To the Ends of the Earth: Protecting Children — Monday
1 John 3:18
…let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (NIV)
This past Sunday, we showcased another of our international strategic partners: Blackbox International.
It was a powerful service, and the video was compelling. (If you were unable to come, check it out here). We learned that over 1.2 million children are trafficked each year for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Conservative estimates say that over 400,000 of them are boys.
Tragically, there is little help or hope for boys anywhere on the planet. Blackbox International was created to change that.
After being exposed to more evil around our world and the great need, I’m reminded of a famous quote by William Wilberforce:
“You may look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know.”
That’s the challenge, isn’t it? Most of our lives are oriented around avoiding sadness. We build pathways around suffering, not to it. When someone experiences tragedy, we feel for them in the moment, but we’re tempted to move on, while they are left in the ongoing consequences of life. The call of Jesus, the call of today’s verse, is to choose to enter the pain of others. To consciously orient our lives in such a way that we are reminded of those who weep, rather than avoiding them.
So, just like Amber did for us last week with Mustard Seed, I want to guide us through a week of intercessory prayer. I pray that God strengthens your faith as we think less about ourselves and, each day, commit to praying for people we may never meet.
Monday’s Reflection
As we commit to intercede for Blackbox International this week, please check out blackboxinternational.org to learn more and get involved with their work of bringing healing to male survivors of sex trafficking through holistic aftercare.
