By: Chuck Neubauer, The Washington Times
Published: Saturday, April 23, 2011
When she first showed up at Children of the Night, a privately funded residential facility, “Jane” was angry. Arrested more than 20 times as a prostitute, she had been hardened by the street. She threw things at her counselors. Everyone was terrified by having to deal with her.
By: NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF, New York Times
Published: April 23, 2011
When we hear about human trafficking in India or Cambodia, our hearts melt. The victim has sometimes been kidnapped and imprisoned, even caged, in a way that conjures our images of slavery.
By: FBI.gov
Published: April 25, 2011
Improving Communities
Leaders Honored in Washington
They come from different parts of the country. They work in many different fields. And they serve a variety of constituencies.
But the 50-plus individuals who gathered at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., today for a special ceremony have one thing in common: they are all recipients of the 2010 Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for their selfless actions within their communities. And, according to Director Robert Mueller, the recipients also share “a willingness to lead and a commitment to improve the lives of their neighbors…. They embody the true meaning of citizenship.”
I can honestly say that I never ever imagined myself as a volunteer at
Juvenile Hall. But I tell you the truth, leading Bible study on Wednesday
nights at Juvenile Hall has become the highlight of my week. I can’t
express the feeling of fulfillment and joy that I experience at every visit.
It’s like my whole life, everything I ever experienced, all the good and all
the tragic, all lead up to get me here. Every week I experience the
partnership and companionship of the Holy Spirit. Every week I experience
what it truly means to be a friend of the Bridegroom. And all I really do
is point to my Jesus and share his word with them. When I look into their
eyes I don’t see delinquents. I see precious, lost, lonely, scared daughters
that need to know how much God loves them. They need to know their identity
and that they have purpose. The girls are now collecting their own “Truth
Verses” and look forward to adding to them. I never know exactly which young
girls will be in attendance week after week but it is such a joy to witness
their growing interest in God and His word. Many of them are reading their
Bibles regularly now and ask to share the verses that spoke to them. It is
so obvious that God is at work in some of them, their attitudes and behavior
testify to this. My prayer life has also deepened and been enriched. Being
prayed up is critical to my confidence and ability to speak truth into their
lives. I feel extremely blessed and humbled to have been chosen for this
task.
I urge anyone that has a heart for the lost to pray about becoming a
Juvenile Hall Chaplain as well. I believe this experience will greatly
increase my ability to communicate truth wrapped in love as a C2BU spiritual
mentor, as well as improve my ability to communicate who these precious, but
hurting girls are when I speak on behalf of Courage House in my role as a
speaker for C2BU.
“Dear children, Let us not merely say that we love each other; let us show
the truth by our actions.” 1 Corinthians 13;7
In His service,
Gina
By: Teresa O’Hanlon, Placer Herald Correspondent
Published: April 13, 2011
She was escaping from sexual abuse the only way she knew how, and that meant running away.
A teenager from Placer County who would eventually spend time in 11 different foster care and group homes. Escaping to the streets again, only to end up emotionally entrapped in a Sacramento sex trafficking business so deep underground, no one can even estimate the number of victims.
Jenny Williamson of Rocklin said she would never forget hearing this victim’s story.
By: Reno Gazette-Journal
Published: 3:55 PM, Apr. 21, 2011
Federal jurors in Reno took 75 minutes Thursday afternoon to convict a 19-year-old pimp from Sacramento of leading two girls, 14 and 15, to Reno from California to gain money they earned through prostitution.
By: Rinku Sen, COLORLINES
Published: Wednesday, April 20 2011, 4:06 PM EST
I have been eagerly awaiting Rachel Lloyd’s book, “Girls Like Us,” since I met her last summer. Lloyd is the founder and director of GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring Services), an organization that helps teenagers whose sexuality has been exploited for commercial gain. In “Girls Like Us,” Lloyd blends memoir, reportage and political thinking to critique a free market society in which absolutely everything is for sale. She leads us to systemic solutions, which Lloyd and the members of GEMS have designed and won. That combination gives readers a way into an otherwise impenetrable issue. The girls’ stories allow a gut-level understanding of the trade’s enormous scale, and a clear sense of what needs to change, from the language we use to the laws we pass.
Almost 3 years ago, the Lord laid it on my heart that there was something for me to do with children in our community. I prayed about it for months and saw an article in the Sacramento Bee that August, 2008: I was shocked to learn that our own children are being trafficked for sex, even in Sacramento. The article featured Jenny Williamson and her dream for a Courage House. I called Jenny and met her for coffee. I wasn’t sure if this was what I was supposed to do until she told me she needed a song to tell the story of the girls. That was it. Jenny did not know I was a musician or a songwriter. It was obvious that this was a divine connection!
Soon after that, Jenny invited me to be on the board of Courage to Be You. I did not hesitate when she asked me because the vision of C2BU was where my heart was: to equip, empower and encourage individuals and to change the world, one person at a time. I’ve been amazed at the leadership that has joined our Board of Directors – godly, like-minded individuals with a common heart for the kids that need to be rescued. We have pastors, professionals and business leaders. The spirit of unity is amazing. The board meetings are nothing like anything I’ve experienced before. Each time we come together, we are completely blown away by what God is doing and the time of prayer is incredible. It is an honor now to not only serve as Creative Director of C2BU, but on the Board of Directors as well. Jenny has been advised many times to put wealthy, influential people on her board, but her response is always the same: “This is not what the Lord told me… He told me to put godly people with a strong faith and deep commitment to the Him on my board.” Yes, none of us are rich by the world’s standards, but the board is rich in integrity, in character, in unity, in passionate hearts and we are ready to change the world, especially for the most broken, vulnerable children in the world. We are ready to see these kids rescued and restored, filled with courage and strength to be all that God intends for them to be!
Stephanie P. Midthun
Creative Director, C2BU
C2BU would like to announce that our founder will be part of the guest panel at the following event as a leading community expert on the issue of domestic minor sex trafficking:
May 10th, 2011
7:30pm-10:00pm
194 Chemistry Building
UC Davis Campus
This is a Free event
Sassafrass ~
