I didn’t intend to read it in just two sittings. I wasn’t expecting it to bring tears to my eyes. But it did. In fact, The White Umbrella by Mary Frances Bowley continues to rattle around in my heart and mind, echoing the voices of the young women captured within its pages.
walking through the storm alone
The White Umbrella: Walking with Survivors of Sex Trafficking was written by the founder of Wellspring Living in Atlanta, Georgia. Wellspring Living began in the hearts of a small group of women who wanted to minister to the needs of the young girls in their community. As they prayed over their burden and reached out to those in need, they discovered that each girl had experienced sexual abuse at some point in their past. Realizing that God was doing something special they determined to do everything in their God-given power to rescue, restore and renew each of the lives that crossed their paths. God has blessed their ministry and has grown it into a multi-faceted program for both women and girls who have been sexually exploited. This book shares the stories of these girls, their process of recovery, how God has worked in the lives of their caregivers, and the ways that the readers can make a difference in the lives of victims everywhere.
The powerful symbol of the white umbrella is explained best by the words of the author:
An umbrella is a common item, usually left forgotten in the back of a closet until needed. But when nature delivers a downpour or hailstorm, an umbrella makes a difference—a buffer that protects us from the harsh elements falling from the sky. An umbrella often does something else as well—it brings those who suffer together. When you share one with someone, you have to stand close, side by side…
To me, a white umbrella is the perfect symbol. The color white represents purity—the purity these girls stll possess and the motivation we have, without any agenda, to help them recover it. Our volunteers respect these young ladies as people. They look beneath the surface to glimpse the person God created them to be. Part of our call is portraying their innocence and worth to others who might not believe in them.
The umbrella represents protection against the storms and our willingness to stand with these girls shoulder to shoulder. Girls who have been trafficked live in a whirlwind of chaos and crisis. Like a tornado, you can’t understand it unless you’re in it. Our courageous volunteers and staff hold an umbrella over these young women, providing cover and letting them know they’re not alone.
I want to be an umbrella holder.
As I read the stories of these young women and children, my heart broke again for the devestation left behind in the wake of selfish people that ravaged their bodies and warped their minds. But I also rejoiced in that through the storm, God brings hope. He placed into the heart of one women a burden—a desire to help hurting children—and He used her to reach out to a young women named Sara, changing both of their lives forever.
She didn’t know that one would turn into dozens and now hundreds of faces and names entrusted to her care. She could never have imagined that God would one day provide thousands of dollars for emergency shelters, recovery homes, education, clothing, food, therapy and so much more that would be poured into these hurting lives. She never dreamed that so many would find hope and healing through the power of the Holy Spirit and transforming work of Christ. She was just a mom and a kindergarten teacher that had been told that a local hair stylist was in need of help. She thought she’d recommend a book for her to read and that would be the end.
She didn’t know, but God did.
God knew that Sara and thousands like her needed an advocate, a loving shoulder to cry on, an umbrella holder. And only God knows how many other Sara’s are still struggling to survive the streets of Atlanta, Chicago, Charlotte, San Diego, Tucson, and your home town. Are you willing to do what it takes to shelter a soul from the storms of this world with the umbrella of God’s grace and hope?
Learn more about The White Umbrella Campaign at www.thewhiteumbrellacampaign.com. Profits from the sales of The White Umbrella will go directly to Wellspring Living to further its work in confronting the issue of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation through awareness, training, and treatment for girls and women. Purchase your copy here.
Photo credit: Kevin_Morris / Foter.com / CC BY-NC