For the past couple of days I’ve been at the International Justice Mission Global Prayer Gathering in Washington D.C.
John and I have been privileged to partner with IJM, fighting on behalf of the oppressed in the name of Jesus since Gary Haugen started this organization.
If you know anything about IJM you know that they are committed to prayer – not just talking about it, but doing it as if their work depends on it. Because they know it does.
The Global Prayer Gathering is full of reminders of God’s character, praise for His faithfulness, hard stories, and lots of prayer.
One of the stories that has impacted me the most over the past two years comes from Ghana on Lake Volta, the largest man-made lake in the world. There, experts estimate that tens of thousands of children work in Ghana’s fishing industry and one IJM study found that 60% are likely slaves. So, we have been praying and IJM started laying the ground work for rescuing these child slaves.
Three years ago when they were doing research and putting in place necessary partnerships with government agencies, they came across a slave in a wooden boat on Lake Volta named Gideon. Gideon had been brutally abused, trafficked when he was 11 years old. He begged IJM investigators to take him with them, but they couldn’t until systems with local law enforcement were in place.
Can you imagine how hard it was to leave Gideon behind that day on the lake?
And for Gideon? Did he lose hope? No, he continued to pray. For three more years of slavery and abuse. Even though he couldn’t see any evidence, God was at work behind the scenes. And just recently IJM was able to find Gideon and rescue him from slavery.
“God is a God who sometimes hides Himself but never a God who absents Himself; sometimes in the dark, but never at a distance.” Matthew Henry
God says,
- I am the God who searches for lost sheep (Luke 15:3-5)
- I am at work in unseen ways like with Elisha, surrounding him with horses and chariots (2 Kings 6:15-17)
- I am never late. I have a plan like with Lazarus (John 11)
- I hear and respond whether you see it right away or not like with Daniel (Daniel 10:12-13).
When we search, when we rescue, when we persevere against injustice, we reflect God’s image.
After the prayer gathering I stayed for an extra day in D.C. with daughters Maggie and Katy. This morning we were running the Mall and stopped to take this picture.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere…”
There are many others on Lake Volta who are experiencing injustice, but in particular there is a picture of a little boy who has captured my heart that IJM is looking for. Will you join me in praying for him and all the others who are waiting to be rescued? If you want to read more about Gideon and this operation, go here.
