The Defenders USA Archives - Shared Hope International

May 19, 2014 by SHI Staff

Thank You Chris Gay

The following Blog Post was written by Defenders Co-Chairman, Nick Lembo.

In fighting Sex Trafficking, one man can make a difference. One man heard me speak in Washington DC, and things changed for the Defenders USA in fighting sex trafficking. The smallest of actions can add up to major changes in our culture.

What might appear to be a small decision led to a tipping point for major developments in the Defenders Program. One man was instrumental in leading the Defenders USA in their work with the trucking industry. His name is Chris Gay. He is one of our Defenders and this month we wish to celebrate his actions. He’s an active leader of The Defenders USA who is living in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

At one of my Defender’s classes in Washington D.C., Chris heard me say, “We want to get Linda Smith’s book Renting Lacy into the hands of truck drivers.” Earlier that year one of our Defender’s paid to create an audiobook version of Renting Lacy. Our intention was to educate the trucking industry through the audiobook. There seemed no better way than to provide information that truckers could simply listen to on their long hauls. However, we didn’t have the connections to get the book into the transportation industry.

Chris took it upon himself to work some contacts he had in the trucking industry. It led to a meeting with the CEO of one of the nation’s largest trucking companies. In that discussion, we discovered the trucking industry was beginning to recognize the need to implement training to stop the trafficking of our nation’s youth. They invited us to partner with them in creating materials to inform their employees.

We are now going to help this trucking company in three ways;

Debunk the myths surrounding domestic minor sex trafficking
Teach them how to identify victims
Provide ways for them to respond when they see trafficking occurring

Because of Chris’s actions, things are transpiring in a major trucking company with potentially widespread repercussions. Who knows what could be next?

Don’t underestimate your value in fighting sex trafficking in the United States. The smallest of actions all add up to major changes in our culture. Chris is a living example of that.

THANK YOU CHRIS!

-Nick Lembo and The Defenders USA

October 22, 2013 by SHI Staff

Take Action: The Power of Accountability

Love. Care. Tenderness. Support. These are all character qualities that are essential to the Defenders. These qualities in my mind all describe one important value of the Defenders: accountability. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, accountability means “an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions.”

I always grew up with the term “brother’s keeper.” Brother’s Keeper is a simple term that means you love someone enough to hold them accountable to their actions. In my experience, accountability is only successfully done when both parties hold each other accountable out of common love for the wellbeing of the other person. Part two of The Defenders Pledge says “I will hold my friends accountable for their actions towards women and children.”

Women and Children deserve respect. They deserve to be honored, and we should treat them with that in mind. Human Trafficking and commercial sex takes advantage of women, makes them our objects, and that in no way is right. Out of love for our friends and the women and children who are involved in the industry, should we not hold each other accountable and stay away from that? Out of love and care for the wellbeing of our fellow men, should we not hold each other accountable to our actions? Should we not challenge each other? That’s why part two of the Defenders pledge exists. Out of love and respect for women and children, indulging in the commercial sex industry is clearly not an option.

But as I’ve said in previous blog posts, commercial sex can be an addictive indulgence. It can consume our lives, and pretty soon, quitting this terrible indulgence is harder than we thought. That is also where accountability comes in. Accountability can work as a powerful sword. Holding our fellow men accountable to their actions can fight those desires to indulge, and for some, completely eliminate them. For many, accountability also becomes a shield, which defends our hearts and restores our minds. I’ve experienced this effect personally through a Men’s group which I’ve called Men Mentoring Men.

This group consists of 5-8 men who are committed to meeting once each week to talk about life. We talk about the highs, lows, and struggles of the past week–both sexually and relationally. This group helps men grow in relationship with each other, and restore a healthy view of relationships and sexuality. We laugh, we cry, and we celebrate. This group creates a sword and shield for men who are struggling with commercial sex. It allows men to be vulnerable, and to acknowledge the pain in their life. Ultimately, this group effectively restores our desire to honor and respect women and children.

So today I’d encourage you to take action by starting an accountability group with 2 or more of your friends. It can be as simple as meeting up for coffee every Wednesday morning and talking about life, purity, and relationships. For more ideas, check out this Defenders resource: http://sharedhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/How-to-Start-a-Defenders-Mens-Accountability-Group.pdf.

Together, we can end demand.

October 15, 2013 by SHI Staff

Take Action: The Power of Renting Lacy

In September of 2012, I found myself reading Renting Lacy. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. Despite the warning at the beginning of the book telling me that it has very tough content, I thought I could handle it. I thought to myself, I can do this. This will be a one-sitting book for me. I was confident because my mind is pretty tolerant of tough content. I’m a guy that can watch violent things; rated R movies with violent content are a piece of cake for me, because I have the ability to think and process through what I am seeing. Renting Lacy, however, turned out to be totally different.

After only one chapter of reading, my jaw had dropped, and I was nearly crying. One chapter after that, I found myself in tears, having to put the book down for a while. I couldn’t handle it. I found myself overwhelmed by the fact that Linda was sharing true stories. Unlike graphic rated R films, for the first time my mind could not separate the fake from reality. It was all reality. These brutal situations actually happened to women and children on a daily basis. Several days later, I found myself still reading Renting Lacy. The content was educational, but so shocking to the point that I had to put the book down and process what I read. This sounds like a negative thing, but it isn’t. It is important, especially when reading Renting Lacy, to sit down and process what you’ve read.

Renting Lacy changed my life. What I thought would be a one-sitting read turned into a one week read. Not because of the length of the book, but because of the shock that I had to process through.

Though this book was extremely hard to read through, it was absolutely necessary. I am so happy that I have read the book Renting Lacy, because it was the catalyst for me becoming a Defender and an activist against human trafficking.

Whether you are a current activist, or someone who is just now learning about human trafficking, you need to read this book. It will shock you. Perhaps it will make you cry. It will educate you. But more importantly, it will motivate you. Everyone needs to have a copy of this book, because it changes lives. Go get Renting Lacy NOW.

Renting Lacy is now available in audiobook form. You can get a digital or physical copy of the audiobook here.

July 16, 2013 by SHI Staff

Fighting Slavery For Christ

Guest Blog Post by Pastor Angi

What does fighting slavery for Christ mean? How does fighting “slavery” for Christ and the issue of modern day slavery go together? For those who consider themselves, non-Christian that may be a puzzling question. But for those who consider themselves Christian it is the only way to fight slavery.

Slavery comes in many forms. We all realize this. It can mean drug or alcohol addiction. It may mean sex addiction through pornography. It could quite possibly mean addiction to things such as food, relationships, even work. But for today’s discussion let’s narrow it down to the buying of PEOPLE, HUMAN BEINGS for ones own gratification for the fulfillment of the basest crimes in nature. Crimes that one could never speak of in public. Crimes that defy normal thinking faculties. Crimes that leave the average human being running to protect their own trembling child within.

One would fight a “slavery” of any kind with the principles found in the Bible. Those principles would vary from addiction to addiction. For the sake of today’s argument, lets use the slavery that is near and dear all our hearts: THE SLAVERY OF HUMAN BEINGS via continental trade and modern warfare. It is not just limited to “third world” countries anymore. This is also an intercontinental crime of drastic proportions that we could now call a PANDEMIC.

Warfare and slavery go together in that it is a WAR against society that is being waged in the trenches known as our streets. Yes the very streets you call home are effected by this every single day. The sad fact is that most people do not even realize this is going on right under their noses. That is precisely WHY this pandemic has grown to the proportions that it has at this point. Now we must ask ourselves, each and every one of us what we can do? (2 Cor 10:4)

PRAY for starters. That will be the floodgate through which you can become enlightened and educated about where it would be right for YOU to start. (James 5:16-18a) When you are aware of the dismal depths to which this atrocity has plummeted it is only then that you can arise with a passion to be part of the cause as only you yourself can. For each and every one of us have a calling on our lives. If you are reading this it is by no accident for YOU have been called to the Kingdom “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14)

We all have spiritual gifts whether you have discovered them yet or not. Ask and He will be faithful to reveal what YOU have to offer this fight. (Matt 7:7) Intercession is a very simple step to be taken by one who may feel overwhelmed and not be sure where they should step in. The next step is equally as simple. Fasting. Fasting is Biblical and PROVEN to get results. If that is a new concept to you, consider Jonah 3:5-10.

Allow the Lord to enlighten and educate you on this very necessary endeavor. The endeavor of liberating a society that otherwise would remain enslaved if it were not for the spirit of EVERYONE involved to bring an end to modern day slavery.

BIO: Pastor Angi is a stay at home mother of 4 also working in full time ministry. Her heart’s desire is to see an end to all human trafficking. She founded Angel’s Ministry as well as P.A.V.E.D which caters to the empowerment of women. As an author, evangelist, pastor and mother, her heart is to touch women the world over.

May 8, 2013 by SHI Staff

Defenders Awareness Benefit Concert

Join us at a benefit concert for the Defenders at Crossroads Church in Vancouver, WA on June 1, 2013 from 6:30-9:00 pm. Featuring local bands Ninth & Final and James Younger. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Defenders program, which will help us continue to defend, protect, and restore women and children exploited through the commercial sex industry.

[youtuber vimeo=’https://vimeo.com/67146427′]

Suggested Donation Minimum $3 Per Ticket

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