Story after story of injustice, one can't help but ask, "When?" Until when will the injustice prevail? It's been 3 years since God has shown me the great injustices in Korea. It seems that the longer I'm here, the more depravity I see and hear about.
To be honest, sometimes...it's just too much. It's too heavy. Hopeless. Defeated. Alone. Discouraged. There have been many times when I've experienced the messy side of ministry. There have been many times when I've wanted to give up. I've wanted to give in. I've wanted to slow down. I've wanted to ease up.
But, knowing the injustices...it would be greater injustice if I just turn away.
God will not relent. I choose to not relent, too.
In His sweet voice, the Lord reminded me the other night, "You are on the winning side." What incredible news.
Injustice is all around. But, Justice wins.
Justice is the King's.
Our King wins.
6.23.2011
6.16.2011
Backyard Academy June 23-25
http://www.nfsacademy.org/backyard-academy/
The Not for Sale Backyard Academy is coming to Seoul next weekend!! If you are in the area and have not yet signed up, you should do so. Its going to be an awesome time of learning more about human slavery and what we can do to end it.
The Not for Sale Backyard Academy is coming to Seoul next weekend!! If you are in the area and have not yet signed up, you should do so. Its going to be an awesome time of learning more about human slavery and what we can do to end it.
5.19.2011
Article about Protests in Red Light District
The protests that are happening are making major news right now in Korea. Check out this article, with pictures, of the event. **warning** some of the pictures are rather disturbing and somewhat explicit.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/17/south-korea-prostitutes-pimps-protest_n_863002.html?ref=fb&src=sp#s279711
Also, here is some video footage from another news website.
Unfortunately, many of these women have nowhere else to turn to because of debt, shame, etc. Let us continue to pray for restoration and freedom!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/17/south-korea-prostitutes-pimps-protest_n_863002.html?ref=fb&src=sp#s279711
Also, here is some video footage from another news website.
Unfortunately, many of these women have nowhere else to turn to because of debt, shame, etc. Let us continue to pray for restoration and freedom!!
PRAISE Him for answered prayers!!
We have great news to report from Korea!!!
The Red Light district that we used to pray through each week has been showing strange signs lately.
- About a month ago, at 11pm on a Friday there were no girls "working" in the windows.
- About a week later, again, there were no girls in the windows and a large group of pimps were all gathered together having some sort of "meeting" in one of the windows.
- A couple weeks ago we did another prayer walk and there were significantly more police patrolling around the whole area. A police car was parked at both ends of the street and cars were patrolling every so often. I saw many pimps in staggered locations along the perimeter and surrounding streets giving word of when cop cars were coming and then I saw many "freelance girls" (women who are still "working" on the street, but not in a window on the specific Red Light street) run to hiding places.
When I have been praying, I felt like the lord has been saying, "This is a Jericho moment for this area." Just like Joshua sent out spies before hand, we have been surveying the land for more than a year and been praying and praying. And then God said now its time to take it. So during our walk a couple weeks ago we were just claiming, like in Joshua, that every place our foots walks upon would be taken for the lord.
Then a few nights ago, my friend, who lives in the area, sent me a video of what she saw in the area. The windows where the women are typically on display were all closed and had huge signs posted. On the actual Red Light street, there was not business happening. Apparently it is shut down right now because the workers (women, pimps, madams) are protesting because the government is taking action and shutting it all down!!!
The signs said some of the following things:
"We hate those in power"
"The authorities only give power to the big companies"
"You are taking everything away from the poor girl" (because they are not allowing the prostitutes to work)
"Should we sell ourselves in other countries so that we can bring money to Korea?"
"Because the government shut us down, give us restitution"
This is an amazing and pivotal time! Please pray for us here, for our ministry, for clarity, for Seoul, for true freedom in this area. Thank you for being a part of this with us!! I feel like we can all rejoice together because we've all been sowing in prayer together!!
The Red Light district that we used to pray through each week has been showing strange signs lately.
- About a month ago, at 11pm on a Friday there were no girls "working" in the windows.
- About a week later, again, there were no girls in the windows and a large group of pimps were all gathered together having some sort of "meeting" in one of the windows.
- A couple weeks ago we did another prayer walk and there were significantly more police patrolling around the whole area. A police car was parked at both ends of the street and cars were patrolling every so often. I saw many pimps in staggered locations along the perimeter and surrounding streets giving word of when cop cars were coming and then I saw many "freelance girls" (women who are still "working" on the street, but not in a window on the specific Red Light street) run to hiding places.
When I have been praying, I felt like the lord has been saying, "This is a Jericho moment for this area." Just like Joshua sent out spies before hand, we have been surveying the land for more than a year and been praying and praying. And then God said now its time to take it. So during our walk a couple weeks ago we were just claiming, like in Joshua, that every place our foots walks upon would be taken for the lord.
Then a few nights ago, my friend, who lives in the area, sent me a video of what she saw in the area. The windows where the women are typically on display were all closed and had huge signs posted. On the actual Red Light street, there was not business happening. Apparently it is shut down right now because the workers (women, pimps, madams) are protesting because the government is taking action and shutting it all down!!!
The signs said some of the following things:
"We hate those in power"
"The authorities only give power to the big companies"
"You are taking everything away from the poor girl" (because they are not allowing the prostitutes to work)
"Should we sell ourselves in other countries so that we can bring money to Korea?"
"Because the government shut us down, give us restitution"
This is an amazing and pivotal time! Please pray for us here, for our ministry, for clarity, for Seoul, for true freedom in this area. Thank you for being a part of this with us!! I feel like we can all rejoice together because we've all been sowing in prayer together!!
3.09.2011
The Candy Shop...a MUST see short film!
http://www.whitestonemotionpictures.com/Films/the-candy-shop/
I know it may be annoying that we can't just have the video on our site, but I'm telling you that it is worth your time to click on one more page and watch this film! It is so well made and it is a very "disturbing" yet truthful view of child sexual exploitation.
You MUST watch it!
I know it may be annoying that we can't just have the video on our site, but I'm telling you that it is worth your time to click on one more page and watch this film! It is so well made and it is a very "disturbing" yet truthful view of child sexual exploitation.
You MUST watch it!
3.03.2011
A few Thailand pictures
As we have said many times, our trip to Thailand was amazing! God did soooooo much in us and through us; its hard to even share it all. We are going to continue to update you with bits here and there because, honestly, there is too much and it's too intense to share it all in one chunk. For now, here are a few photos of some of our time there.
Be blessed!
[caption id="attachment_398" align="aligncenter" width="509" caption="Some street graffiti in Bangkok. A prophetic picture of what we did and what God is doing!"]
[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_401" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="A picture from one major Red Light District in Bangkok"]
[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_402" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="An intense and thought provoking photo taken on the streets of the Red Light District in Bangkok"]
[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_404" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="A group of young men who work in the sex industry in Bangkok. This street of "boy bars" is where we spent most of our ministry time. God moved our hearts in an amazing way for these men! Please keep them in your prayers. "]
[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_412" align="aligncenter" width="612" caption="Chatting with some workers at a massage parlor- a place that we were told may have trafficked children"]
[/caption]
Be blessed!
[caption id="attachment_398" align="aligncenter" width="509" caption="Some street graffiti in Bangkok. A prophetic picture of what we did and what God is doing!"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_401" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="A picture from one major Red Light District in Bangkok"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_402" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="An intense and thought provoking photo taken on the streets of the Red Light District in Bangkok"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_404" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="A group of young men who work in the sex industry in Bangkok. This street of "boy bars" is where we spent most of our ministry time. God moved our hearts in an amazing way for these men! Please keep them in your prayers. "]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_412" align="aligncenter" width="612" caption="Chatting with some workers at a massage parlor- a place that we were told may have trafficked children"]
[/caption]
2.17.2011
What's next??
Our apologies for our lack of postings lately. God really did quite a work in Thailand and we have been trying to process it all and figure out what it means for Unearthed. Its been a wonderful season! Please understand that our lack of posting/emailing in no way means we haven't been doing anything, haven't been praying, or haven't been thinking about all of you and thanking God for your partnership!! It is because of YOU that Thailand was so special!
Here a brief overview/update. In the coming days we will post small bits/stories about our trip so you know more about all we went through.
Our Thailand trip was crazy and intense. God showed us so much! Specifically, God put it on our hearts to contend for two groups of people: the men and the trafficked children. We were so surprised by this...as we went to Thailand with the intention of reaching out to the women and all the connections we made were with ministries for women.
Though we felt unprepared and "little"...God used our Unearthed experience and gave us so much favor in our prayer-walks! We befriended some very special boys and prayed over some very dark areas. As y'all can imagine, we were rocked. And the Lord is still rocking us. Much to process but we are also discerning how to move forth with Unearthed and in Korea.
We feel that God is leading us to go deeper... specifically that of "unseen" areas He wants us to see...to contend for these unseen areas and people. As we do, we need to learn more! So, just like Unearthed started a year and half ago, with research and learning, this is where we find ourselves again now. Once again, we are forerunning! Except what's different now is that we're going to focus on the hidden areas. This is challenging but we know it is exactly where God is placing us right now. We have begun our research and some "scouting" of areas. We are in need of direction and strategy as we move forth.
Also, God has heard our prayers for the Church to rise up! Slowly but surely the churches in Seoul are being awakened and are engaging with God's heart for justice and righteousness...His heart for the men and women involved in this industry. PRAISE THE LORD! It moves us to tears to see the sleeping Church wake up. This is what we've been praying for! Surely, He has heard our cries.
Thank you again and again for your partnership! This is going to be a special time where we need grace to continue, favor to search out and find the right things and strategy to know what to do with the information.
Prayer Warriors...we love you! Thank you
Here a brief overview/update. In the coming days we will post small bits/stories about our trip so you know more about all we went through.
Our Thailand trip was crazy and intense. God showed us so much! Specifically, God put it on our hearts to contend for two groups of people: the men and the trafficked children. We were so surprised by this...as we went to Thailand with the intention of reaching out to the women and all the connections we made were with ministries for women.
Though we felt unprepared and "little"...God used our Unearthed experience and gave us so much favor in our prayer-walks! We befriended some very special boys and prayed over some very dark areas. As y'all can imagine, we were rocked. And the Lord is still rocking us. Much to process but we are also discerning how to move forth with Unearthed and in Korea.
We feel that God is leading us to go deeper... specifically that of "unseen" areas He wants us to see...to contend for these unseen areas and people. As we do, we need to learn more! So, just like Unearthed started a year and half ago, with research and learning, this is where we find ourselves again now. Once again, we are forerunning! Except what's different now is that we're going to focus on the hidden areas. This is challenging but we know it is exactly where God is placing us right now. We have begun our research and some "scouting" of areas. We are in need of direction and strategy as we move forth.
Also, God has heard our prayers for the Church to rise up! Slowly but surely the churches in Seoul are being awakened and are engaging with God's heart for justice and righteousness...His heart for the men and women involved in this industry. PRAISE THE LORD! It moves us to tears to see the sleeping Church wake up. This is what we've been praying for! Surely, He has heard our cries.
Thank you again and again for your partnership! This is going to be a special time where we need grace to continue, favor to search out and find the right things and strategy to know what to do with the information.
Prayer Warriors...we love you! Thank you
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