Day 8. I heart IJM.

I got an email from IJM today. They are collecting signatures to bring to President Obama, asking him to take action in the fight against modern-day slavery. They have collected 24,000 signatures and are hoping for at least 3,000 more before they deliver it to Washington. That's 1 signature for every 1,000 people enslaved in the world today.

Read about it here and make sure you sign your name if you haven't already. It's a simple thing that you can do to fight against injustice.

The letter is urging Washington D.C. to approve the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2011. 


Here is what this law will do: 

"The TVPRA of 2011 will extend this life-saving law for at least two more years.

The Senate bill includes a number of provisions that strengthen global and domestic anti-trafficking programs and services, including:

• Authorizing the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Office to negotiate child protection compacts with designated focus countries to increase resources and political will to eradicate child trafficking (the essential provisions of the Child Protection Compact Act). 
• Providing resources to allow the TIP Office to respond quickly to requests for technical assistance from foreign countries. 
• Instructing the State Department regional bureaus to designate anti-trafficking specialists in our Embassies abroad to collect information on trafficking and communicate U.S. concerns to foreign government officials.

The House bill includes several important provisions, including: 

• Authorizes new emergency response capacity for the State Department Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons in situations like the earthquake in Haiti, which placed large numbers of children and adults at risk of trafficking.
• Strengthens the Protect Act, which allows the U.S. to prosecute Americans visiting abroad who exploit children in sex tourism. The new provision would also allow prosecution of Americans living abroad, not just visiting."

Information from: http://www.ijm.org/justice-campaigns/tvpra

I love IJM and what they are doing. Learn more about this organization here. Consider giving to IJM or sign up for email updates so you can pray for injustice. They are doing important work to make change happen within the government systems in the United States and around the world. Please think about joining them in this exciting work. Read some news stories here about what they have been up to.

God asks us to to look after the widow and the orphan. He cares deeply about those who are oppressed and so should we.

James 1:27 in the Message says,
"Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world."


It's exciting to know that God hears our prayers and responds. 


On another note, I have had quite a few co-workers who have been really encouraging in what I am doing. Other friends have been really supportive too. A few months ago, I reconnected with one of my friends from Taylor who is in a YWAM school now. She asked if she could share my blog with other people. It's such a joy who have friends who share in my passion for injustice. I love it.