One writer quipped, “Change is inevitable – except from a vending machine.” Humorous, but true!  Today ushers in dramatic adjustments for my family as I am approaching my final hours directing Food for the Hungry’s City Initiatives.

For the past several months my family and I have been wrestling with a decision to either continue our ministry with Food for the Hungry or transition to a position with Streetlight – a safe-house, in-part, developed from the City Initiative and ‘branded’ movement that will meet the wholistic needs of young girls rescued from child sex slavery.  Following much prayer, and far too many meetings, we have felt a clear call to help lead the growing and innovative movement to eradicate child sex slavery in Phoenix.  As of next week I will begin working with Streetlight.

In many ways this new venture only continues a vision started over 4 years ago.  City Initiatives was strategic in launching our 3-tier strategy – awareness, prevention, and aftercare – in combating this injustice.  Our dream of different sectors working together, of actually solving problems instead of simply talking about problems, of developing a movement of modern day abolitionists, and of having the Church lead the charge is coming to fruition with our Branded/Streetlight partnership.  We continue to believe that Phoenix could become an example to other cities in our nation and around the world of the enormous potential when different sectors of society work together to meet physical and spiritual needs.  Streetlight and Branded are examples of this vision!

www.streetlightphx.org
www.brandedphx.com

Also – as of Monday, March 8th, my new email address will be pat@streetlightphx.com

Jaime Farrant, a respected friend and native Puerto Rican, recently wrote the following blog for our Branded and Streetlight initiative.  Jaime established and directed IJM (International Justice Mission) offices in Bolivia and Guatemala.  He conducted groundbreaking investigative and advocacy efforts across the Americas which helped develop and maintain international relationships to advance human rights.  Twice the Bolivian National Police honored Jaime for his crime fighting initiatives.  Clearly, I am proud to call him my friend and fellow advocate against the violence and slavery inflicted on young victims both domestically and internationally.  Jaime wrote:

A series of recent events have led me to think these past few weeks about the things that I believe I’m passionate about, and how committed I am to them.  I read something recently on this topic that has not left my brain, and I would like to share it with you.  It’s from Francis Chan’s new book “Forgotten God”.  There, Chan writes:

“Did God lead you to where you are?  A lot of people in my church and in my travels tell me ‘I believe that God has called me to Simi Valley’.  Or Wichita.  Or new York.  Or Greenville.  Or wherever.  That very well may be the case.  But it could also be a cop-out because you like where you live.  You have a good job.  The school district is safe and has high ratings.  Your family lives close by (or perhaps far away, depending on your relationship with them).  It makes sense that you are “called” to be there, right?

And maybe you are called to where you live.  But if you say you are called to be in the place you are, a few questions need to be considered.  For example, how would you be missed if you left this place?  What would change?  Basically, what difference does your presence here make?  Or, as my youth pastor once asked me, ‘What would your church (and the worldwide church) look like if everyone was as committed as you are?  If everyone gave and served and prayed exactly like you, would the church be healthy and empowered? Or would it be weak and listless?”

These 2 paragraphs have really made me think about the things I claim to be passionate about, be it faith, politics, or anything else.  Think about what you’re passionate about.  Now think…what have you done about those things?  If you stopped doing what you have been doing, would a difference be felt?  Am I doing something or just thinking or talking about it and actually not doing anything?  Jesus said that “by their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:20).  What are your fruits?

Now, let’s say you’re passionate about ending human trafficking.  What would the world look like if everyone was as committed to this cause as you are?  What could happen?  Am I doing something to show how committed I am to this cause?  What?  If I’m not doing anything, why not?  What if the whole world did the same things I did?  Will things be better off?  Worse off?  The same?

What are you passionate about?  How are you trying to make a difference?  How can we change the world together?  How can we have recognizable good fruits?

In June 2007 I facilitated a meeting with local sector leaders asking the question, “Is now the time to come together to meet the physical and spiritual needs in our community?”  (I recognize it is a rather dumb and obvious question.  When is it not appropriate to unite in meeting needs?)  It was during this meeting that I first learned of the child slavery that is rampant in my own neighborhood, city and country.  In the midst of our meeting a question was raised that continues to haunt my thoughts, “Where are God’s people?”  It is a question that rings true in our world – “Where are God’s people?”  In our nation – “Where are God’s people?”  In our own communities – “Where are God’s people?”  My dream is that we would answer this question so emphatically that it begins changing the cultural view of the church!

Last week I was interviewed with one of our vice officers regarding the collaborative efforts focused on combating child sex slavery.  During the interview the officer was asked, “In your 25+ years of service have you ever witnessed churches rallying around a cause like this and what has it done for those of you on the front lines?”  The officer smiled, laughed and replied, “No, I have not seen anything like this and it has given us hope – but I am waiting for it to end.”  Those words stung me and motivate me.  I don’t want people believing we will rally to a cause, stir up some dust, and move on.  For too long the church in the west has been known primarily for their passionate work on the other side of the sea.  Do not misinterpret my words – I rejoice for all that has been accomplished around the world.  I understand that there is so much more to do and recognize it is our MANDATE to go to the “ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).  But let us not forget our own “Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria”!  We need a GLOCAL vision that lavishes compassion, mercy, hope, and justice both locally and globally!

May we never lose sight of the tremendous needs across the ocean!  However, as my brother scribed so eloquently in his poem below, we have too often turned away from those across the street on our way across the sea.  It is not an “either/or” but a “both/and” – a GLOCAL vision incorporating those next door and those in another land and culture.  My brother’s poem hangs in my office as a powerful reminder of the need in our own backyard:

This Time In Between

“This time in Between

After my birth

And before my death

This time on your side of the sea.

What will you do, Christian?

Will you feed me and defend me?

What if I live across the street, not across the sea?

What if I have taken and beaten and used?

Will you lift me up and rescue me?

Or only those across the sea

.

This time in Between

After my birth

And before my death

This time on your side of the sea.

What will you do, Christian?

Will you shelter me and give me new sight to see?

What if I am dirty and full of disease?

And my sin is here and not across the sea.

This time in Between

After my birth

And before my death

This time on your side of the sea.

What will you do, Christian?

I’m right here in your way

To your work across the sea.

Is your only tragedy across the sea?

I’m right here in your way

To your work across the sea.

Please listen, Christian.

Is my rape less violent?

My hunger less painful?

Is my ravaged, addicted body

My suffering soul

Worth less than those across the sea?

This time in Between

After my birth

And before my death

This time on your side of the sea.

Please tell me

What will you do, Christian?

I’m right here in your way

To your work across the sea.

There is a subtle myth that slavery was vanquished in the 19^th century.  In reality it hasn’t been defeated and there are more slaves today than any other time of human history.  In fact, everyday, there are thousands of slaves across the United States.  Thousands brought in and sold for sex and labor.  In my years on this globe I have witnessed and/or read about numerous horrific events; however, I cannot fathom that humanity has created a crime more heinous than enslaving children in a system of rape for profit.

Sadly, there is an astonishing, well organized network of criminals victimizing women and children every day.  I have wondered why we, those fighting for justice, are unable to network with similar ferocity.  Why do criminals have structured systems and networks reaping havoc, while we continue creating “solutions” and systems that remain autonomous of one another?  Why can we not network?  What if different sectors of society could begin working together to break the chains of modern day slavery?  What if churches could unite and lead the charge against this heinous injustice?  What if a duplicable model of collaboration developed that became an example to other cities in our nation and around the world of the enormous potential when government and market place leaders, young people, churches, and thousands of modern day abolitionists wrestled, fought, and prayed against child sex slavery?  What if….

Over 40 years ago Martin Luther King Jr. painted a poignant vision with his “I have a dream” monologue.  What if today, in our continued struggle against slavery, we carried on his dream of abolishing slavery and created a UNITED effort working together to bring justice?  What if…

What if…

Go to www.brandedphx.com for more information about modern day abolitionists!

Note:  The following explanation was taken from Chris Maddox’s blog.  As you will notice he is an excellent photographer - click here to check out his site and photography. 

More pictures of golf marathon under “family moments” and “wanderings”! 

“On Monday, after returning from the weekend in Mexico with Love God Love People, I woke up early to make it to Ancala golf course at 6 a.m.  The course was the location for the 1st Annual City Initiatives Golf Marathon with proceeds benefiting the Phoenix based City Initiatives program within Food for the Hungry.  I will be posting more on what/who City Initiatives is in the upcoming weeks, but it is worth noting that I am currently working with Pat McCalla, the director of City Initiatives, on a vision that would unite both City Initiatives and Love God Love People. To fully unfold this vision I’ll need more time, but essentially City Initiatives is in existence with a goal of uniting various sectors of Phoenix (Government, Educational Institutes, Youth, Churches and the Marketplace) with the vision of actually solving a problem. The first problem that this initiative has tackled has turned into a case study for what future initiatives will look like, that issue is underage sex trafficking in Phoenix. It is an unbelievably dark issue, and one that is not being allowed to stay out of site. City Initiatives and their many partnerships have instigated a movement against child sex slavery in Phoenix, “Branded”. This movement is named after a documentary which came out of this project and shares the same name.  I would encourage you to learn more by clicking here and visiting the Branded website.

The event was a great time of both celebration for what has already been achieved, and what still needs to be done. If you would like to contribute to the Branded cause or learn more click here.” -Chris Maddox

On a side note- the pictures behind me are images from the new Street Light safe house. It was born out of the Branded movement and will provide a tangible solution to assisting in the rehabilitation and restoration of these young victims.

Last week I had the unique experience of being interviewed, along with a former prostitute and two ex-strippers, by Group Publishers.  Prior to the interview these women shared their amazing journey to faith and restoration.  Among the many words and stories that caught my attention, the most prominent was a component of one woman’s conversion experience. 

Kimberly was returning home from another night of stripping.  For nearly two decades Kim had unsuccessfully convinced herself to end her employment as a stripper; however, this night was different.  After 18 years in the industry she wearily vowed, “Never again will I degrade myself this way”.  Driving home Kimberly began listening to a CD about finding and fulfilling your destiny.  (This story alone should cause a smile to crease your face.  Imagine the scene – a woman pulling away from a night of dancing naked in front of strangers now listening to a message concerning God’s heart to discover her glorious, fulfilling destiny!)  At one point in the message the speaker declared, “The devil wants you to compromise one more time…”  Those words were Kimberly’s change agent; the tipping point for her.  Kim told us, “At this point I clearly heard God speak to me…”

 Frankly I did not pay attention to the next portion of Kim’s story.  I was incapable of shaking the question shouting in my head, “Does God really speak to strippers?” Will the holy, all-powerful, all-knowing Creator and Sustainer of this Universe talk to women who make their living dancing nude for strangers?  The answer to this question contains one of the supreme, freeing truths known to humanity.  Absolutely, God speaks to strippers!  The Gospel exclaims Jesus came “to seek and to save that which was lost”.  In Matthew 9 the religious leaders accused Jesus of soiling his reputation by the company he kept – “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riff-raff?”  Jesus overhearing shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick?  Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.”

Rejoice and revel in this radical, amazing truth that “God speaks to strippers” because, consequently, it is why He speaks to you and I!!!

For more information on the fight to eradicate child sex slavery visit www.brandedphx.com

In 2005 City Initiatives was launched with the vision of Phoenix becoming an example to other cities in our nation and around the world of the enormous potential when churches, city leaders, young people, faith based and non-profit organizations work together in meeting physical and spiritual needs.  Our objectives were to be used by God in connecting people, ideas and tools, form multi-sector collaborations, and influence the influencers.  Two years ago we began asking the question, “What if we facilitated a collaborative effort that actually solved a problem?”  Our belief was that one of our greatest testimonies to society would be a unified, loving effort that not only talked about issues of poverty but helped solve one.  Listed below are a few exciting examples how God has used City Initiatives these past months in advancing this vision:

Advocating and Speaking Out

• City Initiatives has directly reached 10,065 individuals via speaking in churches, colleges, and seminar events

Facilitating the collaborative effort to eradicate child sex slavery in Phoenix through ‘branded’ and our partner ‘streetlight’ – www.brandedphx.com

• Partnerships including 30+ churches, County and City Attorney’s office, Vice-Officers, 4-5 local non-profits and 1000’s of individuals
• 15 Branded Screenings to 2,500+ individuals
• 3,000+ Branded DVD’s sold or given away
• As of September 16^th viral marketing for Branded includes 400+ followers on twitter and 6,881 on facebook with an average growth of 100 per day