December 2009
1 post
An opportunity to learn and respond
A friend recently informed me about the Human Trafficking Civil Forum that will soon be held at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest. The event will be held on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7pm in Saddleback’s main auditorium. To attend the forum, you simply need to show up that evening (I would suggest arriving early). The guest speaker will be New York Times Op-Ed columnist, Nicholas Kristof....
November 2009
4 posts
The problem of myths
Myths have the potential to affect and even ruin the lives of people. One such myth has quickly found its way into Africa and other parts of the world. The myth has endangered, hurt, and even killed many young girls particularly in African countries, such as Zimbabwe and South Africa. Here is the myth: AIDS is curable if the infected person has sexual intercourse with a virgin. My question to you...
“Christians today must seek to meet people’s physical needs, while at the...”
– Craig L. Blomberg in Neither Poverty nor Riches: A biblical theology of possessions
October 2009
5 posts
Identifying victims of trafficking in your own...
In his informative and eye-opening book, Not for Sale, David Batstone explains that there are well over 100,000 people currently living enslaved in the United States of America. Many of these slaves live in our own backyards. Riverside County and Los Angeles County are two hot-spots for victims of human trafficking to be found. There are a couple of ways that you can help in rescuing these...
Videos | Remember Nhu →
This is a great video introducing the people, and the work of the non-profit organization, Remember Nhu. The FBCN Thailand team this summer will be working with Remember Nhu. I would encourage you to watch this video by clicking on the link above. Also, please be praying for the staff of Remember Nhu, who are our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as for the children and young women...
Education...or the lack thereof
Getting an education is severely taken for granted by most children in the U.S.A. In fact, most kids would probably tell you that they wish they didn’t have to go to school. They would rather stay at home listening to the song, “I Don’t Want To Go To School” by The Naked Brothers Band. The irony here is mind-numbing. In this song, the young kids sing, “You can’t deny me of my freedom.” They don’t...
“Rescuing girls from brothels is important… but the best way to save them...”
– Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Poverty: A fuel to slavery
According to the World Bank, almost 3 billion people, nearly half the population, live on less than $2.50 a day. This poverty drives people to do things that would otherwise have been unthinkable. A horrendous, yet common practice among impoverished families today is for parents to literally sell their children into the sex slave trade or into forced labor. The highest buyer receives “ownership”...
September 2009
2 posts
Slavery...in the 21st century
An estimated 27 million people enslaved today… This is the reality of 21st century life on this earth. From sex slavery to forced labor, people from all over the world are in physical bondage. Many of these people also happen to be sojourners who are in complete and utter bondage to their sin. How do we as Christians respond to such a horrific reality of our world? To begin with, it’s...
Questions
“What’s the point?”
The focus of this blog is clearly displayed in the title, “The Sojourners Among Us.” In the Old Testament, the sojourners were those that were outside of the covenant, but were within Israel’s purview. In Deuteronomy 10:17-21, it becomes quite apparent that the people of God should value what God values; therefore, they are to love the sojourner. In today’s global...