As some of you may have seen in previous posts, my fiance, Sara Owen, and I will be moving to Knoxville, TN. at the beginning of February. We will both be working full time for an anti-trafficking ministry called Raising a Voice. At Raising a Voice (RAV), their mission is to end human trafficking through gospel-centered community transformation and global outreach. It’s been crazy to see how much has changed over the last few months as these doors have opened and vision has shifted and grown.
I first heard about RAV this summer while Sara was interning with them over her G42 practicum. I spent several weekends visiting Sara and we both very quickly fell in love with East Knoxville and RAV’s mission and vision. During one of my first visits while on outreach with Sara, I remember us daydreaming about living in a similar neighborhood and pouring into our community in that same way. A few weeks into the summer, the founders of RAV, Katie and Will Boggs, asked Sara and I to pray about moving to Knoxville and coming on staff as full time urban missionaries. After lots of prayer, we can’t imagine doing anything else and feel incredibly blessed to take this step into ministry and life together.
Over the last five years with the World Race, living in Japan, alumni squad leading, and attending G42, I have come to realize that what truly brings me the most life is coming alongside people to create a space for them to fully step into their giftings, identity and purpose that God has created them for. So often people haven’t had the space to be open and vulnerable with who they really are. We all need people to meet us where we are at with encouragement and to see the best in us even when we don’t yet see it in ourselves. God has given me a heart for seeing the potential in others and calling out who He created them to be. I love to watch people come alive and step into their full and true self. It has become one of my core values to ensure people feel seen and accepted for exactly who they are.
My work with Raising a Voice will be just that. I will work on the business side with Will Boggs, one of the co-founders, to create new businesses that will not only generate income for the ministry but jobs for the women in East Knoxville. East Knoxville is one of the most under-resourced areas in the city, which has led many women to the street and hotel-based prostitution. Many of the services and resources available to these women are simply not in this area. It is the goal of Raising a Voice to serve as the middle ground to help connect and provide available resources to women in our community. These businesses will be a huge part of that. We hope to create a safe and encouraging workplace for women to grow, thrive and step into who they were created to be.
Another component of my work with RAV will be community development. Living in community has been one of the most integral parts of growth and transformation in my life over the past five years. As people, we were created to be loved, to understand love and to bring love to those around us. Through community, I have seen how loving others sacrificially in this way can transform lives. My vision is to bring together a community of Christ followers who want to live this out. People who will do life together, support one another and rally around a common vision of transforming the community around us. I desire to create a space where the Holy Spirit can lead and Jesus is at the core.
I am incredibly excited for this next step with Sara as we begin working with Raising a Voice. Check out her blog, here to read more about her role with RAV and her heart for East Knoxville.
As we step into this next chapter, we are looking for people to walk alongside and partner with us by joining our monthly support team and through continued prayer. If you would like to hear more about our work or schedule a call, I would love to talk! If you are interested in partnering with us, you can do so here by clicking ‘Sara Owen & James Wilhelm’ in the drop down.
I want to take this time to also say thank you to everyone who has supported me over the past 5 years. I wouldn’t be where I am today without your support and am beyond grateful for all the prayers and love you have given me throughout this journey. Your continued partnership will allow Sara and I to tangibly impact the lives of women in East Knoxville and establish His kingdom throughout our community.
With much love and gratitude from Gainesville, GA.
