Setting The Captives Free
In June of 2011, the Lord divinely interrupted my life with the cruel reality of modern day slavery. I call this chapter of my life Life Interrupted. I was going about my daily routine when God disrupted my mundane tasks with the cry of His heart, to set the captives free. You see, it is for freedom that Christ set us free (Gal. 5:1), and on that day He reminded me of our commission to do as Jesus did and bring liberty to those who are oppressed.
As I was beginning my work day in my home office, I opened the internet browser to find an unknown post on my Facebook wall. My husband used to check the news prior to going to the office and that morning he shared an article on Facebook, except he didnt share it on his page. He mistakenly posted it on my page because I had not previously logged out. I clearly remember the moment in which I had a distinct choice to make, to ignore and delete the post or to open and read it. The thought that someone hacked my account crossed my mind but I was compelled to click on the link. As I read the article grief began to consume me. I couldnt believe what I was reading. This was an article about 21st century slavery, the trafficking of humans for forced labor or sexual exploitation, and what the A21 Campaign is doing to fight against this injustice. I immediately went to their website and was gripped with horror as I read the statistics and listened to their video testimonies. I was speechless and the only appropriate response was to spread the word so I immediately began to post facts and testimonies.
A day or two later I was scrolling through the channels on television when I saw that the movie Taken was just about to begin. Tom and I had seen this movie when it first came out on theater a couple of years earlier, but at the time it was nothing than more than an action-packed, heart-thumping movie. This time I was watching with a new set of lenses. It wasnt just a movie anymore, it was reality. I clicked the record button and watched it again and again throughout the week. I didnt know why I kept watching except I felt I needed to. Then, as the week was coming to a close and I was going about my morning work duties, I began to sob uncontrollably. I wept bitterly from the pit of my stomach. A heavy burden had suddenly been placed in my heart. It was as if a 1,000 pound weight had been dropped on my chest unexpectedly and the pain caused me to cry out. So I cried out to God and shouted Do something! But to my surprise His response was, You do something. I was stunned and silenced by His feedback. That is not what I was expecting to hear. What on earth was I supposed to do about something so BIG? I was overwhelmed with the magnitude of the problem therefore I did what I thought was most rational at the time. I brushed the thought off my mind, got myself together and continued with my day. Only I couldnt really brush it off. I could hear Him gently reminding me that we are His vessels, His hands and feet on this earth. He said You CAN make a difference because all things are possible through Him!
That weekend, we attended the Celebrate Freedom festival in North Dallas with a couple of close friends. We were looking forward to an amazing time of praise and worship with an incredible line of worship artists and bands. Personally I did not go there to visit the ministry tents and check out what the different ministries were doing to extend Gods kingdom on earth. However, while that was not my intent He had other plans. I was hungry half way through the concert so I asked my friend if she would walk with me to the food court. As we locked arms on that hot summer day, my eyes were drawn to a small but colorful object on the ground. I saw a little girls face staring back at me with the words Rescue Her. My heart skipped a beat and I glanced up at the sky as if to say, Okay, you have my attention. I knew this wasnt a coincidence.
I picked up the card and reluctantly put it in my pocket. The following morning I pulled the card out of my pants and placed it in my desk drawer. I wasnt sure what God wanted me to do, but I was afraid to find out. I pretended like it wasnt there, but every time I opened the drawer to grab a pen or a post it, there she was, looking back at me. Finally after two or three days of fighting it, I reached for the card and looked in the back for contact information. That led me to the Rescue Her website, in which I learned even more about human trafficking, and to my surprise they were located right here in Dallas Fort-Worth. I subscribed to receive their newsletters, yet, it wasnt until 6 months later, right after New Years, that I received the first newsletter in my inbox.
By this time I had somewhat forgotten about the fastest growing crime in the world, but God wasnt about to let me off the hook. Although I had moved this problem to the back burner, He brought it back to the front burner. I read the newsletter and my heart leaped when they encouraged their readers to pray about traveling to Cambodia with them to see first hand the realities of human trafficking and minister to the girls who had been rescued. I knew with every part of my being that I was supposed to go on that mission trip. At the same time, the Lord had spoken to us about going to New Orleans to share the love of Christ during the week of Mardi Gras. The dates overlapped and I told the Lord that I couldnt be at two places at one time so if He wanted me to go He would have to work it out. Of course He did just that, and a week or two later I received another newsletter from Rescue Her announcing they had postponed the mission trip until October.
Fast forward to October of 2012 and I found myself on a plane to Cambodia where my life would forever be changed. Our team of eight Americans joined two Aussies in Phenom Phen to see the work SHE Rescue Home and other ministries are doing locally to bring freedom and justice to the oppressed. We saw the role various ministries play in the rescue, assessment, placement, restoration, healing, education and training of the survivors. We spent time ministering to the girls in the rescue home, visited a couple of the girls (and their families) who had successfully been reintegrated into society, talked to the working girls in the Red Light District, shared clean water, food and the gospel in the slums, preached and played games with the kids in the village, and prayed for and encouraged those who are doing the work of the ministry.
Although this trip was eye opening and life-transforming, I was still unsure as to what the Lord was calling me to do. Then, as we traveled back from Pittsburgh where the Lord prompted me to share the story of the good Samaritan and tie that into how He interrupted my life (as He did with the Samaritan) to walk across the street (or fly around the world) to tend to the wounded, He began to download my assignment. On that flight home the Lord called me to be a voice for the oppressed. It is now my hearts desire to speak up for those who cant speak for themselves. My mission is to raise awareness and support. I am willing to speak to anyone who will listen and go where ever He opens doors; schools, churches, bible study groups, conferences, businesses, and anywhere else He leads. People need to know. We cannot expect anyone to be a part of the solution if they dont know there is a problem. Therefore the first step is to raise awareness. Beyond that I would like to raise funds to continue this mission and distribute the funds to the various ministries directly involved in the rescue and restoration of the oppressed (such as SHE Rescue Home, Rescue Her, Eden Ministry, Free Nola, and others). Additionally, I would love to take anyone who desires to experience first hand what their support is doing and how its changing lives on a mission trip. I cannot begin to express how putting a face with a number will impact your life! And the truth is, while you think you are going there to minister to them, they actually minister to you in ways I cannot describe!
Friends, this injustice isnt just happening in other countries. It is happening right here in our own back yards. We have to do something. Doing nothing is not an option. In the words of Edmund Burke, The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. We cannot let the numbers become numbing or the magnitude of this injustice overwhelm and paralyze us. We may not be able to save them all, but together we can save one!
Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. Proverbs 31:9 NLT
A Call To Action
There are many ways you can help make a difference:
1. Pray! Prayer is Not a last resort. It is our most powerful form of warfare! Pray for ministries. Pray for the girls in the brothels. Pray for the girls who have been rescued. Pray for the perpetrators. Pray and watch God move!
2. Spread the word! Create and hang up posters and/or hand out flyers at school, work, church or local businesses to raise awareness. Many ministries offer free resources (i.e. fliers) you can download online or request to receive by mail. (This is something KGMi will be working on producing as well to make available to you in the near future.)
3. Get social! Talk about human trafficking and what people can do to get involved on your Facebook wall or Twitter page. Its all about MULTIPLICATION!!! The more people talking about this the bigger the impact we can make.
4. Give! You can give of your time, talents, resources and money to help fight against human trafficking. Make a donation and become a supporter!
5. Mail! You can write letters of encouragement to girls in the rescue homes. You can coordinate a clothing or gift drive and ship items such as school supplies, toiletries, shoes and other essentials to help the shelters provide for the girls.
6. Become a Sponsor! This is an amazing way to become intimately involved in the life of a survivor and help make their dreams of a bright future come true. SHE Rescue Home is one of many shelters that offers sponsorship opportunities. To learn more click Here.
7. Partner with us! Invite Kingdom Gravity to speak at your next event, school or bible study.
These are only some of the MANY ways you can get involved. I encourage you to pray about how the Lord would like to use you in the fight against human trafficking! His response may stun you but remember that nothing is impossible for God. He will never leave you nor forsake you, and will guide you every step of the way!
Thank you for taking the time to read this post, and thanks for your continued prayers and support!
With love,
Lyly Ledbetter
Kingdom Gravity Ministries, Inc.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; Luke 4:18 NKJV
Help Needed
As we launch the Freedom Campaign we are seeking people who are interested in volunteering their time and talents. If you have a special set of skills, such as graphic design, own a printing business, have other abilities or resources you would like to offer to help us with this campaign please contact us Here or e-mail us at info@kingdomgravityministries.org