Readers Are Succeeders program, a grant recipent of Break the Chains, makes news
The bell rang and school was out at Graham Elementary when I recently visited Portable 5 to check on the progress of the Readers Are Succeeders after-school program, conducted by Eldora Sloan and a number of enthusiastic volunteers.
When it started a couple years ago, there were only about five children in the program, but today, Readers Are Succeeders is thriving! Click here to read more.
“In Their Shoes: Women Walking with Women Worldwide” Podcast Series
In Their Shoes frequently highlights interviews with women engaged in addressing the exploitation of women and girls around the world. Recent episodes have included an interview with author Nita Belles of the new book In Our Backyard: A Christian Perspective on Human Trafficking in the United States; a conversation with Margaret Rose, an American Baptist woman who learned about the issue of trafficking at an AB Women’s Ministries event in her region and has since become an active abolitionist; and reflections of several women who attended the International Christian Alliance on Prostitution Global Conference in May 2011. Upcoming episodes will include an interview with Nancy Murphy, director of the Northwest Family Life Learning and Counseling Center, on issues of domestic violence; a conversation with Rev. Leroy Miles of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia on their men’s ministry addressing domestic violence and pornography; and interviews with several women from around the world (Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and Italy, to name a few) about their work with women in their countries. You will learn and be inspired to take action! Visit www.intheirshoespodcast.org, or available through iTunes.
Mylinda Baits, an American Baptist missionary in Costa Rica, works with the Costa Rican Baptist Convention to provide pastoral and lay leadership training and theological education. She is involved with the Mansion of Light Baptist Church, a Break the Chains funding recipient. Mylinda has written the Bible study that is available on the "What Can I Do?" page of this website. To view Mylinda's missionary journal, click here.
Pastor Xinia Porras, pastor of the Mansion of Light Baptist Church in La Guácima de Alajuela, Costa Rica, is leading the congregation to reach out to the families in their community with parenting classes, abuse prevention and job training. They have begun the planning and work for opening a day care for working families and outreach to girls at risk of prostitution. Break the Chains project funding helped this congregation do that outreach.
Karen Smith, an ABC missionary in Thailand. Karen directs the New Life Center Foundation that provides shelter, educational, and emergency services to tribal girls at risk, and to those who have been trafficked or sold. To view Karen's missionary journal, click here. An education and rehabilitation ministry at New Life Center received Break the Chains funding.
Lauran Bethell, a Global Consultant, based in Prague, Czech Republic. Lauran helped establish the New Life Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 1987, offering freedom and hope in Jesus Christ to young women and girls who are sold, tricked or willfully drawn into prostitution. Now she encourages ministries around the world. To view Lauran's journal, click here.
Deborah Kelsey, an ABC missionary in Italy. Debbie began a new ministry in Italy to reach women trafficked for work in the sex industry. To view Debbie's missionary journal, click here. Debbie's ministry received support from Break the Chains and she has shared some of the grant with a new ministry in Sofia, Bulgaria (see Terry Myers below).
Sarah Chetti, an ABC missionary in Lebanon. Sarah has been involved in ministries in a local prison and with the Sudanese Congregation that meets at Fanar Baptist Church. Her Maids in Lebanon ministry received funding from Break the Chains.To view Sarah's missionary journal, click here.
Annie Dieselberg, an ABC missionary in Bangkok, Thailand. Annie directs NighLight Bangkok, an international faith-based organization committed to giving women and children an escape from sexual exploitation, to enable them to discover their dignity, and to provide a program of holistic transformation, empowering them to live and work in their community. NightLight Design gives women in Bnagkok an economic alternative to trafficking and prostitution through jewelry making. To view Annie's missionary journal, click here.
Terry Myers, an ABC missionary in Bulgaria. Terry is involved in teaching English to a group of teenage orphans who attend an after-school program near the orphanage where they live. She develops markets for handicrafts made by the women of the Baptist churches. To view Terry's missionary journal, click here.
Sarah West, American Baptist missionary in Lusaka, Zambia, leads a weekly Bible study with several women who have found themselves in various ways snared into prostitution. One woman who has now opened a prayer chapel in her home was HIV positive. But like the wind, the Spirit moves in ways beyond our understanding or control. This woman is now HIV negative. And she has her prayer room open 24 hours a day for the praise of God and for ministry to others. To view Sarah's missionary journal, click here.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABC/USA), along with other faith-based investors, are pressing the travel and hospitality industries to help protect women and children from the horrors of human trafficking. Currently, National Ministries’ efforts include a combination of letter writing, company dialogue, and filing of shareholder resolutions, all aimed at getting companies to adopt a "Code of Conduct to Protect Children". The code calls for an ethical policy regarding commercial sexual exploitation of children from hotels and for them to train their employees on how to prevent child sexual exploitation by tourists. Click here for more information on the code: http://www.thecode.org/
