Spot it to Stop it!!

On Tuesday January 23rd, Luke and I had the privilege to attend a roundtable discussion on human trafficking organized by Congressman Darin Lahood's office. We met in a large conference room at Heartland Community College with other Central Illinois representatives from the State Police, local police and fire chiefs, emergency department managers, the Department of Homeland Security, members of social services, local city officials, faith-based services, and our own Catalyst Ministries. Also present were the President of Heartland Community College, Representative Keith Sommer, Senator Bill Brady, & Senator Dan Brady.

The major purpose of the gathering was to familiarize local agencies with law enforcement and first responders and to brief everyone on how to identify and combat human trafficking in the State of Illinois.

It's so important that people are aware that this is not just an overseas problem!! This devastating crime happens right here in Illinois; right here in Bloomington-Normal. The  I-55 corridor in Illinois is a major beltway for traffickers moving guns, drugs, money, and people to and from the southern states and Chicago.

The Center for Prevention and Abuse, headquartered in Peoria, is in it's 34th year. Their mission is: "to help all people - women, men, children - live free from violence and abuse."  The Center offers a wide range of services that includes safety planning, shelter, support groups, therapy and counseling, transitional housing, services for seniors and adults with disabilities, and help for the abuser.

Carol Merna, Director of The Center, shared that human trafficking is a new addition to their services. Sara Dillefeld, the Director of their recent Human Trafficking Services, informed us that human trafficking is a severely under-reported crime; that it involves an estimated 24.9 million people; and that one-in-four of those victims is a child.

Human Trafficking exploits the vulnerable and today there are more people trapped in this form of slavery than in any other time in US history! The University of Illinois at Chicago compiles a Human Trafficking in Illinois Fact Sheet. They report "the United States is considered the world's major destination for human trafficking."

This crime crosses a broad spectrum and its sinister reach touches our own American homes through pornography, textile industries, illicit massage parlors, nail salons, & food cultivated by illegal slave labor. Traffickers often prey on foreign nationals by withholding their visas, passports and workers permits; effectively coercing them into illegal slave labor in farms or factories or the illegal sex industry through fear and removing their power and freedom of movement. Over 80% of foreign trafficking victims are women; and 50% of them are children under the age of 18.

Michael Mitchell from the Department of Homeland Security shared local statistics, as well as their Blue Campaign. Agent Mitchell was well-versed in the area of smuggling. He has an extensive background in detection and prevention of a vast array of illegal acts including: arms exportation, drug smuggling, immigration violations, money laundering, trading with the enemy, child pornography, and now human trafficking. Agent Mitchell leads 6 agents in covering 46 counties; so they are spread quite thin and rely on leads from the State and local authority and law enforcement.

Julie Ryan, Founder and Director of Catalyst Ministries, informed the round table about the many aftercare services Catalyst provides. A holistic residential treatment home where women can heal from their trauma provides healthcare, safety, and counseling services to survivors of sex trafficking. Making first responders aware of this resource empowers them to be an advocate for the victims and survivors they may encounter in the field.

There was much discussion about the identifiers of those in human trafficking as well as the social services that provide a way out and give rescue to those who are enslaved. Things to look for include:
Are they living in the place they are working? (i.e. behind nail salons, over massage parlors, etc.)
Physical indicators; do they have visible marks of abuse? 
Foreign born nationals: do they have personal access to their documentation? 
Are they afraid of their "employer?" 
Does someone else do the talking for them?

According to their website, The Polaris Project is "a leader in the global fight to eradicate modern slavery. Named after the North Star that guided slaves to freedom in the U.S., Polaris acts as a catalyst to systematically disrupt the human trafficking networks that rob human beings of their lives and their freedom. By working with government leaders, the world's leading technology corporations, and local partners, Polaris equips communities to identify, report, and prevent human trafficking. Our comprehensive model puts victims at the center of what we do - helping survivors restore their freedom, preventing more victims, and leveraging data and technology to pursue traffickers wherever they operate."

In 2016, there were 7,572 cases of human trafficking reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline:

  1. Sex Trafficking 5,551 (73%)
  2. Labor Trafficked 1,057 (14%)
  3. Sex and Labor Trafficking 268 (4%)
  4. Not Specified 696 (9%)

Polaris project reported in 2016 human trafficking was reported in all 50 states; with 198 cases of human trafficking reported to the National Hotline from Illinois. This is a 64% increase overall of 2015 when 121 cases were reported. In total, the National Hotline has received reports of 941 cases of human trafficking from Illinois since 2007.

From 2007 to 2016 there have been over 31,000 cases of human trafficking reported in the US. Catalyst Ministries estimates there are more than 5 Brothels in Bloomington - Normal. (Thanks to Aaron Davis, Communications Director at Catalyst Ministries, for providing us with this data!)

All of these stats prove that human trafficking isn't just something we can ignore or avoid. If the facts make us uncomfortable, they should motivate us to action!

Are we paying attention to those around us? Are there situations we witness or are aware of where things don't seem as they should? Can we give an encouraging word to a lower income woman or child who may feel invisible? Remind them that they have value and worth... that Jesus loves them, died for them,  and lives today to offer HOPE! There are caring people who are willing to listen and to see them if they get into trouble and need help.

The ringing message from the Tuesday meeting was "You have to spot it, to stop it."

Birthdays and Goodbyes

On Sunday, January 21st, our beautiful son Boaz turned 2 years old! 

It's hard to believe that he was referred to us when he was just 9 months old... 

Our very first glimpse of this sweet little one... and the referral picture we received late October, 2016.

We spent his entire birthday with family! 

My sister and brother-in-law hosted us all for a lunch where we celebrated not only Bo's special day, but Brad's and my Jan. 4th birthdays, my mom's Jan. 9th birthday, and Nikki's Feb. 13th birthday! 

We also had the privilege of attending Luke's sister Dawn's church, Imago Dei in Peoria. It was a blessing to have the opportunity to worship with her church family as well as participate in praying for her as she was commissioned! 

Dawn flies this week to the Philippines to spend a year working as a clinical aftercare fellow with the International Justice Mission! We've blogged often about IJM and have been Freedom Partners for a number of years.  We love the ministry and work of IJM and were excited to support Dawn as she pursues this opportunity!

This isn't the first time she's served in the Philippines. Dawn served in Manila for 3 weeks over her January mid-term in 2011 with her Taylor University Junior Practicum class writing case histories for an organization working to liberate women enslaved in prostitution. 

Dawn received her undergraduate degree from Taylor University and earned her Masters in Social Work from Illinois State University. For the past four years, Dawn has been employed as a direct care worker in a residential treatment center for boys between the ages of 6 and 18 who have experience profound physical, psychological, emotional, and sexual abuse.

As a fellow with IJM, Dawn's role will be restoring survivors to safety and strength. She will be responsible for providing clinical supervision to the Filipino case workers already giving direct care services to the rescued survivors. 

What is Cyber Trafficking?

(Mature viewers only) 

                                        

 Cyber sex trafficking in the Philippines is the new wave of extreme evil perpetrated against victims from around the world via the Internet. IJM has had a successful victory in ridding child trafficking rings in brick-and-mortar brothels in the Philippines and now are taking on the new and challenging battle of rescuing and preventing children from being trafficked online. 

Dawn's responsibilities will include providing therapy cultivating partnerships with local after care providers and managing the grants that help fund their programming. Dawn roots the heart of her work in her faith. She believes "God is the God of love, justice, and peace: no person was created for a life of exploitation, abuse, or hatred."  

Isaiah 58:6 has become a charge to Dawn: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke." She continues to live out this verse wherever God leads her to go! 

Thank you for praying for Dawn! Her desire is to be useful to the IJM team and to take some of the strain off them... to help them to feel refreshed and supported through her service with them. 

Dawn with interns and fellows heading to the Philippines on Thursday

This is an unpaid fellowship: Dawn will donate her time and skill set for a year and is responsible to raise $20,000 to cover her travel and living expenses. "It's humbling to ask for help," Dawn admitted. But the whole point of her needing to ask for help, is that this work is so much bigger than any one person. It will take millions of people around the world to put a stop to this type of exploitation. 

If you are willing to partner with Dawn to take a stand against cyber trafficking in the Philippines; if you want to say "no more!" to children being robbed of their innocence and youth, please consider contributing to her financial support! 

For easy giving, and to find out more about Dawn's heart for this mission, please visit her page at Continue to Give.

As we were driving home from Morton, I asked the kids if they had all given Aunt Dawn a huge hug, "because you're not going to be with her again for an entire year..." From the back of the suburban Isaac blurted, "What?!" 'Not quite sure how that detail was lost on him, but he was a little shocked and emotional on the drive home! They love their aunt and believe she's a hero for fighting slavery. 

Our family has the privilege of supporting several missionaries who are close friends. We use their countries and ministries in our Geography and Bible studying in our homeschool and enjoy face-timing them throughout the year. While we'll all really miss Dawn, we're thankful that technology brings people closer!

It's an honor to see our sister continuing her life of service overseas. When Jesus left His earthly ministry, He left His Spirit in believers to carry out and fulfill His ministry! As Christ-followers, our mandate is to tune our hearts to His; and spend our lives in service to Him & for His Glory! May we all be encouraged to serve Him wherever He leads!

Lipic Restoration Project

Mark Lipic is a builder. As with most contractors in his field, he views each project as a challenge and opportunity to take an existing structure and make it more sound, more beautiful, or more useful to the owner. Sometimes it's necessary for him to begin building from the ground-up. Mark's latest project however, will be to help restore lives: not building structures.

Mark is not only a talented building contractor, but has a huge heart for God. He loves to share Jesus: with anyone and everyone who will listen! And his passion to share the Hope of Jesus will soon manifest on an even larger scale, when this Spring Mark and his family move to Catania, Sicily!!

This isn't the first time Mark, his wife Kathy, and their three children Grant, Alex and Nia have accepted the assignment of Matthew 28:19 to go and make disciples of all nations. The Lipics have lived a life of ministry to international students at ISU for several years. They have hosted Bible Study groups in their home, which can often turn into world religion debates with students. They share their family holidays with internationals and have even traveled overseas on a number of occasions to spend time with international students and their families.

Mark and Kathy will have the opportunity to minister to the nations in one place as they reach out to multi-nationals in refugee camps in Catania, as well as in a CARA in Mineo: an hour's drive from Catania, Sicily.

Catania is the second largest city of Sicily. Strategically located on the east coast facing the Ionian Sea, it has become one of the main entry points for refugees crossing into Europe. Those who make it safely across the Sahara desert, then often choose to make a harrowing Mediterranean Sea crossing. They cram together on over-crowded boats piloted by inexperienced sailors; many of them traffickers charging exorbitant prices for the risky venture.

According to the law, asylum-seekers can be held in this Accomodation Centre for Asylum Seekers (CARA) for 35 days: but the average stay at this Mineo location is a year. Because the refugees are away from their home countries under extreme situations, and are often separated from their families; their hearts are open to the Gospel now more than ever.

Our friend Amy told me a while back, "You guys need to meet the Lipics. They adopted their daughter from South Korea, and they're going to minister to refugees!" That's all it took to connect us with Mark and Kathy. Luke and I recently enjoyed a lovely meal with the Lipics at our favorite resturant, "Epiphany Farms" in downtown Bloomington.

It was great to hear their story of how God led them to this point of selling their home and closing out Lipic Builders, Inc. We hit it off right away! You know the kind of sweet fellowship you share with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? Even if you've never met before; there's a unique oneness in Christ. (We talked for nearly 5 hours, people!) It was a blessed time of encouragement and prayer for both our families and the work God has called each of us to live out.

Over delicious farm-to-table delicacies, Kathy admitted that for a while, they didn't see themselves going overseas. Oh, they have always been involved in missions; taking the Perspectives course, Kairos, and Jonathan Training.

The TOAG training they completed at Eastview Church was an intense course that even required their family to withdraw from regular church attendance for several months. This was so they could do home-church and feed themselves and their family the Word; the reality being that missionaries often don't have the luxury of attending large-gathering churches where they are Spiritually fed by a pastor or church leader.

Kathy said, "We always took these trainings and attended conferences so we could be good senders." Now God has called them to be one of those being "sent". And the need is great.  The Lipic family shares the following video to those interested in learning more about what has become the greatest human migration crisis in history.

It was a gradual progression to this point. Kathy traveled to Italy with Team Expansion in May of 2016 where she helped with a kids program for the missionary children and met families who are serving all over the world. This was the beginning of the Lipic's relationship with Team Expansion.

Mark and Kathy felt led to be a part of Kairos training course the Summer of 2016, where they learned about the need for workers in Catania with refugees. By that point, God had already began stirring their hearts toward missions. Mark & Kathy began intently praying about pursuing overseas long-term missions.

They both took a vision trip to Sicily in January of 2017 and met many of the missionary families they will be working with. Mark will be overseeing discipleship and evangelism; going out to the refugee camps and seeking those who would like to begin relationships with the team families. Kathy is excited to host internationals once again for meals; to listen to their stories and share the Hope of Christ with them.

"People would see us and say, 'When are you going on the mission field?'," Mark laughed. "I always said 'I will go as soon as He tells me - then I'll be there.'" Now, it looks as though that is becoming a reality!

Catania, Sicily

Team Expansion has a strategic vision to reach the nations within refugee camps.
From the Lipic's ministry newsletter:

"The Bible speaks of a great multitude that no one could number, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and the Lamb (Revelation 7:9). As we search for and find persons of peace within the refugee camps, we will invest deeply in them; train and disciple them, and equip them to go into the camps to share with and disciple others like them. Utilizing church planting and disciple-making movement practices, we will train disciples to make disciples. Many nations are present in this refugee situation and for this reason we find Catania Sicily to be a strategic location for Kingdom work."

As time goes on these disciples will be placed throughout the world to help reach others for Christ!

"Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest." - John 4:35

If God is leading you to invest in reaching refugees with the Hope of the Gospel, please consider giving financially toward this Kingdom purpose!!

Credit card donations: 
1. Go to: teamexpansion.org/thelipics/
2. Click the "Give Online" link
3. Enter a "Contribution Amount"
4. Please check the box if you'd like to give every month.
5. You will recieve a confirmation email with a tax deductible receipt.

Mail checks:
1. Please make checks payable to "Team Expansion"
2. Write a memo or attach note "Mark & Kathy Lipic Account #1005" & send with check
3. Mail check/memo to:
Team Expansion
C/O Theresa Berry
4112 Old Routt Rd.
Louisville, KY 40299

"Prayer is the engine that makes it all run," Mark says. He and Kathy know that this mission is not possible without the prayers and financial support of many partners in ministry! They thank you for joining with them in proclaiming His Name and His Word to the refugees in Catania!

They can be reached at lipicbunch5@gmail.com.