About this time last year, GP called me over to watch a trailer for a documentary that was about to be released. As I watched the trailer for Nefarious: Merchant of Souls, I had goosebumps. Somewhere in my mind, I had filed away that slavery was not just a thing of the past, but I didn't realize the extent to which it existed today.
Gib researched Exodus Cry, the film's director and any information he could find on the actual content. He wanted to see the film, but that was only possible by finding a venue where the Exodus Cry team was screening it. The nearest venue to us was hours away, so we decided to go ahead and pre-order the DVD to be here in October 2011.
Fast-forward to October 2011, when we received news that the DVD release was postponed due to the huge response the tour was getting internationally. Instead, Exodus Cry decided to do a second screening tour. With that news, hope was planted that maybe, just maybe, Exodus Cry would come to Norman.
With the blessing of our church leadership, we began communicating with the organization, and they accepted our proposal to add Norman to their spring tour. We danced, we rejoiced… and then we began looking at what something of this magnitude would require. It would involve a venue, volunteers, money, publicity and prayer.
We started with prayer, and God, in His kindness, wasted no time in providing us with not one, but two venues for two screening opportunities. He provided money. And then, to our utter amazement, people interested in helping make this thing happen started appearing. When I say that they jumped on board, I mean it. You see, the Lord hadn't just put this film and this issue on our hearts… He was already moving, long before, drawing the hearts of others in the same direction. To Him, of course, but specifically to the issue of human trafficking.
When I think about the way dozens of volunteers have come forward to help with all aspects of this event, I am amazed. It has affirmed for me that when God plants His vision in the hearts of His people, He works out the details. All of them.
When I think about the group of eight people who, for months now, have come together on Friday nights, I tear up. They are mighty prayer warriors, crying out to God, interceding for the victims of trafficking, interceding for this event, worshiping, thanking God for His victory, for His abolitionist plan, for His heart, for His goodness. They come for hours, and we brainstorm, we plan and we connect. During our time together, I am often overwhelmed by God's plan, and how perfectly He puts things, and people, together.
Since finishing our Equip training school last year, I hadn't felt this sense of deep community with a group of people that I didn't see all of the time. Each time we get together, Gib and I are amazed. We love this crew so much, and we hope we get to be part of each other's lives for years to come!
Although a big focus of our time together is preparing for the screening events, we have also gotten to hear firsthand about some of the amazing things happening here in our area to fight trafficking. We have also gotten connected with organizations working internationally, and we are inspired. Our interest was first to see the film, but it's about so much more than a documentary for us now.
We see God's hand in connecting people, we are amazed at the way He works, and it is our joy and passion to be part of the way He is calling His church to live out Isaiah 61:
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn in Zion--
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
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