Justice Conference Reflections…

Recently I (B.Faye) attended the Justice Conference in Philadelphia and was inspired by the Church’s response to Justice. This conference provided a time of great networking with different ministry partners, challenges to thoughts on justice, and tools to equip and resource in justice ministry.

To be honest, beforehand I did not know what to expect and was wondering if this was going to be a stirring up of emotions simply about justice. I was really pleased when the first speaker and Founder of the Justice Conference, Ken Wystma, assured that it was not about stirring up emotional self (burning-out) effort, but to be rooted in a deep theology of justice.

The conference continued with many phenomenal speakers encouraging the long-haul pursuit of justice. Many attendees were deep in the trenches of this work. It was encouraging to see workers come together to be reminded of the why behind work of justice and that we are not alone in this effort. Others were passionate young people challenged to go deeper in pursuing the God of Justice at work in redeeming humanity.

Gary Haugen, President & CEO of IJM (International Justice Mission) has witnessed many “super hero” stories of justice that he could share but instead he spoke on how the work of justice can be tedious and boring. IJM workers, though we may want to read about them busting down brothels, will take about 6,000 hours in a courtroom for one case, then 3 months of paperwork, and over a 15-year span will receive justice for one victim. But is it worth it? We need long obedience in the same direction that not only overcomes fear, but also overcomes the painfully tedious monotony.  Victims need to know they are worthy of a love that does not go away.

I could continue on with many different points from speakers and great take aways, but overall will encourage you to pray, ask questions, and grow deeper in searching where God is calling you to join in on bringing His justice to the broken. I also encourage you to check out some of their voices here: http://vimeo.com/thejusticeconference/videos.

What would it look like for you to go deeper in joining the long-term fight for justice?

Oh the life of ministry...

Oh the life of ministry...

This week of being back in North Carolina has been filled with great times, random, and it's challenges. 

This journey of faith contained with the unexpected challenges and provisions. One such example is when everything seemed to be on an increasing downhill. Cancelled meetings, low fundage, and the like. Enjoying the time here, yet the performance anxiety kicking in. A glimpse of hope with an unexpected gift. Then finding my car has been towed. Well there goes the gift...

Yet the provision in the timing and provided opportunity to catch up more with a friend. More than that, a continued test of trust.

Some more spiraling down when hear word of a closing of a  friend's ministry. Then and a need to change locations for my event. And cancelled numbers.  Should I cancel? Why waste people's time?

But at the same time, God already prompted my sweet sister though states away (B.Sue) to be already praying for me. We text each other at the same time. Me asking for prayer and her already on it.

I move forward in grace. The event was not about the numbers. It was about obedience, encouragement, and provided the opportunity to meet a stranger who learned about the issue of trafficking and a chance to hear about the gospel. Results are never my own.

This is just a small example of the many ups and downs of ministry and the battle in between. It is an example of the hand of Grace over my life. Things rarely work out the way expected and choosing to enjoy the beautiful mess in between.

Here's to the next step of faith..

Thankful for community that joins me on what I could never venture through on my own.

Thankful for a God with an endless supply of  love and grace.

For God or With God?

"We work with, not for" Some people with NMSI have used this phrase to show we work more alongside each other rather than a hierarchy. (note: we do have the necessary authority structure) but I have been corrected when my mindset constantly thinks of being under someone, when instead it is more of a partnership.

Though this sounds great, it is taking some getting used to. This struggle relates to my relationship with Christ. So many times I try to do things for God. Constantly trying to please Him and never living up. When instead, I am missing where He's already at and where He is going.

The mission of Christ and His heart for the nations is so clear and evident throughout Scripture. And this will happen in my doing or not. God's plan will continue, His Church will prevail. And the amazing part is that God invites us to be a part of that. To join Him. 

None of what I do, YouthHOPE, or any local church does is really that impressive in and of itself. It becomes impressive though, when we join in what God is already doing among the nations. I encourage you to really join in His glorious plan and live out your role and purpose for His Kingdom. It is not about what we do for Him (as I so often get backwards) but joining where Christ is already at work. 

To Him be the glory! 

Processes are inconvenient.

The most beautiful things come in a process. A journey. Well how unfortunate for my success driven, instant gratification world.

Thinking of processes. Of how a gold is refined in fire. How wounds take time to heal. How a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. Or the journey of seeing kids grow up.

Well I do not always like the idea of a process because I'd rather not wait. With numerous options always before me, fast food, and medicine for however I feel that day.  My life is filled with band-aids and quick fixes. Those around around me are too busy anyway figuring out when they can get the latest iPhone. So make sure it's convenient.

My life is a process. When I trust God, it usually involves waiting when I'd rather not and moving when I am scared to. His timing is not my own.

If I had it my way, I would raise support in a day. I would rescue all the girls from brothels and capture all the pimps. I would take up all the child soldiers and feed all the hungry children.

But if it does not work that way, are we willing to invest still? If it takes more than a band-aid and involves deep heartache, will we keep going?

Are we willing to wait?

And I do not mean passively wait, I mean actively handing it over to our Lord. I mean doing your part now. Faithful for what is entrusted to you today so you can be obedient for tomorrow.

If I do not get the recognition and praise, will I be willing to show up and give?

If there is opposition, will we see it as an excuse to give up?
Well Believer, I hope not because we are pretty much guaranteed opposition. Opposition does not mean you are not called, it means you are in battle.

Sometimes I get frustrated because it never feels like enough. I feel like I need to do more, I am not good enough. I can't raise support. But was reminded today, it really doesn't matter how long it takes. It is a process. There is so much God needs to work in my heart to prepare me. He is working in the local community around me, though I do not always see it. His timing is not my own.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9

Throughout, I will actively trust, not in my performance but in His love. Though it may be uncomfortable, I will wait. And I will walk through the fire.
 For He is worthy.
And has called me to live a life worthy.

The Just Church

"In the work of justice, God is beckoning us to experience his profound love for us and for the vulnerable of this world. The call to fight against injustice is therefore the call to intimacy with God and to deep discipleship."

I am privileged with the opportunity to read and review one of IJM's new books- The Just Church, by Jim Martin. This is a fantastic resource for individuals and churches to get involved in God's plan, for His people to be solution to the suffering of the world's vulnerable. This is needed now more than ever and the church should respond to God's call. Jim Martin does a profound job providing tools and making the connection how joining the fight of justice is fertile ground for discipleship.

Working with YouthHOPE, has opened up my eyes more to the injustices around the world, but more than that, it's showed me the opportunity for hope. Hope is vital because it is so easy, especially when focusing on statistics, to get caught in despair and burn-out quickly. Or jump in too quickly from emotion but realize good intentions will not last and is a shallow motivation.

Jim Martin starts the book off with failure and shares how our faith may reach failure points, which is almost inevitable in ministry to victims of oppression.  I personally have realized this failure point all too well and faced burn-out. I have realized though that weakness and opposition do not excuse our hiding in fear. This book provides good ways to prevent and recover from failure. Including spiritual disciplines, such as rest and sabbath, and role of community to ensure we don't go through a failure point alone. I appreciate this because community has played a vital role in my healing and growth. Relationships are not always easy but we cannot do this work alone. We are not designed to. 

We need to join together in the work of justice and I am thankful for this resource to better equip churches to do so. This book is an invitation, requiring courage and humility, to join the justice journey and be changed along the way. Each community will look different in the methods or way they respond but each of us can play a part and actually make a difference in bringing forth God's justice and love to the world. 

I am grateful for the work of International Justice Mission and for Jim Martin to provide this resource to better equip the Church. I have been encouraged and challenged reading it and better equipped in my role for responding to God's call. I hope it encourages others to join as well. 

 Check it out for yourself and let me know your thoughts. http://bit.ly/Qbe99G

Give me Faith

Many times I relate certain seasons of my life to a song, particularly a worship song that I resonate with during that time. Then as I hear it later, it is a neat opportunity to recognize God's faithfulness through all seasons.

Though there are many good ones, right now the song I would probably choose is "Give Me Faith" by Elevation Worship to describe my current prayer..

I need you to soften my heartTo break me apartI need you to open my eyesTo see that You're shaping my life
All I am,I surrender
Give me faith to trust what you sayThat you're good and your love is greatI'm broken inside, I give you my life
I need you to soften my heartTo break me apartI need you pierce through the darkAnd cleanse every part of me
I may be weakYour spirit strong in meMy flesh may failMy God you never will (repeat)

It is one of those prayers that God really shows through and you almost regret praying it because you don't know if you're ready or can take it. It's like praying for patience and all week your patience is tested more then ever.  Or for God to break your heart for what breaks His, God will answer and it hurts. Throughout college, for my friend Christina and I, it was the song "Overwhelm Me.. overwhelm me, shake the ground I stand on, I want to be dependent on You" and God for sure answered it! I found myself in many situations that shook my independent facade and only could rely on Christ alone. But all these prayers are worth it. Do not fear.


I remember singing this song "Give me Faith" as an intern about to go for the first time to Cambodia. Then a year later, singing it with the interns this past summer before they all embarked across the world. So powerful to watch them really begin to walk in such surrender. 

I would have to stop myself when it said "All I am, I surrender"... Whoosh! Really, everything?  Am I really willing to trust God with everything? To surrender my plans, finances, and control?

But after the Lord has brought me through many experiences that  have softened my heart, broken me apart, and opened my eyes to see how He's shaping my life... Then yes! I have no other option really. It's all or nothing. He has brought me this far, chosen me, and carries me through. All I am is His anyway.  

So Father keep giving me faith to trust what You say, that You're good, and Your love is great because I know I am weak but Your spirit is strong in me. 
My flesh may fail, My God you never will!!  

Shout-out to my professors, mentors, and supporters, and youth workers!

When you invest in their training, you're investing in their ministry..

I sat across at lunch discussing how sometimes it seems more difficult to raise support and technically live in the States. Or raise support and go to a place like kayak the Georgian Bay in Canada or minister to youth in Australia.

But as we were talking, I was reminded of how exciting it is when supporters get to see you throughout the whole process of development. And not just you, but God at work in you and throughout the world.

This reminder impacted me so strong in the moment because I was taken back by the reminder of how much it took to get to this point.

Lately, I've been anxiously wanting to get started on the long-term goals ahead and how much it will take to get there and how far I am away from it. Stuck with the lies of  "if I was already heading over to SE Asia, or maybe published a book, or get more "attractive" stories about rescue, etc. Then people would support me faster"

But I was reminded of how much God has already done and how much more meaningful it is for the people who have been with me throughout the whole process, even when it is often messy. I am not promising that one day I will rescue a whole brothel or even publish a book. But, by grace, I will keep walking forward in living a life worthy God's call.

Thank you to those who have invested in my training and development so far.

I am grateful for the time at Snowbird learning about missions and being part of such exhausting but rewarding work for the gospel.

I am grateful for my time at Montreat and the beloved professors that invested so much into teaching us, not only inside the classroom but so much more in investing their lives in us personally. And for mentors like Michelle Weeks, Mel Wilson, and Annie Carlson. And the deep friendships that developed and helped spur me on.

For that time I tried to fight going to the wilderness again (LDW Canada) and time spent at Holler Ministries.

Time volunteering and then becoming a live-in intern at the Hope House, through all the ups and downs of ministering to victims.

For the local church family.

For the many friends and supporters already.

THANK YOU for investing in me when I did not realize there was anything in me worthy to invest in.

For the many youth workers out there pouring their lives to awkward, many times ungrateful teens but worth our time! By investing in youth, you are investing in the future of the church. Of bringing Kingdom come today.