Nothing Like A Team!

The FBI turns to us to meet the needs of rescued

TEAM Work

victims in the Nashville area; usually immediate, urgent assistance to help get and keep  these survivors out of danger.

By supplying various items and funding, for example a cell phone for the victim to use, airfare to a shelter, or even fresh clothing and toiletries, we are partnering with the FBI in a unique way. Each time I put out a request to people like you, within hours we have what is needed.

It's wonderful to be able to demonstrate to these survivors that people care about them deeply. It's satisfying to hear things like this from our FBI contact: "You are AMAZING.  Thank you so, so much!  I, the agents, and most certainly the victim truly appreciate it!" It's good to know that when help is requested, I can turn to an amazing team who will respond quickly and generously.

Please consider donating regularly or holding fund-raisers, large or small, to keep the emergency fund for victims replenished. We never want a victim to feel alone, to be endangered or to miss a chance for a new life, because we are not ready to help. Remember, all donations are tax deductible and our website is a secure place to donate on-line.

Soroptimist Ruby Award 

A Great Honor!

When I started pouring my life into this cause, it never occurred to me that there would be some sort of award in it, so it was a lovely surprise to be selected as recipient of the local Soroptimist International Ruby Award honoring "ordinary women who have worked in extraordinary ways to benefit women and girls."

This isn't really "my" award though; it belongs to all of us. Someone once said, "If you think you're a leader and no one is following, you're just taking a walk." Without you, actively engaged in your own way, we wouldn't be accomplishing anything award-worthy. So thank-you and congratulations to us all!

A Trip to the Windy City

I recently returned from Elgin, a Chicago suburb and headquarters of ITeams US. I just barely escaped a historic blizzard, but not the bitter cold temperatures this winter has given us! Thankfully the warmth of the people made the trip well worthwhile.

ITeams missionaries  winter 2011

First I had the privilege of teaching outgoing missionaries about human trafficking and slavery.  It was such a joy to interact with these twenty interesting, passionate people before they travel to all parts of the globe. Equally satisfying is to know they are now prepared to recognize and help victims, who they will almost certainly encounter as they and their teammates work with oppressed people.

I also led a workshop at Elgin Vineyard on how to promote

Elgin Vineyard

the issue of human trafficking and exploitation locally. It was great to meet a local policeman committed to involving churches in caring for victims, prayer warriors who are lifting up our work with intercession, and many others who are ready, willing and able to create slave free-communities in this Chicago suburb.

As we work here in Tennessee, we also have the privilege of energizing and equipping people around the nation and the world to end slavery!

Why a Brazil Team? 

We're recruiting for an Anti-Slavery team in Belo-Horizonte, Brazil, and a foundation laying trip is underway right now. ITeam's worker Ina Sobolweski gives a glimpse into why we're heading there.

Sign by beach: Sex with minors is illegal

Ina's sister, who lives in Belo Horizonte, reported that a 14 year old sold her 8 year old cousin to her 'boyfriend' who in turn sold the child to a pedophile.

"He left the girl alone in his office and the child called the police. The police tracked the phone number and found her. She was in an office built on top of a bar, right in the part of town where we were raised," says Ina. "It used to be the quietest place to live and we used to play on the streets without any adult supervision; now they have a sex trafficking headquarters there."

"Also, not far from Belo Horizonte there are many dairy farms where people work as slaves. The owners promise workers pay and then they charge for every meal they eat, for this and that, and they never get paid. There are kids as young as 5 years old working on these farms as slaves," she continues. "You will be very busy in Brazil."

ACTION POINT: If you think you may be called to join the team in Brazil, please fill out a 5 minute interview  

Small World 

Let me introduce you to two of my favorite people. Mathilde Campanjen is a Dutch woman living in Amsterdam. We first met in Turkey.  She's ITeams Regional Leader in Europe, and a precious woman with a big heart for victims of trafficking/slavery. 

Mathilde and Bria

Bria Blessing was a volunteer with End Slavery Tennessee who, after learning about the issue here, returned to the Ukraine, where she grew up, to fight trafficking/slavery there.

Both women recently attended a conference on trafficking and prostitution in Moldova, where they met each other (Mathilde says she loved Bria immediately) and sent me this photo of the two of them together. How cool is THAT?

Calling All Creative Types:

Are you skilled in art, drama, technology, comics, film, writing, dance, food creation, music, photography or game design? Here's an idea for matching your talents with your passion to end slavery! Do something you love, raise funds for End Slavery, and let a new audience see you shine too! 

Check out this unique all-or-nothing funding method where projects must be fully-funded or no money changes hands. Come up with your creative project - get it funded-then donate some or all the proceeds to end the sale of people in Tennessee... and beyond. What's not to like about that?

REMINDER: ESTN has been given a $15,000 challenge grant. If we match the funds, we can do a LOT to prevent trafficking of young people through our teen focused website (in development)  presentations to youth venues and church 'action pack' projects. If we don't - we lose the money and the opportunities.

If you would love to participate (as my pastor often says "No grumpy giving!") we invite you to do so here. For local donations, be sure to designate it for "End Slavery Tennessee"  or designate "Anti-Slavery Ministries" for national and global work.