Join us for live blogging from the South Asia #3 and Cebu prayer rooms on Saturday, March 28th at 4:30pm ET.
[CEBU] Just walked into the room...We get to write notes of encouragement to all of the staff in Cebu...Investigations, Police training, Admin, Social Work...there are notes spread across the counter, what a great way to love the team there!
[CEBU] This is the last session - but we're going strong in prayer. Cebu: right in the center of the Philippines. Anti-sex trafficking program.
[GLOBAL EXPANSION] Scott Lewis, IJM's current COO, is getting ready to transition into affiliate expansion. There is a map up front showing every place in the world that has an IJM presence. We have three different types of offices. Type 1: headquarters (here in DC); Type 2: IJM overseas casework offices; Type 3: IJM casework affiliates (places where we leverage our presence to support organizations that are already doing great work).
[GLOBAL EXPANSION] We also have great friends running affiliates in the UK and Canada, helping us gather funding, speaking with governments, and find new staff. We hope to see these offices grow and multiply in the future.
[CEBU] Andrey, Field Office Director, last year we were praying for a young girl who was trafficked at 16 and rescued at 17...she was an inspiration to everyone on our staff. The prosecutor dismissed charges against her perpetrator, we prayed last year that charges would be reinstated...
[GLOBAL EXPANSION] Affiliates also help to frame the pursuit of justice not just as an American project, but as a task of God's people.
[GLOBAL EXPANSION] New affiliates coming soon in the Netherlands and Germany!! Also lots of interest in New Zealand and Australia.
[GLOBAL EXPANSION] Now we're going to hear from Terry Tennens, Director of IJM UK, from "over the pond".
[GLOBAL EXPANSION] The number of UK supporters has incrased from 100 to 2,000 over two years. Wow!
[CEBU] the case was overturned, the perpetrator was charged within a couple of weeks. But, it's still hard, the perp isn't in custody yet.
[CEBU] Andrey - Field Office Director is super energetic and encouraging, what a great leader for our team in Cebu...
[CEBU] the cases are so complicated, I'm struck by how many pieces there are to the puzzle.
[GLOBAL EXPANSION] Some highlights from this year . . . speaking with European parliamentarians about the work of IJM . . . Ben Cooley's event, called The Stand (in the UK), really did a lot to raise the profile of human trafficking . . . a British lord allowed IJM to speak at the House of Lords . . . briefing of the members of the Scottish parliament . . . the appointment of the first IJM field office director who is a native of the UK.
[CEBU] There is a new special anti-trafficking unit in the Police in Cebu, PRAY - it needs more funding, resources, training, it's a good start, but needs more help to become fully effective.
[CEBU] Update - prayer last year: Anti-trafficking ordinance to pass...
[CEBU] It passed! Provides a budget for grassroots awareness raising regarding the laws to fight trafficking...the best ordinance of its kind in the Philippines.
[GLOBAL EXPANSION] "To be silent is to be unfaithful." -- Alastair Brown, from Scotland, describing the attitude of Scottish believers when confronted with the brutality of oppression.
We are going to pray at 4 stations: 1. slideshow of photos of clients and staff to pray for, 2. encouragement for our staff 3. Restoration for the clients 4. Prayer for Lapu Lapu major of Cebu City and other gov't officials.
[GLOBAL EXPANSION] Here comes Jamie McIntosh, from IJM Canada.
Signing off, pray with us for Cebu!
[GLOBAL EXPANSION] Jamie suggests, after hearing Alastair Brown from Scotland, that we come out with a new marketing of the Freedom Partner program with a Braveheart slant ;-)
[GLOBAL EXPANSION] IJM Canada is celebrating seven years of educating, empowering and engaging Canadians in the pursuit of justice for the oppressed. Canada has a strong legacy of abolition, having helped 30,000 slaves escape through the Underground Railroad. (Pretty cool, eh?) IJM Canada is very excited to be involved now, largely through supporting IJM's work in Bolivia.
[CEBU] if you want to encourage the Cebu team remotely, write on the blog wall, and I'll write a note to the team for you here in the room!
[GLOBAL EXPANSION] Jamie asks for prayer for the global expansion project. "The world will not remain the same. May we seek justice together, and rescue the oppressed." . . . A fitting word to end this day of intense, but invigorating prayer.
[CEBU] Entering your notes now...
[CEBU] Andy and Kimber - good to see you on here! Passed along your notes to the team...they will be so encouraged!
[CEBU] Beautiful slideshow - "the voice of truth" playing in the background, it's so amazing to see real transformation, real heroes, God moves through prayer.
[CEBU] Have a great night all, signing off, can't wait for the main session at 7:30p.
That's right, we can't wait for tonight's session at 7:30pm. See you all then!
Theresa
Alyson Thoner
IJMHQ
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