VISION

Just over two years ago, I realized that my heart was screaming, ENOUGH!  I was in Louisiana to speak at a conference on the topic of using our faith to influence culture. In the middle of my presentation I was asked to talk about sex trafficking, an area where I have been engaged part-time for many years.

Every time I speak on this topic my thoughts immediately gravitate to my two children back home in Georgia. What would I be willing to do if one of them was in danger of being trafficked? Who would stand up for them? The first time this happened I knew that I had to stand up for the children who are not able to protect themselves. Help secure a future for the lost children of this generation who are being treated as an object for men’s gratification and then thrown into the dung heap of life.

I knew all the stats, that the average age a victim is trafficked is 14! The average life expectancy is 7 years, until they are dead! Less than 1 percent are ever rescued. And on and on, tragic statistic after tragic statistic. During my weekend in Louisiana sex trafficking ceased to be a series of statistics. It became a calling, it became my ENOUGH moment.

I am now reminded daily of the cry of the psalmist, “how long, oh Lord…” How long will we tolerate this evil! How long until we step up? How long until we realize that like Edmund Burke said, “all that is required for evil to triumph is for good men, and women, to do nothing.” I am no longer willing to do less than everything!

In 2022 I changed the name of my nonprofit, which had been founded years before, to One Voice International. We are a 501(c)(3) organization, recognized as tax exempt by the IRS. One Voice International is my stake in the ground, saying ENOUGH!  I knew I had to do something, and it wasn’t going to be simple or easy.  My fledgling nonprofit was going to begin a battle against the wealthiest cartels in the world.  The revenue from this international trafficking business tops One Hundred and Seventy-Five billion dollars a year.   To my sadness, in the United States of America, our country, my country spends Thirty-Six Billion dollars a year purchasing sex with the victims of sex trafficking.

Something has to be done.  These children are created in the image of God and they are being marred for life.  I will not stand on the sidelines and simply shake my head and wring my hands.  So, I am talking to pastors and community leaders that I know all over the country and overseas.  God’s spirit is guiding us, small networks in New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Florida have emerged and asked me “What can we do?”  From these conversations I knew we need to do more than rescue, more than just pray, more than just shout it on the rooftops, more than just say it is wrong!

In 2024, we have decided to enter into this complicated arena of darkness where human life is being tragically and systematically destroyed on a full-time basis.  My Father’s heart breaks.  

Our plan is holistic, it involves seven areas of concerted influence and strategy.  We begin with prayer.  We are mobilizing in these pilot regions of our country a whole host of prayer networks.  We call them Citadels.  These intentional focus areas will mobilize the local communities such as individuals, children, churches, schools, and local governing bodies to be aware, to act, and to restore.  Each Citadel will be equipped and trained how to carefully and consistently move into these darkened areas of abuse. Setting the captives free.

Children’s lives are at stake, and our souls are at stake if we choose to be silent.  

We will then move out to other areas of influence that includes media, business, for the purpose of raising a clarion call against the horrors of the trafficking of children in our country and from the source countries.  This next Fall, I will be going to Ukraine at the government’s request to do an extensive workshop at preventing trafficking of persons from their country. I will be speaking on University campuses in the Czech Republic and Poland, talking to the students and faculty about the problems and the solutions. In 2024 One Voice International is hosting three conferences in the United States training faith and community leaders.  We will be setting up centers designed to provide safety for recovered victims, and adding needed therapeutic counseling for them.  On the Education front, a curriculum we have created is being considered in Montana and Texas to be used in Junior High Schools.   This is the beginning of ENOUGH!

Jesus instructed his followers recorded in Luke 14 to count the cost of building a tower, to make sure that they had ENOUGH to finish the task.  I am sharing with you my personal vision and my prayer is that you will help us as we begin to invest in this life-changing effort, a movement to say ENOUGH, to do something every day to stop this trafficking of children, girls and boys.  I believe we can do this, but I want to invite you to join me!