It’s been a fascinating expedition across sub-cultures over the past month: as I finished up my conversations at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland I transitioned back to the States and soon found myself in the classical pulpit of American evangelicalism—Moody Church in Chicago. Interesting juxtaposition of contexts:
In both places I noted from many a sense of old worlds passing and new, uncertain futures unfolding (ready or not).
There was also, in both places, an emerging word of conviction that the ancient virtue of “justice” must somehow be at the foundation of any good tomorrow.
The next big stop for me is IJM’s Global Prayer Gathering. I hope many of you will come join me and our leaders from the field, as well as Lamont Hiebert/Ten Shekel Shirt and Sara Groves. I’m so very grateful to all of you who join with us in prayer day by day from locations across the globe - the most recent outpouring of prayer for the rescue operation in South Asia was just staggering. And the upcoming opportunity for us to join together in person at the GPG is, for me, the most powerful homecoming of the eternal mysteries of prayer and the daily, dirt-under-your-fingernails fight for justice in the real world. Come and dig in with us. I doubt you have experienced anything quite like it.
I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to the Global Prayer Gathering and the Advocacy Day!
In response to the IJM Institute twitter: If I could have coffee w/Gary Haugen and talk about anything, I would want to hear more details of IJM successes. People who have been rescued, perpetrators who have been brought to justice. God has moved in such incredible ways, I’d like to hear more… I’d also want to talk about how he keeps a healthy balance in life. I’m only in the fight in a very peripheral way here in Michigan and yet there are times when the brutality of modern-day slavery feels so heavy and oppressive. I’d be interested to know if there are things he does purposely to step away for a little while and “recharge”.
in response to the twitter post - i would want to know what someone like myself could do. As a youth pastor with a business degree, who is being pulled into the global outreach/poverty/justice world, i feel that many of the positions or duties for this are for “highly trained” people. If someone were to move to live amongst the lost, oppressed, poor, lonely, hurting people - what could they do?
To Scott, I think your point is wonderful. I’m bringing several friends to the prayer gathering that are not lawyers or social works but have a huge heart for the oppressed. Maybe God will reveal that answer for all of us soon!
If I were to sit down for coffee with Gary Haugen, I’d ask him what his vision is for increasing awareness of justice work. I am a web programmer and educator by trade and have been asking myself how God has designed me to be involved in the work of justice. I’ve been inspired by IJM’s use of the IJM Institute blog, Twitter, the IJM website, film (though I’m still waiting for a chance to see Call + Response), etc., and yet I know that the stories of the work IJM does are of incredible worth, have great potential to result in more action and could reach many more people. I wonder, what are the next frontiers of communication and education and how will we take advantage of them?
This blog is a real contribution to the debate. I think you are right on.