I am not a crazy reader, although I would like to be. With how crazy life is right now I'm averaging a book a month when I wish I was averaging a book a week.
Last week I was given a copy of Gary A. Haugen's "Terrify No More". Haugen is not an author, he is the founder and president of the International Justice Mission. An organization founded to free individuals from the slave trade in poverty stricken countries. Which in our little world may seem like a minuscule need, but there are more slaves in the world today than during the 400 hundred years of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.
The organization was created to stop sex-trafficking by simply (not that simple) getting the countries to enforce their own laws. I've just begun the book, so I have only read several (I'm sure there's many more) accounts of child rape and prostitution. But unlike other organizations IJM doesn't just investigate and then try and spread the word of the need of these girls. They actually do something about it. So far every case that they've stated, every girl has not only been freed from the brothel; they are taken to an IJM recovery facility for medical treatment, schooling and preparation for life after these tragedies.
Even more interesting, IJM in iteslf is an incredible organization. I know from reading through their employment information, that every day is started with 30 minutes of silence and prayer to focus on their purpose. Even more impressive, you can go on IJM's website and view all of their tax documents, so you know exactly where you're donations are going. The website openly displays, the president and founder, Gary Haugen's salary. How many other organizations can you say that about?
I've already told Foreknown that he gets my copy after I'm finished. But because it was given to me, and it will be given to him, contact him and he'll give it to you when he's finished (as long as you promise to read it and pass it on).
Gary Haugen says it best, "...in the moral universe engineered by a holy God, knowledge carries responsibility."
1 comment:
Hey buddy- you hit the nail on the head. IJM is a phenomenal organization- really incredible stuff. Food for the Hungry (my organization) has worked in conjunction with them on quite a few projects. FH tends to be the ones providing support for wholistic change (ie- going in and teaching a community how to be self-sustainable and self-reliant) while IJM fights the criminal aspects and exploitation that occurs in some of these communities.
Also something to note... there is a graphic designer position available with IJM currently. Although someone would have to want to move to DC for it. Just thought you might be interested. ;)
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