To the Ends of the Earth: Protecting Children — Wednesday
Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (NIV)
Firefighters have a heroic phrase they use: "When others run out, we run in." The Church at its best teaches people to do that, too. We need to run into the pain when others run out.
Jesus modeled that for us, and today, I want us to pray for the Blackbox staff who are tangibly doing that day in and day out.
Their ministry is not the kick-down-the-door, rescue the kids, and get-the-bad-guys kind of thing. Now don’t get me wrong—the rescuing is vital. Someone must remove sex-trafficked children from the dangerous environment they’re in, but it’s only the first step. Then, the healing process begins. One part takes a day, the other takes years… and it’s a labor of love.
Blackbox focuses specifically on aftercare—the patient, kind, long-suffering ministry that these boys desperately need. It’s an often overlooked part, but God’s heart beats for it just as much. And God did that for us—from rescuing the Israelites through the exodus, to our own salvation story. He doesn’t just save us; He rehabilitates us into a new way of living. He guides us through healing from the past to having joy in the present and purpose for the future.
Prayers sustain the staff through this critical aftercare component—the difficult daily work of guiding the boys through their trauma. Let’s pray they don’t grow weary in doing good!
Wednesday’s Reflection
Today, let’s pray for the Blackbox staff by name: Wade, Morgan, Sara, Nick, Sarah, Ben, Des, Kayla, and the 17 staff on the ground in the Dominican Republic. Pray for encouragement and endurance as they selflessly serve.
