakable things for the profit of another. It’s evil and ugly and we would much prefer to turn our heads and look away. But I beg you to think for just a moment…what if it was your child? What if it was your daughter kidnapped off the streets and forced to live and work in a brothel? What if it was your brother forced to work eighteen and twenty hour days in the sun doing back-breaking labor with no pay and very little food or water? What if it was you? Would you want someone to fight for you? Pray for you? Rescue you?
Indifference is not an option. I encourage you to go to EndItMovement.com. Learn the facts. Find out how you can help. Take the pledge to become part of the movement to end modern day slavery in this generation.
We can make a difference. Together we can ” repair the devastations of many generations.” I’m in it to END IT. Will you join me? Click here to sign the pledge.
