Dream of Justice

Steven Nicholson- Caring for at-risk children and working with the local church in Africa

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:34:45 GMT

Hear Steven Nicholson, ServLife staff in Africa, share how him and his wife came to live in work in Capetown, South Africa, as they work with local women to start businesses, work with the indigenous church to help train up new leaders, and help care for and rescue at-risk children in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Shannon Taylor- Forming Partnerships in Nepal to Fight Sexual Exploitation (Podcast)

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:08:02 GMT

Hear Shannon Taylor share how she came to live and work in Nepal and how she believes it's in the forming of strategic partnerships and utilizing the shared giftings and skills of these partnerships, that we are going to effectively respond to the complex issues of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Nepal.

Nepal Christians Hope New Republic Brings more Religious Freedom (Article)

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:21:20 GMT

Christian leaders in Nepal have reported persecution at the hands of Maoist guerrillas, as well as Hindu militants. They are praying the new republic will guarantee their basic human rights. The republic has given a significant role to former Maoist guerrillas who fought a ten-year insurgency against the government. The fighting left 12,000 dead and displaced 100,000. The Maoists now hold about one third of the seats in the new parliament.

In the latest edition of Release International's World Update, a pastor (who cannot be named for security reasons) described how guerrillas had previously tried to close down his church and recruit him to their cause.

Ellen Bender- Responding to Human Trafficking Injustices in Nepal (Podcast)

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:16:11 GMT

Hear ServLife Staff member, Ellen Bender, share how she came to live and work in Nepal and how she is helping bring healing to the lives of the women there who have been victims of human trafficking.

Missing, a Strong Legal Framework to Combat Child Labor (Article)

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:11:52 GMT

(June 12, 2008 - By IANS)

New Delhi, India -The numbers tell the sorry story - an estimated 60 million child labourers in India but only 670,000 violations of the law detected in eight years and just 22,588 convictions! Behind the bland government numbers are the millions of young children working in roadside eateries, slaving away in glass factories, hunched up over carpet looms or sweeping and cooking in homes in blatant violation of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act.

Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Pulls out of Election (Article)

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:31:11 GMT

(6/23/2008- By ANGUS SHAW – Associated Press)

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Unwilling to ask his supporters to risk their lives on his behalf, Zimbabwe's opposition leader withdrew his bid for the presidency and pleaded with the international community to intervene in what he called a "violent sham" of an election.

Morgan Tsvangirai's announcement Sunday that he was dropping out of the violence-riddled presidential runoff came after thousands of militants loyal to President Robert Mugabe prevented opposition supporters from gathering for its main campaign rally.

Ty Denney- Pastor of West Side Faith, Los Angeles, CA (Podcast)

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:43:30 GMT

Ty Denney, Pastor of West Side Faith Community Church in Los Angeles, CA, shares on being the church in Los Angeles and influencing future leaders and culture shapers.

A List of Films about Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Girl Trafficking. Manushi for Sustainable Development. 1994. Trafficked from the rural areas of Nepal into India for commercial sexual exploitation, this documentary-drama outlines the very real ordeal of many young girls, as well as the social ostracization they face with their resulting HIV/AIDS infection.

Highway to Hell. Meera Dewan and Niraja Rao. 2000. Exploring the sex trafficking trade between Nepal and India, this documentary also takes on the unique perspectives of male clients in addition to those of the trafficked girls and their families (38 minutes).

Trading Women. David A. Feingold. Trading Women documents the sex trafficking trade in China, Thailand, and Burma, depicted as not just a local, but international problem (narrated by Angelina Jolie).

(See article for full list of films)

Anti-Conversion Law Implemented in Gujarat State (Article)

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:38:00 GMT

On April 1, an anti-conversion law passed in 2003, in Gujarat State, India, came into effect, increasing Christians' concerns that it will encourage false accusations by Hindu extremists. According to Voice of the Martyrs sources, "The law is supposed to curb religious conversions made by 'force,' 'fraud' or 'allurement.' However, Christians and human rights groups believe that the law actually obstructs all conversions, as Hindu extremists invoke it to harass Christian workers with arrests and imprisonments, which are often accompanied with violence against the accused.".

Mark and Jenn Storm- Dreaming in Nepal (Podcast)

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:39:45 GMT

Hear ServLife staff members, Mark and Jenn Storm, share from Nepal on their ongoing work and how they are addressing injustices in Nepal.

A Call for Redemption in the Hearts of Man, by Bill Briley (Article)

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:40:44 GMT

What is it in the hearts of man that blinds us to the struggles in the world today? Why is it that around every corner and on every continent we see or hear of these struggles and remain inactive? And who is it that will judge the hearts of man? Evil is the result of absence. It’s not the absence of God around the next corner or the absence of God on continents, but rather the absence of the presence of God in man’s hearts.

David Zigler, Pastor at Trinity Church, Dreaming for Justice in Indianapolis, IN (Podcast)

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:59:08 GMT

Joel Vestal interviews David Zigler who is a pastor at Trinity Church in Indianapolis, IN. Hear David share what it looks like for him to dream for justice in the local Indianapolis community.

Doing Short-Terms Missions without Doing Long-Term Harm, By Chalmers Center Staff (Article)

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:41:51 GMT

Given the explosion of Short-Terms Missions (STM) trips to minister to low-income communities, it would appear that STM is the most effective way to minister to poor people. Right? Wrong! In fact, most STM trips violate basic principles of effective poverty-alleviation and have the potential to do considerable harm both to low-income people and to ourselves. However, by being cognizant of these principles and more intentional about our actions, the downsides of STMs can be reduced and there can be greater hope of long-term benefit for all involved.

What is the Dream of Justice Campaign?, By Joel Vestal (Podcast)

Thu, 01 May 2008 16:14:47 GMT

Hear Joel Vestal share about the Dream of Justice campaign being launched by ServLife and how you can become and connect with other Dream of Justice Advocates within your community.

For Sale: 13-year-old Virgin, By Sue Ryan (Article)

Thu, 01 May 2008 15:21:42 GMT

Bharatpur, India Thirty miles west of the Taj Mahal, on the road to the pink city of Jaipur, tourists on buses pass a sight that the guide books rarely mention. A mile beyond the town of Bharatpur in Rajasthan, where the highway is being widened to four lanes, traffic slows down for roadworks. But the workmen who lounge by their bulldozers have their eyes on something else - a cluster of makeshift shelters where girls, several under 18 and at least two younger than 15, can be seen strolling or sitting, in view of the dusty carriageway.

Tonight, one girl in particular is attracting attention as she sits on a stool by a fire so that she can be seen by passing vehicles. Her heavily made-up, striking face and beautiful pink sari make her look as if she were on her way to a party. But the truth is different. Suli, 14, is a virgin and a bidding war is being held for the right to be the first to sleep with her. The collection of shelters where she lives houses 59 families, all members of the Bedia tribe, which has a long tradition of caste-based prostitution. Girls born here become prostitutes in a rite of passage into "adulthood" as routine as marriage is to the rest of Indian society.

Churches' Statement on Zimbabwe, by Christian Aid (Article)

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:51:42 GMT

One of Christian Aid's partners, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, is among the church groups warning of impending genocide if nothing is done to help the people of Zimbabwe. Read their statement below: (Concern over the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe: message from the heads of Christian denominations in Zimbabwe)

21st Century Missiology: Kingdom Entrepreneurs Paving the Way, By Joel Vestal (Article)

Thu, 01 May 2008 15:27:09 GMT

The word Entrepreneur comes from a French word meaning, one who takes into hand. Introduced in the 19th century by French economist Jan-Baptiste Say, “entrepreneur” characterizes a certain kind of economic actor. It is not merely someone who opens a business, but rather someone who, “shifts resources from one area of lower productivity into another area of higher productivity.”

Are Americans Needed in God’s Global Mission?, By Joel Vestal (Article)

Thu, 01 May 2008 15:32:38 GMT

What the world needs now, perhaps more than ever, is individuals and communities intent on the work of God in all places. And here’s some great news: Every disciple of Christ, whether in Montana or Malawi is invited. All are necessary and the requisite is simple: Love God and be prepared to love the same world His Son died for. This means God has global openings for ambassadors, for those devoted to being salt and light.

He’s looking for reconcilers, for witnesses who will follow Him even to the death. He longs for His people to choose what’s just, to defend the cause of those who are weak and without a father. More than 2000 times, He brings up the poor and oppressed of this world – and tells us to do something about them. And on the heels of this, we’re told to rescue the weak and needy, seek peace, plead the case of the widow, and care for the orphan. All this and more, we call the mission of God.

Start a Movement of Peace, By Joel Vestal (Article)

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:43:21 GMT

I have been asking myself in recent days from following so many complicated global issues, is it possible for the church of Jesus (that is you and me) to rise above partisan politics and economic/ethnic divide and be an instrument of peace in an ever increasing hostile world? I believe it is. America is divided politically as well as most regions of the world. We as the church should involve ourselves in the public square; however, we as image bearers of the most high God have more power within us than any military or commander in chief in the world to rattle the halls of hell and move the heart of God to awaken his people to action (Rom 8:11). Indeed, there is great power waiting to be unleashed among us to see peace in the world come through the church of Jesus Christ, that is you and me.

Enslaved to Riches: Wealthy or Not, Money has the Power to Enslave Us, By Joel Vestal (Article)

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:49:23 GMT

I heard a wise statement one time, “You don’t have to be rich to be a slave to riches.” Many of us think that one has to have wealth to be a slave to it. But the poor can be a slave to wealth just as much as the rich. The core of the matter is not the size of our portfolio, our ability to retire by the age of 45, or how poor we are. The issues really are - are our hearts pure? Are our intentions pure? Are our decisions to invest in the Kingdom of God greater rather than our own financial security?