This last weekend I got to go to the Freedom-Summit Conference!!:) It was a super last minute thing but I'm so excited that I went! I tried to upload the video from youtube to give a better idea of what was talked about, but since I didn't understand how to do that please click on the post below to watch it! (let me know if you have any idea how to post the actual video and not just the link).
With quest speakers like Pastor Francis Chan, Bethany Hoang from IJM, David Batstone, Nathan George and Phil Wickham, I felt I left more awakened and aware of the slavery that is happening now around the world and even within California. My heart broke in hearing the song "Amazing Grace" and thinking of the kids forced into prostitution or labor that have not experienced such freedom and then being reminded of the freedom we receive in Christ! There was a girl Heatherlyn who came to open in worship with a few songs she wrote. After singing she said, "We don't only lift our voice to praise, but we lift them on behalf of others." Thinking of my freedoms I started to think how I could use them on behalf of others who don't have them. With all the blessings I receive I know in my heart that they aren't just to make me happy and content, but I desire to use them to bless others. Over and over during this conference I felt this overwhelming peace for the justice God desires for His children and His desire that ultimately they may come to know Him and His love for them!
"Absence of justice leads to people taking advantage" said David Batstone from the "Not for Sale" campaign. David spoke a lot on being who God created you to be, your personality and character and using the freedom you have received to free others! Through him, I heard of a safe house that there is in Lima, Peru!! :) whhaat. I have been to Lima, Peru 4 times and have never know that there was a safe house to host children that have been freed from slavery. "We are all called- it matters in what you are gifted in. It's not 'can I be used Lord?' but 'how can I be used?'"
There was so much more that we talked about at the conference and got the opportunity to learn about in the break-out sessions! Since this is getting long, I will save more for later!! I hope this encourages you to look into the way slavery exists today and how God could use you to bring justice!
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained form the world." James 1:27
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