If you’re interested in knowing how God called me to this trip, here’s the story… 🙂
Back in April, some friends and I were on our way to Chicago to worship God with Hillsong United. On the way to Chicago, we passed through a city that was absolutely atrocious; every billboard, bar, and club we passed had sexually-charged images and innuendos. I was so disgusted with this city! During worship that night, I was having a hard time focusing on God; all that was in my head was thoughts of those involved in the sex industry… women and men; girls and boys; people who were trafficked in and those who willingly put themselves there; the men who frequently watch women dance and “perform” for them and the women who do this willingly or by force; those who watch and those who make; the lonely, insecure, and the hurt; the prideful, immoral, and selfish; those who click and those who pose; the buyer and the purchased; all of whom need Jesus Christ and His love.
I began to pray and let God know that I was sorry, but focusing on Him was pretty difficult given the fact that His beautiful people were either being abused sexually or supporting this abuse in different forms all over the world at that very moment. It felt wrong for me, a terrible, ungodly, broken and screwed-up person, to be in the presence of a wonderful God while another sits in bondage.
The band then began to play the song “You Hold Me Now”, and these words summed up how I was feeling for myself and for those in the sex industry… “When I see you face to face, there surrounded by your grace, all my fear is swept away in the light of your embrace, when your love is all I need and forever I am free. No weeping, no hurt or pain, no suffering, you hold me now, you hold me now… no darkness, no sick or lame, no hiding, you hold me now, you hold me now… in this life I will stand through my joy and my pain knowing there’s a greater day, there’s a hope that never fails… when the wars and violence cease, all creation lives in peace, let the songs on heaven rise to you alone… for eternity all my heart will give all the glory to your name.”
After pressing into God through those words, He comforted me and gave me peace; He said straight to my heart that I would have a part in stopping it.
A while later, I was meeting with my pastor and I told him about what was in my heart. To make the long story short, we began praying and asking God to open up doors where He wanted me, and doors flew open in this area! This trip is just one of the many.
I am really looking forward to discovering what God has in store for this team as we prepare to head overseas to experience “a foretaste to the end” of sex trafficking. As far as I’m concerned, the enemy is seeing the end of his reign and there will be no weeping, no hurt or pain, and no suffering where we are going!
God, thank you so much for the honor and privilege that it is to go on this trip. I thank you for the staff and those who work with Adventures in Missions to do a trip like this, and I thank you for hearing the cries and needs of your people. God, prepare me and prepare my teammates for what lies ahead. Help us to be unified, of one mind, for the cause that you have placed before us. Show us your heart for your people, both the victims and perpetrators; help us to see them as you see them. We love you, Lord, and we thank you for who you are and that you are expressed through us. Thank you for the privilege of serving you, God. To you be all my heart and my praise and my honor. In Jesus’ name, amen.
