Stop by beginning on Friday, March 27th, at 1:30pm ET for the start to our weekend-long live blogging. First event: our pre-Gathering exclusively for students! IJM Campus Chapters leaders will share their experiences from this year and there will also be talks from special guest speakers.
Opening worship/banquet with Gary Haugen and Lamont Hiebert/Ten Shekel Shirt starts Friday night 7pm ET. We'll be posting photos, video clips, and brief reflections. Live blogging will continue through-out the weekend - we've got a whole team of bloggers ready to keep you updated!
Here at the pre-Gathering session for students...starting in 10-15 minutes...
Looking forward to Saju Mathews, Director of one of our South Asia offices, Eileen Campbell, Director of IJM Justice Campaigns and Christa Hayden, Mid-Atlantic Church Mobilization Director
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] Interns and Fellows Program crew are also here to talk about IJM internship opportunities.
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] While we're waiting to start...am having some side convos with Saju and IJM staff on the wonders of Twitter. (IJM has three to follow: @IJMHQ, @IJMInstitute and @IJMCampaigns)
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] Have a question? Submit it using the comments function at the top of the live blog titled "make a comment"
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] Getting started...Andi Saccoccio, Director of Student Ministries getting started...
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] "In my lifetime, we've gone from 'Not my problem' to 'I'm the solution.'" - Andi S.
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] Something is happening in this world that's called "Human Litter", "Disposable People" - Andi S.
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] What's so powerful to me is that you [students] are actually here. You care enough to pray about this, to change the reality of this situation. - Andi S.
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] Here's what we believe at IJM...God is passionate about justice...
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] Seeking justice is live in the way that God intended. - Andi S.
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] ...Justice is a huge category of need in our world...
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] ...God's people are His plan for doing justice.
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] Often we think the kingdom story is like a movie where we sit in our seats and watch. We're part of the plan; get up and let's get moving! - Andi S.
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] "The Christian gospel...equips people - informed, devout, educated, pious people - to follow him in righting what's wrong, in transforming what's corrupted, in doing the things that make for peace."
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] What can you do?...
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] Educate yourself & tell others (bible studies, book clubs)...
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] ...Read Good News about Injustice and Just Courage...
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] Become a Prayer Partner...
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] ...IJM Campus Chapters...
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] ...Internships...
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] Everything can be found at www.ijm.org.
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] We're breaking into small groups to share what we've done this year, what brings up to the GPG, what we're hoping to learn this wknd...
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] Break out into small groups...going into prayer.
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] Wrapping prayers in the small groups in about 5 mins. Any questions from our live blog watchers in the meantime?
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] You can submit them by using the "make a comment" function at the top of the live blog.
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] ...reconvening for some time of sharing...
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] Alicia Leite of IJM Student Ministries is introducing our special speakers...
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] From left to right...Christa Hayden, Mid-Atlantic Church Mobilization Director...Saju Mathews, one of our South Asia office directors...Eileen Campbell, Director of IJM Justice campaigns
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] "Idea behind Justice Campaign is to help build champions on Capitol Hill for the work of justice. My job is to connect you with legislators passionate about our work." -E.C.
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] "We have an advocacy day this Monday...about 100 meetings between supporters like you and legislators..." - EC
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] "Will be pushing several key pieces of legislation; can't do it without your help. We need legislators to know that constituents in their districts care about justice issues." - EC
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] Saju M. - "my office focuses on the issue of slavery. individuals from the 'untouchables' caste find themselves sucked into the slavery industries with promises of financial help in exchange for labor. "
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] "We really believe in India that if the next generation will find that this problem is 'not ok', we can make a difference." - SM
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] "we have 40 nat'l staff in our office as well as 10 interns and fellows" - SM
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] "Interns/Fellows are really the lifeblood of our office. They interject new energy and ideas into the national staff...we have folks from UK, New Zealand, US...is a real U.N. atmosphere." - SM
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] Question to SM - "What's an ordinary day like for you?" A: "Having regular conversations with my dept heads. Also, providing spiritual mentorship to our staff...there's a lot of encouraging of the staff, reminding that this is a long process but we're in it together."
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] Christa Hayden was previously in our Phnom Penh office as our director of Aftercare before moving back to IJM HQ to work in church mobilization...
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] "The thing I love about aftercare is that it's just so vital. If clients arent succeeding and healing long term, IJM is not succeeding." - CH
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] "During my time in Cambodia, was involved in direct crisis care of clients, mentoring and training staffs, and acting as resources to some of our aftercare partners." - CH
[FRI. STUDENT SESSION] "When I first started in Cambodia, there was little quality aftercare options in Phnom Penh. Today, there are 11 high-quality centers, 4 I think are possibly the best in the world!" - CH