“17
8
O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble;
You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear
To vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, So that man who is of the
earth will no longer cause terror.
Ps: 10:17-18”
Dear Friends and Family,
As many of you know, God has placed a passion for the nations in my heart. Ever since
I was a little girl going on mission trips with my mom to Mexico to graduating from Biola
University in 2011 with a BA in Intercultural Studies, God has been preparing my heart,
mind and soul for such a time as this. Isaiah 6:8 states,
“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall
I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I!
Send me.” In January 2012 I have been blessed with
the remarkable opportunity to serve International
Justice Mission (IJM) in the pursuit of justice and the
glory of God working as a legal administrative intern in
South Asia.
IJM is an organization that seeks to protect people
from violent forces of injustice by securing rescue and
restoration for victims and ensuring public justice
systems work for the poor. It is a non-profit organization
composed of Christian social workers, attorneys,
criminal investigators, and support staff. IJM works to accomplish it’s mission through a
four-fold sustainable purpose of: victim relief, perpetrator accountability, victim
aftercare, and structural transformation while performing case work in: perpetrator
accountability, sex trafficking, slavery, land seizure, police brutality, and citizenship
rights. Through the work of IJM, hope is offered to the oppressed and victims of slavery
are able to experience true freedom, sometimes even for the first time! The Lord calls us
to “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God,” and IJM is a
prime example of living out this word (Micah 6:8).
Sex trafficking is no minor issue and it is estimated that 600,000 to 800,000 women,
children and men are trafficked across international borders annually (U.S. Department
of State). It is one of the largest and fastest growing criminal industries and is driven by
deception, coercion and force. However even in great darkness there is a glimmer of
light because by freeing victims and prosecuting their perpetrators, IJM operations
increase the risk and decrease the profitability of trafficking for those who would
commit this crime. (IJM, 2010). The testimony of girls’ like Manna, a 14-year-old from
India who was trapped in a brothel for two-years but freed and brought to a safe
aftercare through the investigations of IJM, brings joy and shows that the love of Christ
does and will forever reign.
Knowledge is power and now that you have been informed there are various ways that
you can be empowered to make a change in the fight for justice. The first way is to
further educate your selves about the issue of sex trafficking and educate others.
People are unaware that more slavery exists now than every before and we must call
this to their attention. Feel free to ask me any questions you may have, refer to the
handouts enclosed, or consult www.ijm.org for more information. John W Gardner
once said, “We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly
disguised as insolvable problems,” this is one of your great opportunities, do not let it
pass you by.
A second step you can take is to pray. We are called to be mighty prayer warriors and
through prayer you can fight against injustice and proclaim “righteousness and justice
for all the oppressed,” (Psalm 103:6). Please pray for the victims of slavery, that they
would continue to have hope and be set free. Pray for the perpetrators, that their blind
eyes would be open and God’s conviction would be brought forth. Pray for IJM as an
organization, that their work would continue to be strengthened and all the workers
would feel refreshed and encouraged in the spirit. Pray for me, as I begin this journey
that I will remain a faithful, humble, and joyful servant to the work of justice. It is
by God’s grace that I was placed here and I will need His continued grace as I
transition to this new position. Pray I would be a patient yet efficient learner,
and that my transition into the cultural adjustments of living in South Asia would
be smooth. God has given us prayer and I know that your pleas to the Creator
will make a difference in the name of Jesus!
A third step you can take in the pursuit of justice is through financial support.
Due to IJM being a non-profit organization, they depend largely on individual
support. Not all of us are called to give of our time and physically go, but some
can still partner in the seeking justice through a financial gift to help send me.
The position I have been offered with IJM is a volunteer position, so therefore I
will need to raise my own funds to cover my travel expense, international
health insurance, and costs of living/finances during my 12 months abroad. By
financially giving to IJM you are empowering God’s people to infiltrate some of
the darkest places of human suffering and to emerge from them with victims
who desperately need to see the light of hope. All of your gifts are taxdeductable and if indicated will go towards my in-country costs. My estimated
costs for working with IJM are $15,000. I recognize that financially many are in
a difficult situations due to the economy, but do not be reluctant to think that
a donations of any amount (small or large) will not make a huge difference,
because it will! Please pray and if God places any amount on your heart to
give, it will be greatly cherished and very beneficial. Together we can impact
the world towards justice for the glory of God. If you would like to give financial
support, please see the attached page for donations can be made either through a
check or online with a credit card through IJM.
You all have impacted my life in so many ways and I desire to extend that impact to
others through this internship with IJM. My email address is
[email protected] and I would love to answer any further questions your
have. If you would like to be a part of my prayer team and/or receive updates of my
time abroad please let me know through email. Together we can let love reign
amongst the destitute and seek the hope of justice.
Thank you for you in advance for your prayers and support. Jesus has already
overcome the grace and His light is greater than any darkness!
Blessings,
Sophia G. Davis
Legal Administration Intern, IJM-South Asia