Human Trafficking

October 19, 2009 // No Comments »

At last night’s Creative World Justice Gathering, we introduced a new justice issue, Human Trafficking, that we are going to be addressing.  If you weren’t able to make it out last night, I’ll try to give a brief summary of some what was discussed.  The issue of Human Trafficking, and in particular Sex Trafficking, is one that is quickly growing in attention, though there has been little progress made in our country (and even less in our state and city).

What is it? Human Trafficking (HT) is the recruitment, transportation, harboring, or receipt of people for the purposes of slavery, debt bondage, and servitude.  There are an estimated 27 million people around the world living in slave-like conditions.  HT is an extremely lucrative business with revenues in the tens of billions, greater than the combined revenues of Nike, Google, and Starbucks.  That’s hard to even imagine!

Who are the victims? The victims are often from our most vulnerable populations (runaways, refugees, aliens).  Approx 70% are female and 50% children.  The ages being demanded for sex trafficking are getting younger and younger, with an average entry age of 12 and an overall average of 14.  There is also a growing demand for disgruntled middle class white children via online chatrooms.  Follow the link to a short video about a girl who came out of this life: “Candace’s Story.”

Who is demanding it? 99% of the demand is created for men. 90% for white men.

Where is it happening? Basically everywhere!  Almost every country serves as either a Source, Transit, and/or Destination.  An est 50,000 victims are trafficking into or through the US each year.  The USA is the #1 destination for child sex trafficking.  And, YES, it is happening in Oklahoma City.  OKC is at the crossroads of four of the primary trafficking cities (Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, and Atlanta).  Watch a clip from a new documentary “Playground.”

What is being done? Very little.  Only a handful of shelters nationwide, none in OK.  Oklahoma law enforcement, social services, health care, and mental health workers are mostly untrained to deal with victims.  Only one (most unenforceable) state law on trafficking.

Oklahomans Against Trafficking Humans (OATH).  We are connecting with a grassroots organization that started in Tulsa and is just getting their start here in OKC.  The list of potential activities is huge: from Awareness Campaigns to Research to Outreach…the list is long.  Mark Elam told me that basically whatever we dream up and want to do, we can.

How can YOU get involved? We are going to continue the conversation in our monthly CWJ Gatherings.  But for those who really want to get involved, we are planning to meet for a few minutes prior (at 6:00PM) to the monthly OATH Meetings (2nd Tues of every month at the United Way at the SE corner of NW 28th & McKinley) to begin to brainstorm our part in addressing this issue.

If you have any interest in being a part of the CWJ response to human trafficking in OKC, please let me know.  I would love to chat over lunch or coffee sometime soon!  Call (405.694.8562) or email me (gary@convergenceokc.org).

Gary Caplinger

Posted in global, justice, the gathering

this is what it means…

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This is a poem we used last night at the CWJ Gathering.  I think it really summarizes, in so many ways, where we are moving as a community and how we are discovering that we can really encounter God among the Stranger, the Tortured, the Wretched, the Abandoned, and the Fatherless ones.  Alicia helped us discover the important truth that when we welcome, sit beside, bathe, bear up, and raise up the least, “that we are offered the grace to heal the suffering of our King.”  I have pictured more and more recently how in serving the suffering, we are literal serving Jesus.  But to heal the suffering of our King?  Are we in some ways bringing healing to The Suffering Servant?  I’d love to hear some response to that idea…

“Don’t palm me off with your civil religion and your politely murmured prayers,
don’t hand me your filthy mammon or your barns of laundered cash.

Don’t flatter me with your pious words catechisms so crisp and clean.
I hate your victory chants in praise of what I’m not:
your oh so personal idol, middle class and mute.

But I am not silent to those with ears to hear:
I weep, I groan, I scream, and I am so weary
of your all too clever words your rituals and your rhymes;
your meaningless slick tokens of power-point and song.

So once more I’m going to tell you (if you really want to hear),
now this is what it means, now this is what it means to know me:

Go love the Hungry One with whom you must share your bread,
go welcome The Stranger who soils your silken bed,
go sit still beside the Tortured One and hear his anguished  cries,
go bathe the disfigured, Wretched One caress His weeping skin,
bear up the abused, Abandoned One bent beneath Her grief,
raise up the Fatherless One eating scraps from beneath your feet,

for this is what it means, for this is what it means to know me.

Look! to those with eyes to see
I hide my face, buried broken in the bodies of the least,
and offer you the grace to heal the suffering of your King,
for this is what it means, this is what it means,
this is what it means to know me.”

by Kristin Jack (Servants Asia Coordinator)

inspired by Jer 22:13-17; Isa 1:1-20; 58:1-14; Amos 5:21-24; Mat 25:31-46

Posted in global, justice, the gathering

Creative World Justice: Human Trafficking

October 18, 2009 // No Comments »

Tonight 5pm at Convergence will be our first Creative World Justice Gathering. I just wanted to send out a note to let you know that the content of the conversation will be of a very adult matter. I would highly recommend that you let our amazing Sparks workers take care of all of your kiddos tonight, due to the subject matter (Human Trafficking). It is a heavy subject for which I am continually praying God will show us how we are best equipped to respond.

Please share your thoughts from the evening…

Posted in global, the gathering

SHOP GOOD Signup

August 11, 2009 // 1 Comment »

Below is a list of the respective jobs with dates/times and everyone who signed up on Sunday to help out with SHOP GOOD this week.  We will continue signups through Thursday.  Please just comment on this post to signup.  Btw, I was really excited about the response of people on Sunday night who want to be involved.  Thanks!!

1. Thursday Evening (~5:30-9pm)
TRANSPORTING STORE MATERIALS
All of the stuff is stored at Heart of God (in Midwest City).  Last month we loaded everything and assembled the entire store all during the day on Friday.  It was a long day, with temps around 105F.  So, since during traditional work hours it is hard to get helpers, I was thinking we could load up the stuff and haul it over to the space on Thursday evening.  We need to try to leave the Space by 5:30pm, if possible.
What to Expect?  Loading van/cars with lumber, bins, etc.  Transport to the Convergence space.  Unloading materials.

Who?  Gary, Scott, one of the Wynns, Kevin/Andrea?

2. Friday Afternoon (~1-4pm)
BUILDING STORE
If we can get the materials over on Thursday night, then I think we can knock out building the booths/market in about 3hrs.
What to Expect?  Assembling/screwing wood frames.  Draping and stapling fabric.  Decorating booth spaces.  Labeling, pricing, and displaying merch.

Who?  Gary, Kara, and Marcus

3. Friday Late Night (~10:30pm-1:00am)
STORE TEARDOWN
With a big crew, we can probably  finish a little sooner!
What to Expect?  Basically the same as #2, except disassembly. Cleanup the space and get ready for Saturday event rental.

Who? Gary, Aaron, Fleximaniac, Scott, Kevin

SHOP GOOD is Friday night from 7-11pm.  Come hang out, meet people, and buy some really cool stuff for some really good causes.

Posted in Uncategorized, culture & life oklahoma city, global, justice, the convergence collective

McKinley Park - more than what is seen

May 24, 2009 // No Comments »

What were you most aware of as we sat in the park together?

What did you see tonight?

There were so many beautiful moments–I had a hard time taking them all in. You answers above aren’t on a value scale. There isn’t one “seeing” more importan than the others.

Maybe you heard the laughter of the kiddos. Maybe it was the buzz of conversation. Or maybe your focus was on the one conversation that tugged at your soul–making the night matter right then and there. Maybe you saw the many groups that emerged onto the park grounds. Activity was everywhere. Or maybe it was the coolish breeze and the quiet still evening—fostering almost three hours together in the shade.

Honestly–it was all this and more for me. Thinking of our past years of doing this memorial day/park gathering and seeing the changes (all good) birthed in fusion. Most notably–McKinley park. This is where we need to be. Playing baseball/football with the neighborood kids (some Sudanese kiddos) - slowed the moment down for me. Not making it more than it was—but as I tossed the ball I imagined fusion life as a
natural integration into these kids lives and the life of the neighborhood. What does it mean to learn Alfred and Diondra’s names not for a moment but to walk alongside them as they grow up. What does it mean for us to naturally be in to the lives of the diverse communities represented — and for their lives to be in ours?

Just wondering.

Posted in culture & life oklahoma city, global, justice

womenarenotweapons.com = launched

May 21, 2009 // No Comments »

new site launch for the creative world justice effort of Women Are Not Weapons.  the site will become the locale for the CWJOKC group as they compile more info about how to go forward with Telling the Story of the Congo, Preventing the Rape of Women in the Congo, and encouraging a holistic Restoration of the women and villages affected.

Posted in global

Third Thursdays - Creative World Justice & Fasting

May 19, 2009 // No Comments »

CREATIVE WORLD JUSTICE (THURS 6:30PM)

This Thursday (5/21) we will continue our conversation and planning for Women Are Not Weapons. WANW is our collective response to the tragic use of rape as a weapon of war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Most of the evening will be comprised of follow-up and discussion on the areas each of us chose to investigate at our April meeting (Restoration, Education, and Prevention).  Come help us flesh out these three avenues of response as we stand in solidarity with the victims of these crimes, as we spread the word to everyone around us, and as we look for means to stand against the oppressors and prevent these actions from continuing.

FASTING FOR MY..MAR

Every “Third Thursday” is our day set aside for fasting and prayer for the people of My..mar and for our friends who are being Christ to many of the poorest of the poor in the slums there.

Posted in global, justice

Prayer for Bruce and his Servants’ Team

March 15, 2009 // No Comments »

Please continue to pray for Bruce, Cheryl, and his team. Below are some specific things he requested that we be praying for over the next several weeks.
1) Rest and peace for Cheryl and I after a busy first two months overseas.
2) Continued team unity even though we are in several different countries.
3) Our first team time and training (scheduled for July 6th through 20th in Cambodia).
4) Finalization of the visa process for Cheryl and I as we prepare to go into B-land on April 20th.
5) God’s direction on a slum community to live in in B-land.
6) People of peace in B-land who will welcome us in.
7) Several team members who are preparing to leave their families, jobs, and home countries to join us in B-land.
8) Release from oppression for the people of B-land.
9) Positive and long-lasting change in the military government in B-land.

Posted in global, justice

“Holly” Film & Dialogue - Friday @ 7PM

March 12, 2009 // No Comments »

Come to LIVE! at the Plaza this Friday night at 7pm as we screen the movie “Holly.”  Afterward, we will spend some time talking about the movie and some of the issues raised (Child Trafficking, etc).  Check out the trailer below…




Posted in global, justice, the convergence collective