Project Rescue Blog

Forum on Human Trafficking: Connecting the Dots

Project Rescue MA — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:58:14 +0000

Project Rescue and AGWM are partnering together to host the Forum on Human Trafficking in Kansas City (August 23-25). This year’s focus is Connecting the Dots: Recognizing and mobilizing your skills to prevent sex trafficking and bring healing to victims.

After learning more about the issue of sex trafficking, you ask “But what can we do?” We have great news, God has already equipped the local church with gifts, skills and His Spirit to help prevent sexual exploitation & bring hope and healing to victims of trafficking. Missionaries, pastors and those desiring to engage are invited to come hear from practitioners working both overseas and in the US. They will provide practical strategies for developing prevention of exploitation through your local church and also serve to bring freedom body, mind and spirit to those who have already been exploited.

We are very excited to announce that Lisa Thompson, the Salvation Army’s national and international spokesperson for the trafficking issue and advocate for victims, will be our keynote speaker. Lisa has been used of God to mobilize people of faith to compassion and action. She will also do a session on the development of pornography in American culture it’s devastating effect on those involved, and the link with trafficking. Lisa along with her colleagues both in the US and overseas have been wonderful partners with AGWM/Project Rescue personnel in helping victims of sex slavery find freedom and new life in Christ.

Below are some of the session topics that will be addressed:

The local church as catalyst & community
Staff training for caregivers: ordinary people doing extraordinary things
The pornography connection
Developing intercessory prayer that is life-changing for victims
Prevention resources for the local church: traffick-proofing our young people
Developing basic counseling skills for the sexually exploited
Identifying and mobilizing local resources to bring hope for the enslaved
Sex trafficking: This is a man’s issue!

To stay up to date with details about the forum join the event on FACEBOOK.

Registration Information:
Online: Compassionlink.org
Phone: 417.862.2781 x.2053
Email: jshockley@ag.org

Celebrating the Graduation in Pune

Project Rescue MA — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:39:04 +0000

In 2004, the Project Rescue affiliated aftercare home in Pune, India, opened its doors to provide transformational care for four teenage girls rescued in a government raid. Ten more girls were added in the last eight years and, through the restoring love of Jesus, fourteen have become women of faith and confidence with hope for their futures. Over the next eighteen months, they will transition from aftercare homes to life in the local community. Some will further their education while working in retail, law enforcement or business, while others will enter into ministry.

On Feb 24, the Project Rescue leadership team was privileged to celebrate with the young women of Pune Project Rescue in their joyous graduation ceremony.

Thank you for walking with us in this momentous journey!

Photo of Project Rescue annual leadership meeting: affiliated site leaders and visiting friends.

Reflect on His Freedom this Easter

Project Rescue MA — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:46:11 +0000

As we approach Easter weekend, we reflect on the freedom that Christ purchased for us through His death and resurrection. Because of the great price He paid women and children held bondage in the darkness of sexual slavery find true freedom in Him.

This Easter weekend we want to join the staff and women in Moldova in prayer for Freedom Home.

Pray for the women that are not yet in Freedom Home.
That we may make connections to at least 20 women this year that have yet to find healing.
That God will give each of us divine meetings with women who need the home.
That God will give us wisdom for opportunities to meet hurting women, whether at the hospital, women’s shelter, psychological hospital, street.
Pray that we may find other women in Moldova who have faced trafficking, somehow coming alongside them so they may find freedom.

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36

Project Rescue Annual Leadership Meeting

Project Rescue MA — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:56:02 +0000

Project Rescue annual leadership meeting: affiliated site leaders and visiting friends.

NEEDTOBREATHE Concert to Benefit Project Rescue

Project Rescue MA — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:21:56 +0000

“It is estimated that two million children are forced, sold, or abducted into sexual slavery every year. As part of human trafficking awareness week at Gardner-Webb University, recording artists NEEDTOBREATHE will be in concert April 28 at 8 p.m. in Paul Porter Arena. Half of the concert’s ticket proceeds will benefit Project Rescue, an international ministry that rescues women and children from human trafficking and sexual slavery.” Click here to read the rest of the article!

We are so thankful for this door God has opened!! Thank you NEEDTOBREATHE!

Click here to visit NEEDTOBREATHE’s website.

URGENT PRAYER NEED

Project Rescue MA — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:13:46 +0000

A committed woman of God, who serves as director of one of the Project Rescue affiliated aftercare homes, was diagnosed with breast cancer in October. After 5 rounds of chemo the doctors did an MRI and found that her cancer has spread. She is currently in ICU and needs a miracle.

Please pray with us that God will raise her up for the honor of His name.

Bombay Teen Challenge featured on CNN iReport

Project Rescue MA — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:49:09 +0000

Click HERE to watch Restoring Hope in Mumbai: Bombay Teen Challenge.

Bombay Teen Challenge is one of Project Rescue’s affiliated sites. Listen to K.K Devaraj share about what God is doing in Mumbai!

“God is still doing miracles” – a letter from Moldova

Project Rescue MA — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:46:53 +0000

Three weeks ago as Nancy and I sat in the home, listening to conversations and celebrating with the women, I realized that I was in the presence of living, breathing, joy-filled miracles. The women, their children, and even the staff have come so far. As Tina* did a dance to a Russian worship song, we thought “she has been here only one year and God has totally changed her!” When Essie* shared her desire to one day work at another Freedom Home, we knew that God had given her a new hope and a future.

For six years, we wandered in the wilderness, never really crossing the Jordan and stepping into the Promised Land. In faith, we saw the promise fulfilled, but it was still on the other side of the river. We envisioned total healing in the women, but that always seemed “over there,” and “there” still seemed miles away.

Perhaps we did have a little faith because we kept moving forward despite the circumstances we continually faced. Faith is not always easy to hold onto when the answer takes years to occur. Believing God is capable is different than seeing Him work before your very eyes.

My faith is reaffirmed today. I can stand before you today and say as the apostle Thomas, “My Lord and my God.” I have hugged a houseful of breathing miracles, talked with resurrected souls.

So I entreat you today, hang on in faith. His timeline is different than ours. God still is doing miracles.

In Awe of His Work,

Andy Raatz

Freedom Home is a Project Rescue affiliated site

Article: 96,000 children go missing each year

Project Rescue MA — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:31:19 +0000

Although Human Trafficking Prevention month for 2012 is concluded, today, February 1, we enter a new month and the fight for freedom is far from over. We must remember the countless women and children who are in desperate need of freedom and restoration through Jesus Christ.

The need is great. Click here to read this recent article about India’s missing children.

“Nearly 11 children go missing in India every hour and at least four of them are never found, according to a study by a child rights organisation….The report says most of the missing children end up as labour, in brothels or in other exploitative situations.”

“So we dedicate our home to You…”

Project Rescue MA — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:10:49 +0000

A song of praise by the daughters of women in sexual slavery

We thank God for our new place,

more room and lots of space

so we dedicate our home to You.

A park and grounds to play

We have fun everyday

So we dedicate our home to You.

But most of all we thank God for one thing,

The greatest gift, so to You we sing:

Let Your light, shine on us,

Let Your light, shine on us.

Take us out of the darkness into Your warm embrace.

Let Your light, shine on us,

Let Your light, shine on us.

So that more can see the power of Your grace…

Young girls living in a Project Rescue affiliated aftercare home wrote this song of thanks with the help of two Project Rescue interns, Melissa Joseph and Vickie Grant. All the girls’ mothers are prostituted women in India. Because of the place God has provided for them through Project Rescue, they will not enter into a life of sexual slavery. We thank God with them that He has taken them from of darkness into light. He is working on behalf of each one of these girls to bring restoration and hope that is only found in Jesus Christ!