Human Trafficking Statistics

Update 2: A Learning Experience

        God has been teaching me so much through this whole process of having to rely completely on Him to provide for every need as I prepare for my departure on January 14^th.  Some exciting things have taken place.  I have been so blessed by people’s willingness to give and humbled when I hear their stories.  I have had people give who were under the threat of losing their job and gave in faith any way.  There have been people who have come to me and told me that God told them to give me an amount that was very specific and they were just trusting that God would provide the money for them to give before I left and then the money was provided within weeks rather than months.  I have had individuals in the military and stationed overseas in a war zone sending support.  I have received anonymous gifts of needed items that were exactly what I needed even though I had told no one; God used someone to provide exactly what I needed.  I have also received many words of encouragement, love, and support.  I have been so overwhelmed by the faith of the body of Christ and humbled by your support. 

        Since being given the opportunity to go onto the mission filed I have been given the opportunity to speak to groups at my church on a couple of occasions and I have also been

given the opportunity to be interviewed on the radio.  During the radio program I was able to raise awareness about the issue of sex trafficking and I was also able to share a little bit about my story and the work that God is doing in my life.  So I pray that God was glorified in that.  Also, because of the opportunities I have been given to speak, I have been able to talk to people and hear their stories, build relationships in a way that I never would have experienced otherwise.  God is awesome and He is using all of your support to bless me beyond measure.  Thank you so much for being faithful to the leading God places on your heart.  The faith people have shown in giving of their prayer and support has taught me so much about the body of Christ and of God’s heart for His people.  Thank you for your sacrifice, faith, and for the blessing you have been to me. 

Go Therefore

        I was given the opportunity to speak to my church body on Sunday the 17th of October.  I spoke of the call God has placed on my life, about the issue of sex trafficking, and about the opportunity to receive training with YWAM in January 2011.  It was such an honor to be able to stand before my family in Christ at Restoration Church and to be able to share my heart with them.  God is doing a good work and I pray that He is glorified.  If you are interested in watching the recording of the talk I gave, here is a link to the video:

http://www.faithfreedoms.org/setthecaptivesfree/captivesfreevideo.html

Update 1: Continued Provision

       

    A quick update; I have purchased my roundtrip plane tickets, which I was able to purchase for only $800.00, praise God.  I have also acquired the insurance required in order to spend three months in Switzerland.  As of right now I have raised about 5/6 of my support.  So as God continues to provide the rest of the finances I want to take the opportunity to thank you for your encouragement and support. I want to keep you filled in on the ways that God has been providing.
        Some exciting news; at church on Sunday September 19^th I was set apart and commissioned by my pastor, the elders, and Mr. and Mrs. Bernie Gillott of Global Teen Challenge.  They laid hands on me, prayed over me, and set me apart for ministry in the presence of the congregation.  It was an incredible and powerful time of blessing.  It is such an amazing thing to know that I will be entering my training and the mission field with the blessing and support of my church family.  I am excited about the good work that God is doing and will continue to do.

Training and Support

Did you know that it is estimated that somewhere between 700,000 and four million persons are sold into slavery annually worldwide; there is no region that is unaffected and this includes the United States.  Human trafficking is slavery.  Today the slave trade is larger than it has ever been at any other point in history.  Sex trafficking is one form of slavery. Across the globe over one million children are forced into the sex trade every year. The average age for children in the sex trade is between 11 and 14 years of age; they can be as young as 5.  These are the facts, slavery is still in existence today and sex trafficking is a growing industry worldwide.  Yet I believe that there is hope for the victims through Jesus Christ.  He is the only one who can break the chains of bondage and He has called us to take action.  In Isaiah 1:17 Christians are commanded to, “learn to do good; seek justice; correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless; plead the widow's cause“. 

 Since I was 17, I have had a heart to go into long term missions to work with child victims of the sex trade.  Now God has opened the door for me to begin that ministry.  Because of the call God placed on my life I chose to attend Montreat College.  I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Bible and Religion, with a concentration in Worldview studies.  I chose this major in order that I may receive training and preparation for cross-cultural ministry.  I have now been accepted into the justice focused Discipleship Training School (DTS) with Youth with a Mission (YWAM).  In this training program I will be taught about various issues of injustice worldwide; issues such as forced prostitution, bonded labor, child sex trafficking, illegal detainment, false imprisonment, corrupt governmental structures, child soldiers, starvation, and more.  The school is in Wiler (pronounced Vee-lir) Switzerland.  The first three months will be spent in training and the last three months will be spent out in the mission field.  With the training I receive I hope to enter into even longer term missions in the future.

Being accepted into the DTS program has been an answer to prayer.  God laid this area of ministry on my heart, He has given me a passion to bring the light, truth, and hope of God’s word into the lives of children victimized by sex trafficking.  This is my passion and now God has opened the door for me to step out in faith, onto the mission field.  I am asking if you would please join with me in this mission.  I would be so grateful if you would step out in faith with me and support the work that God is doing.  I must raise about $7,000 in order to pay for the six months of school.  Plus airfare and the cost of the insurance required, along with a few more minor expenses, I am looking at needing about $10,000 before January 16, 2011. Thus my greatest need at this point is raising the financial support; every bit helps.  It may take a miracle to raise this amount by January 16^th but nothing is impossible with God.  I believe that if God has called me, then He will be faithful to provide.  If you would be willing to help me raise the amount needed it would be a great blessing.  I will also be in need of your prayer support.  I am trusting that just as God has called me, He will equip me for the work of the ministry that He has prepared in advance for me, that I may walk in it.  In the event that I am unable to raise the support before the deadline, the money given will be put aside to support me in a similar mission opportunity in the near future.  In Matthew 28:19-22 Jesus commands us to go; I am asking you to act on this commission.  You can follow the call to make disciples and go into all the world from right where you are by giving your financial support.  So I am asking you to join with me in this ministry through your support.  Thank you.

Mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance,                                                 

Bethany Carmichael