Baptism by Snow

They always

write cliches

like the Snow was

white

against the 

black sky.

The sky isn't quite black when it snows.

More of a 

gray.

Silver.

With the snow glistening as it falls.

Falling like rain drops-

like gum drops-

We always said in our childhood.

Drops fall

white

against my jacket

black 

as a heavy duty trash bag.

(It looks like one too.)

But it keeps me warm as I catch 

snow

in the palm of my hand.

Each drop melts.

Melts.

Disappears.

Comfort.

With each

snow

splash

in the palm of my hand;

I say:

-a name

-a worry

-a secret

He has given me a

gift: snow.

Baptism by snow:

Each drop melts.

Melts.

Disappears.

Comfort.

heart of an abolitionist

A couple of summers ago I moved in with my brother and his wife for the summer to intern at their church. My first day at their house, I unpacked my car and took my first load of stuff up to their guest room. On the bed was a book “Behind the Soiled Curtain.”

My brother told me that they had got me that book because they thought it was a book I would want to read. I quickly read the subtitle before finishing unpacking my car: “Project Rescue's Fight for the Victims of the Sex-Slave Industry.”

I left the book on the bed and didn't think much of it.

That same night my friend invited me to come to her church to watch the documentary “Nefarious.”

As I watched the film tears poured from my eyes.
Honestly as cliche as it sounds I was shocked.

I listened to a state of disbelief:

"I made $393 a month. 

You can buy a girl for $10 a night.

I went to bed with over 500 girls in 2 years, 

because they were there..."

"They ask your favorite type, 

what would you like. 

If you want dark or brown. 

Then they come to you. 

It's like you order a pizza"

"Dozens of girls 

in a village of 3,000 people 

that are raped 5-10 times a day 

for money, 

for the pleasure of some guy."

(To watch the trailer of Nefarious for yourself go to: http://nefariousdocumentary.com/)

Within 24 hours I was exposed to the injustice human trafficking. Until that day 2 years ago I had no idea how big of an industry sex trafficking was.

I had no idea how many slaves there are in the world.

Right now.

Hidden in the darkness.

I set myself to break the culture of silence on the issue, on the injustice of human trafficking.

Investing my time and money into seeing slaves set free. 

My friends, I do not know the words to write to compel you to join me in fighting for these victims.

What words can you write about an issue so horrific that leaves you speechless. 

It seems all I can do is ask you.

Ask you to pray.

Ask you to create awareness.

Ask you to donate.

Donating to Set Free Akron Canton will help to set free victims of human trafficking in the local area. Please consider giving at rally.org/setfreeAkronCanton. 

Our goal is to raise $2,000 by November 26.

Consider donating even a few dollars. 

Know that your support matters not only to me, not only to the victims, but to our Father.

Until All are Set Free.

welcome & protect

A couple weeks ago I was standing in the back of the church stationed as the well known greeter.

greeter.

Though I don't like to admit it, I wasn't too thrilled to be the greeter (at least not at the time).

I am loud.
I am outgoing.
I smile.

Seems like I had everything a good greeter should have.

Standing in the back during worship one of the girls gets up to use the restroom and walks past me and says:

"greeter?"

I nod.

Then without my asking. Without my expecting. She shares with me some wisdom that changed the way I will think about being a greeter forever.

She told me that she likes being the greeter because it is a lot like being a watchman.

You stand at the door to welcome and to protect. 
To guard the door of the house. 

Such a simple concept, but provoking for me.

$5 coincidence

Currently I am sitting at Starbucks with Casey Stevens, working on stuff for the church and sipping coffee. The funny thing about this is because we came to Starbucks to write blog posts (figured it was a better environment for us hipsters).

Casey forgot her wallet, so I offered to pay for her. The funny thing is that the total of our drinks came out to an even $5. Now I drink a lot of coffee, but my drink order has never come out to an even $5.

This little coincidence lends itself well to my asking you to purchase a 1Life bracelet through this post.

Our coffee total was $5.

A 1Life bracelet cost $5.

What I am asking you to do is really quite simple. It is used in persuasion all the time to get people to commit to small donations:

This week skip a cup of coffee and buy a 1Life bracelet.

Even though this ask doesn’t seem any different from the other causes that clog your timelines, humor me in be willing to see it as different.

I have seen God ask prayers. He is faithful. That I know to be true. That I can testify too.

Prayer is powerful.

Purchasing this $5 bracelet will help build a house for a family in Guatemala.

It will also help you to remember to be in prayer for the team.

So there it is simply.

Please, purchase a bracelet as a reminder to pray for our team while they are on the trip from December 14-22.