End Slavery...In Murfreesboro! 

Danielle (lft), Susan (rt)

Danielle Adams and Susan Carter recently launched the new End Slavery volunteer group in Murfreesboro, at the GAP House of Prayer, inviting me to lead a two hour workshop as the kick-off event.  

The determination and hard work of this dynamic group is already paying off, with several scheduled presentations planned in the Murfreesboro community. They're also developing a lending library and holding prayer meetings.  

If you live in this area, they'd love to have you join the team, which will meet on the second Monday of each month.  Contact Danielle for information by clicking here.

Power of One

A few snippets of recent volunteer impact; one person can do a lot!   

· Karen Karpinski taught a group of about 120, including many counselors and Department of Children's professionals, so victims in the foster care system can be identified and helped.

· Bucky Elliott was a catalyst for getting the entire Spring Hill police department trained on human trafficking issues.

· Pax Wiemers championed for, and won, funds from his church for our matching grant to be used to prevent trafficking of our youth. The $5,000 will be doubled by the grant!

· Danielle Adams & Jamie Blurton inspired two new groups of abolitionists, already taking action in Hendersonville and Murfreesboro.  

 "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the life of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends a tiny ripple of hope, and those ripples, crossing each other from a million different centers of energy, build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."    Robert Kennedy   

College Corner

The Trevecca Nazarene University (TNU) student body gathered for a special chapel on human trafficking on March 21st, and I had the privilege of addressing 200+ students, along with a few others involved in the issue through legal representation and shelters.  

It's great to see the social justice department at TNU growing; they will even have a class on human trafficking starting this summer!   

I was so blessed to have my own personal encouragement team show up from Vol. State; Jamie Blurton, Elizabeth Duke, and Maggie Lewis.  And two Trevecca students now plan to start research and an End Slavery club on the TNU campus! 

Ironically, moments after I left the meeting, I observed a girl being sold to truck drivers, as her pimp tailed her at a discrete distance. I called the police and pray she is found and helped. The scene renewed my passion, reminding me why we do all that we do.  

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Sneak peek: We're in the process of developing a student volunteer group at Vanderbilt!

Seeing All Sides

I attended a meeting in Knoxville a couple of weeks ago. The room was filled with people from a diverse range of agencies, addressing the epidemic of human trafficking: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), FBI, local law enforcement, the legislature and judiciary, Dept. of Children's Services and non-profits. It was fascinating to see the different perspectives from this varied and experienced group. I learned a lot.

While we didn't see eye to eye on everything, we all agreed that human trafficking was epidemic in our state and all want to find ways to work together to create a slave free Tennessee. It was so good to see the genuine compassion of those in positions of influence, who regularly address pieces of the complex puzzle that is human trafficking/slavery.

One encouraging bit of news is that the TBI is compiling research on trafficking in our state, due to be released in the spring. Accurate information from this report will help all of us work more effectively.

A Glimpse at Global 

GREECE 

Emma Skjonsby has been with ITeams's Anti-slavery team in Athens, Greece for over a decade. She just shared the great news that the team was able to help a trafficking victim safely return home!  Emma writes:

"J made it home safely to Nigeria... and to make our joy even greater, in the process of helping J get her documents to leave, we found out that another girl that ITeams team member, Annette, has been working with since summer just went home to Nigeria as well.  Both of these girls...were met at the airport to a new start back home!"  To learn more about this team, named Nea Zoi or "New Life", look here. 

Last minute news flash: I just heard that they helped two Romanian girls escape too! 

There is a unique opportunity to serve with this experienced Anti-Slavery team for three weeks this summer. Check it out here! Application deadline is April 15th, so don't delay.  

How cool is THAT?   

 We got a call telling us that $1200 was needed fast to get a newly rescued victim, and her children, safely situated. We asked some core supporters and quickly got donations from a number of people. All together they totaled ... exactly $1200. How cool is THAT?! 

 God is an amazing orchestrator!

Emergency funds are regularly necessary for concrete needs of local victims. If you would love to participate (as my pastor often says "No grumpy giving!") we invite you to do so here

.Please designate: End Slavery TN: Victim Aid.