Frighteningly, human slavery still exists. Gloriously, there are ministries that are focused against it. Cru is currently partnering with the International Justice Mission, a group dedicated to rescuing enslaved people (both those enslaved as sex workers and others), working with authorities to jail the “enslavers”, and put slavery out of existence.
In late September, early October the global staff of this ministry (some from countries we cannot mention) gathered in the United States. Andy was asked to help set up and run the assembly.
Wifely gushing: my sweet husband took it on himself to contact some of the companies that provide Cru’s hardware and software. He was able to secure donations of 27 new laptops for the hardworking staff of IJM to take back into the frontlines of this daring ministry. (Shout out to Dell and Lenovo for their participation!)
During the gathering Andy’s primary role was managing a “communications lounge.” So much of what these workers do is in “crisis mode” – dealing with desperate situations. The ministry was purposeful in asking their staff not to do their “work” during the conference, allowing them to rest and focus on the meetings. For many of these staff it was their first time apart from their families. For some, the trip to the U.S. was their first time on an airplane. Therefore Andy and his team set up this lounge for the staff to call back home and stay connected with family.
I get so excited when I talk about Cru’s partnerships with other ministries. For me it comes under the heading of, “If they are doing it well, let’s support them, rather than try to duplicate those efforts.” IJM has people and resources working in this crucial field of ministry, and Cru has people who can come along side IJM in what they are already doing. What an illustration of the Body of Christ! What a foretaste of heaven when we will all be together from every nation, in every tongue and every color.
IJM has helped rescue almost 47,000 people from slavery across the globe!
[Andy’s Thoughts:] It was an honor to use our skills to serve the people of IJM. I could see the fervor that they had for their ministry, and caught their enthusiasm for their part of “trusting God to charge hell with a squirt gun.” We at Cru know the value of hearing from our leadership and remembering where our ministry is going. That’s why we gather in Colorado every other year. This group has never done that before.
As you can see in our picture, Jason (my co-worker who came with me) and I were able to see what was happening on people’s calls, watching people’s interactions on the computers. We listened to a mom sing Happy Birthday to her five-year-old son four times over the course of a 30-minute video call. We didn’t understand the language she used to talk to her son, but she sang the song in English.
There were numerous tears shed in the communications lounge, both by those attending the conference and loved ones on the screens.
Another woman had gotten married two months ago and this was her first time away from her husband.
One man told a member of the Cru team, “I have never before felt so cared for by anyone, let alone a stranger”.
Thank you for partnering with Catherine and me, so that we could partner with IJM! We pray often that you know how grateful we are for you!
The Kelloggs 