Where I’m At, Where I’m Going

 

There are numerous amounts of
opportunities throughout the world to share the Gospel, and with that are the
great needs of His children that must be met. There are areas where injustice,
sickness, hunger, and poverty are the only things putting countries on the map.
The number of people living with AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to be
at 22.4 million. Twenty-seven million is the number of people estimated to
currently be in modern-day slavery throughout the world. Sexual exploitation
and forced labor are the two main reasons for human trafficking. This number is
given a higher regard when you consider that 13 million is a high estimate for
the total number of slaves who were transported during the four centuries of
the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

 

These are the numbers, but what
about when you look into the eyes of those who have become another number for
us to just think about. We think something should be done to stop these things,
but when do they become more than just a conversation over the dinner table, or
just a short discussion in Sunday school?

 

My desire is to not let these
numbers be just numbers anymore. We are so often speaking of change, but now my
desire is to be the change. When we are confronted with something we so often
say, “Somebody needs to do something about that.” Yes, somebody does need to do
something, so I am saying, “Here am I, send me!”

 

 

Throughout this journey called the
World Race, God has put two things on my heart. One is to minister to the men
who create the demand which is driving the commercial sex industry. There are
several programs which have been created to minister to the women in the bars,
brothels, and “massage parlors.” When we stop and evaluate the commercial sex
industry, and how it works on a supply-and-demand system, we understand why
human trafficking is the fastest growing method of organized crime in the
world, and in the process of surpassing the arms trade and drug trafficking in
size.

 

A greater demand is produced when
there is an ever increasing amount of men in the world who are willing to
travel great distances to have sex with a woman they have never met. It is
estimated that seventy percent of the men traveling to Thailand intend to
engage in the commercial sex industry. You and I are responsible for taking an
initiative toward reducing this number, not only for the women, but also for the
wives and children who unknowingly have their husbands and fathers bring home
unknown amounts of spiritual, mental, and physical problems.

 

 

Two years ago, when I first decided
to go on the World Race, I had no idea of the life God had in store for me.
When I stop and think about where I would be if I had not made this decision, I
can be sure that it would have not involved foreign missions. We need to inform
the young people in America that there are opportunities to serve. I am not
saying that being a missionary abroad is for everyone, but every young person
has the duty and responsibility as a Christian to step out of their comfort
zone and live out the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:7-8. My desire is to go into
the churches, youth groups, and college campuses across America and stress to
students what it means to do mission work, and what steps they need to take to
begin this journey.

 

I have applied and been accepted to
G42 Leadership Academy in Mijas, Spain. The purpose of G42 is to raise up
leaders and help them to get a jumpstart into the area of ministry God has
called them. This will be a time of listening to God’s voice and discerning
what it is He wants me to do. To “say amen and make a plan” is the goal G42
interns seek as they finish with the six months of discipleship.

 

This is one the areas I struggled with when I
signed up for the World Race. I had a difficult time justifying to myself that
asking for help was right, especially in the area of finances. I never imagined
that I would live my life depending on the financial support of others. I was
not raised with this expectation, but I was raised a Christian; a Christian who
knows that God has placed a certain call on my life, a call which cannot be
ignored or regarded as insignificant.

 

I thank God for this opportunity
that is before me and have faith He will meet my needs. My prayer is that He
will do that through you. I would be honored if you could partner financially
and prayerfully with me in this ministry. I must raise $6,000 that will go
directly to G42, as well as another $2,000 for travel to and from Spain, and
about $1,000 for personal and any ministry related expenses.

 

I am very excited about how God will use me and what He will teach me through this experience. I hope not only to be a blessing to those I serve, but to you as well. My desire is to go as your representative of Jesus Christ. I hope you will prayerfully consider being part of my ministry. Thank you so much!

 

Houston, TX 77219-0611