Rule Number Nine

So what's rule number nine? If you answer "Never go anywhere without a knife.", you are right, and a true NCIS junkie.... but that's not the rule number nine that I was talking about. I'm talking about "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." or paraphrasing "Don't Lie"

One of the biggest difficulty trying to raise awareness on human trafficking is the statistics. The majority of people agree that slavery is bad. Freedom is one of the fundamental principles that most people can agree on... then comes the question of how prevalent is this problem? What are the numbers? What is the average age of the victims?... all actually very hard to answer. It is similar to the question of 'how do you count how many illegal guns are out there'?... you have to rely on statistics, which for normal people like you and I, appears to be mathematical black magic.

Recently, Women's Funding Network was called out for their statistics which they presented to congress in the fall of 2010 by Nick Pinto's 03/23/11 article on CityPage. The claimed stat was something like this...

"An independent tracking study released today by the Women's Funding Network shows that over the past six months, the number of underage girls trafficked online has risen exponentially in three diverse states," Richardson claimed. "Michigan: a 39.2 percent increase; New York: a 20.7 percent increase; and Minnesota: a staggering 64.7 percent increase."

The article then goes on describing how these number was obtained and why it is not worth paying attention.

It is true that the human trafficking statistics are very hard to come by.. For example, just consider that there was no legal definition of the word 'human trafficking' at the federal level until about 10 yrs ago, and that definition varies from state to state today.... simply meaning that a crime that may be considered 'human trafficking' in one state and counted as such, may not be prosecuted nor counted at 'human trafficking' by another state... and that's just one example. If you think about it, you can easily imagine how difficult it is to get these numbers...

However, the difficulty of obtaining the numbers does not excuse anyone from making up numbers and then telling it to the world... and hence, rule number nine - Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Using bad numbers just hurts the cause and will not advance it. I don't expect anybody to know the details of the how the numbers are obtained... you'll go nuts if you start doubting every statistic you see around, even on day to day basis.

It took very long, by my point is this; be prepared to back up what you say, know the source and do not lie. Telling people that you don't know is much better than pulling something from your bee-hind.

We serve, work and aspire to set the victims of modern-day slavery free. For me, who entered this world from experience and not from academics, it is very easy to say that slavery exists and I am here to help one person at a time. If you have problem with the statistics, that's quite ok and I hope you can help get better statistics... but please don't just sit there and do nothing when there are many people at risk, just around the corner... please be part of the solution.

Fighting breaks out in the Golden Triangle

Update on the Golden Triangle...

Burmese Bible college students ministering in the mountain villages during this time of tragedy following the earthquake have returned safely. However, pastors and those dwelling on the mountains are trapped and unable to travel until fighting subsides between the Wa State Army and the soldiers of the nation. Please pray for safety and a speedy resolution to the most recent political strife in this corner of the world following on the heels of a huge earthquake.

With the recent swearing in of Myanmar’s new president has come a harder line against the insurgencies in the Golden Triangle and around the nation. An insurgency is a rebellion against a constituted authority and there are over a dozen such rebellions going on right now in Myanmar against the government. Such groups (armies) overtake large chunks of land along the borders of Myanmar/Bangladesh, Myanmar/Thailand and Myanmar/China and set up their own government. Such rebels currently fight in the Golden Triangle and are known as the Wa State Army and the Shan State Army.

Contributed by C.C

If you would like to give to the relief efforts in Myanmar, log on to give.foursquaremissions.org. Or you can mail a donation by sending your check, designated to Myanmar Relief, to:

Foursquare Missions International
P.O. Box 26776
Los Angeles, CA 90026

First ever mass evacuation of tentmakers!

This has been a tough month for tentmakers in the troubled region of the world. As I watched this quickly developing turmoil, from one country to the next, I received a word from the Lord which has been of comfort to those who have had to leave, sometimes with only their clothes on their backs, to an unknown future.

" I am the Lord God, I have not been caught by surprise by these events.

Tell those who have to leave in haste that their service to my Kingdom has

run it's course this time around. They could not have done anymore.

Their service and obedience has been noted and I am pleased."

How does anyone prepare to evacuate from countries where an already weak system breaks down completely? The terror of gunfire, air attacks, bombs blowing up at all hours of the day, seeing bodies on the streets from your windows, spending time with locals who do not have the luxury of being evacuated and must stay behind.

At our tentmaking business as mission courses, we try to prepare people well for all known challenges. However this one has not been a part of our program, but will be in the future. We have learned a lot from the experiences of tentmakers who have faced forced evacuation in the past weeks, and those now being trained will benefit from their tragic experiences.

God is in control!

We are hearing reports of a new openness to the Gospel in this region already. One house church that seemed incapable of taking leadership without the tentmakers, were forced into doing it simply since they knew they would be alone in a matter of days. The report told us of a confident, joyful, mature house church telling the tentmakers that we will be fine now, is encouraging to everyone involved.

One tentmaker refused to leave with the initial waves of evacuations, and was seen as a hero by the local people. Even taxi drivers were telling him that this is a new time in their country, and talking about your faith is now OK.

Another tentmaker who also stayed behind until the last possible moments (just before the bombs fell from the coalition forces) was actually invited to sit at the table where the new constitution was being drafted. Imagine the joy of being a part of something like this? Add to this joy, being asked what he thought should be in this constitution. He suggested freedom of religion, and was told that it was already in the document. Then he suggested freedom to change ones religion.

This too was added, after a rather lengthy explanation of what he meant by that statement. You can understand why this would be a new line of thinking in this region. Again, in the middle of turmoil, God is doing a new thing.

It is impossible to share all the good news that are coming out of this tumultuous time, but trust that God is doing something amazing even as we watch the news in horror.

Pray for the local believers, yes there are many.
Pray for the local friends of our tentmakers who have had a chance to hear, but have not yet made decisions.
Pray that the tentmakers will find encouragement, that their needs will be taken care of, and that they will be able to return to a better situation than the one they were forced to leave.

Contributed by Ari Rocklin, Global Opportunities. To learn more about Global Opportunities, visit their website, www.globalopps.org

URGENT: Earthquake in Golden Triangle

On March 24th, the area of South East Asia commonly known as the 'Golden Triangle' -Myanmar, Thailand, Laos- was shaken by a devastating, 6.8 magnitude Earthquake.

Below is a link for a video showing disturbing footage of the earthquake-torn city of Tachiliek, Myanmar in the Golden Triangle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmGMcfv6A2o

Recent news from the Vice-President of Foursquare Myanmar, [name hidden], has given a broad picture of the needs they have.

500 families from nine villages are left homeless and 300 people are now dead. Every day they’re finding new bodies. Over forty church buildings are in need of repair according to the regional Christian council.

Seventeen Foursquare churches near the epicenter (Tarley area) under the superintendence of [name hidden] and [name hidden] need repair. These are churches for the Lahu and Akha people. Four churches in Nawpu Saw, Sakhan, Patawng and Tapu need rebuilding.

Approximately 50% of all the homes need considerable repair and every family needs help repairing their homes. Last Sunday I was able to collect 8000 baht (almost $300) from our church and we gave food to Nawpu Saw village. This will help them for a few days. Seventeen churches are waiting for lasting help. We are grateful that World Vision, Catholics, Baptists and A o G have helped us out day-by-day. However, the need is so great.

Below are some of the needs.

1. Rice, eating oil and water for 17 villages, over 800 families.
2. Transportation
3. Church building replacement.
4. Church building repairs.
5. General medicines to distribute.
6. Bible students need transportation funds, food and love gifts for the next two months of outreach to those affected by earthquake.
7. Over 800 families need assistance rebuilding and repairing houses.

Serving together,

Contributed by C.C

If you would like to give to the relief efforts in Myanmar, log on to give.foursquaremissions.org. Or you can mail a donation by sending your check, designated to Myanmar Relief, to:

Foursquare Missions International
P.O. Box 26776
Los Angeles, CA 90026

If Christ didn't come to condemn the world.... why then do we?

Just seeing John 3:16, many who read this will say the quote with no problem, but how many would recognize or recite John 3:17 with such ease? (If you can't recite it, then your job now is to look it up!)

In the past few decades, I truly feel the church has lost site of the fact that Christ didn't come to condemn the world and that we (the church) are now his representative here. As such, we too should not condemn the world. Does this mean that we should not declare things as sin, certainly not! We must identify sin, but unless the individual calls out to Christ as their salvation, then it would do them no good to try to live up to standards that the church is having trouble keeping.

Read now what the Apostle Paul says about friendship with sin Vs. friendship with the people Christ didn't come to condemn. 1st. Corinthians 5:9-13.

Bottom line in what I am saying - we know that the world is perishing (we as Christians can't stop this, it is God's plan!) That being said however; we need to love those that are currently condemned no matter what we may see as vice in their life. Furthermore, we need to hold those who claim Christ as Lord to a higher standard. When a brother or sister stumbles - we need to hold them to account as we lift them up. If they refuse to repent; then sadly they by definition have rejected not you, but Christ.

Thankfully there is Grace!

Contributed by Duke Clements

Join us for a congressional briefing on domestic minor sex trafficking

We got this from our friends at Shared Hope International.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

2:00 pm

538 Senate Dirksen building

You are invited to a briefing on the sex trafficking of minors in the U.S with a special introduction by acclaimed actor Mira Sorvino. This form of modern day slavery is one of the fastest growing crimes in the U.S. Over 100,000 children are trafficked for sex in the U.S. each year, according to recent estimates.

To learn more about this tragic problem, please come to the briefing at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 (the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing room.)

Briefing agenda:

Mira Sorvino: Welcome and introduction

Senators Ron Wyden and John Cornyn: comments on the re-introduction of the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act

Libby Spears, filmmaker - Director of the documentary film "Playground": brief commentary and viewing of the trailer for "Playground"

Panel of speakers:

Dr. Sharon Cooper, Forensic Pediatrician, University of North Carolina School of Medicine

Sgt. Doug Justus, Portland Police Bureau (ret.), former head of the Portland Police Department vice unit

Natasha, a Victims' Rights Advocate and sex trafficking survivor

Ernie Allen, President and CEO, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)

We hope to see you there!

Update on the MD Human Trafficking Policies

Just received this mail from our friend @ the Polaris Project. I was at the Annapolis State House today and is exciting that this is really happening. Please get involved!!!

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2011 MARYLAND HUMAN TRAFFICKING LEGISLATION
March 1, 2011

The Maryland legislative session has reached its halfway point – and there are now 8 human trafficking bills under consideration! Below is a brief update, but as always if you have any questions please let me know!

The hearings are a great time for us to publicly push these important bills and show our strong support, but our work does not end with that. The Maryland committees do not vote the same day as the hearing, in fact, they may not vote for several weeks! Therefore, it is incredibly important for us to keep the pressure on. You can do this by looking up your legislators at http://mdelect.net/electedofficials and making a quick call to urge them to move these bills forward.

· HB 674 - Education - Human Trafficking - Awareness, Training, and Distribution of Materials Status: Hearing is scheduled for March 2 at 1pm in the House Committee on Ways and Means. Purpose: Directs the Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Dept. of Education to provide training materials to educators in the public school system. The goal is to raise awareness and provide educators with the tools to identify any students who may be victim of human trafficking. What You Can Do: Please join us for the hearing on 3/2/11 at 1pm. Still looking for teachers to testify, but all are welcome! In lieu of that, please contact your delegates and urge them to support this bill!

· NEW!!!!! HB 1304 Posting the Human Trafficking Hotline at TruckstopsStatus: Introduced on 3/1/2011Purpose: Requires all truckstops, rest areas and bus stations in Maryland to post the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline. What You Can Do: The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee, but when it is, your testimony will be critical!

· HB 345/ SB 299 Human Trafficking Investigations (Wiretapping) Status: HB345 passed the House on 2/24, SB299 is pending in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.Purpose: Provide law enforcement with the additional tools to conduct surveillance and wiretapping in human trafficking investigations. What You Can Do: Please call and urge your senator to vote YES on SB299, and if your senator is on the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, urge him or her to adopt the same amendments as the House.

· HB 266/SB 327 Human Trafficking Victim Protection Act Status: Awaiting a vote in the House Judiciary and the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committees. Purpose: Provide the courts with the authority to order restitution for victims of human trafficking of convicted traffickers, and provides a system for victims of sex trafficking to remove convictions for prostitution if they occurred during the time they were trafficked. What You Can Do: Please call your senator and delegates (especially if they are on the House Judiciary Committee or the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee) and urge them to vote yes on a favorable report for this important bill.

· HB 418/SB 247 Human Trafficking - Asset Forfeiture, Labor Trafficking, Anti-Human Trafficking Fund Status: Awaiting a vote in the House Judiciary and the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committees. Purpose: 3 things: Adds “labor trafficking” to the human trafficking statute; creates asset forfeiture of all ill-gotten gains of a convicted trafficker; and creates the Anti-Human Trafficking Fund, where proceeds from forfeited assets will go, and in which law enforcement or victim service providers can apply for grants. What you can do: Please contact your delegates and urge them to ask Chairman Vallario to "bring HB418 up for a favorable report in committee". Additionally, if you have a moment more, please urge everyone you know to call their delegates too!


To look up who your legislators are go to: http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/ and for more info on the bills just go to http://www.polarisproject.org/what-we-do/policy-advocacy/pending-legislation and click on Maryland.
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