broken

Go to http://ncm.org/trafficking/ for more ways you and can help and pray.

Yesterday at our church we celebrated "Freedom Sunday." We celebrated those in human trafficking who have been rescued and we also spread awareness on the MANY who are still at risk and have not been rescued. My heart has been heavy over the past several years as I have heard reports about the issue of human trafficking. Throughout the past several weeks as I have read more about how wide spread and quickly growing human trafficking has become I have really been overwhelmed with a sense of urgency and a deep calling to pray.

When I was a little girl I felt the Lord calling me to be a missionary. That call stayed with me and as I was pursuing that call on a six week mission trip to Africa I strongly felt the Lord telling me that He needed me to work for him in the United States. I kind of ignored that and began pursuing going back to teach in Africa only to fall in love with Mark Walker and end up in Wisconsin of all places! Last night as I was laying in bed and reading a blog dealing with the tragedy of human trafficking I felt the Lord nudging me, "Jennifer, I gave you a heart for missions. I'm breaking your heart as mine breaks so you will be persistent in your prayers for these people." Whoa.

I'm learning now why over the past five years of my struggle with not being inside the public classroom has turned into five years of God softening my heart, growing compassion within me and entrusting me to carry burdens along with my God. Just as God's heart grieves for those who don't make church a priority, my heart grieves. Just as God's heart aches and desires for more people to come to know Him, my heart aches and desires for people to come to know Him. Just as God's heart grieves for a beautiful young women who feels she's been "used" her entire life so why not get paid for it, my heart grieves for those beautiful young women. Just as God's heart breaks for a child paid unfairly, my heart is breaking.

Something is welling up deep within me. I know right now in my life my family needs me and I'm serving my church. I can't jump on a plane and take years of my life to help break the tragedy of human trafficking however; I CAN PRAY. God is calling me to pray. Our PRAYERS are SO POWERFUL!

 http://ncm.org/trafficking/ 

So I ask you, will you pray with me? Will you pray you remember these people? Will you remember those who are paid unfairly? Will you think of girls and women globally and in your state who are victimized? Will you think of those who are running these operations - sin has a hold on their life. A friend in my life group said that God had laid it on her heart to pray that the "leaders" of these operations would have hearts that are softened and begin to see these young girls and women as real people. Will you pray that people make church a priority in their lives? Do you pray? Will you pray? God is calling...let's listen and allow Him to continue to work in mighty and powerful ways!!