Faith Into Action

By Neil Schori

Over the last few weeks, I've had some incredible opportunities to put my faith into action.  Two of my greatest passions came to fruition in an interview with WGN about serving abused women with the Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit, then leaving for Haiti a day later to offer hope to the poorest people in the Western Hemisphere.  These things bring me a lot of life.  I could not be more grateful!

When I help people, I'm always helping myself in the process.  Do you know why?  Because when I help others, I'm reminded of what is truly important.  I get distracted by what is important each day.  Money, cars, well-manicured suburban yards---all of those things and more get in the way of the things that are the most important.  And when I serve the needs of others, it helps me to put a different lens into my near-sighted frames and I start seeing and living purpose again.  And THAT is a sweet spot.

What is it that motivates me to serve?  A man in the Bible named Paul of Tarsus wrote this in the book of 2nd Corinthians 8: 8,9

⁸ I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. ⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

What Paul was saying was that Jesus modeled what true service looks like.  Jesus had everything but chose to become nothing so that we could have everything.  Jesus gave up the riches of Heaven so that we could be forgiven.  Jesus served us first.  Now, I serve to honor him.

Why do you serve?  Maybe it is because it makes you feel good.  Or because you want to do your good deed for the day.  Those are fine reasons, but I don't believe either of those reasons will keep you serving for more than a very short time.  Why?  Because feelings are fleeting.  But when your service is based on the truth of God's love for you, your serving tank will not run dry.

Serving with Gratitude,

Neil

Neil Schori serves as lead pastor of Naperville Christian Church, and is a remarkable advocate for those in abusive relationships.

The Forgotten Children: Trafficking in Haiti

By Gaetane Borders

January 12, 2010 is a day that I will not soon forget. It was the day that a massive earthquake leveled Haiti….my parents’ birth home. Although I was born in the U.S., I strongly identify with my Haitian roots, and felt as if a large part of me died along with the over 150,000 people who lost their lives during the natural disaster. What saddened me the most was seeing the images of the bodies of children and babies lined along the street. In fact, I didn’t think it could get worse. But it has.

Many of the orphanages were damaged, and therefore tens of thousands of children are currently living in the temporary camps. In addition, reportedly more than a million people were displaced by last January's devastating quake and are living in dire conditions. These horrible conditions have become a breading ground for trafficking in the small island.

It has been reported that trafficking has always been an issue in Haiti but has grown steadily worse in the last year. Since the earthquake the rates of trafficking into the Dominican Republic have increased incredibly. According to an investigative report by the Miami Herald, the Massacre River is a common crossing point for traffickers. It’s a river that links Haitian town of Ouanaminthe with the Dominican Republic’s Dajabon. There are individuals who are going to the temporary camps and posing those that have come as part of the aid efforts. According to news reports, parents desperate for money are falsely dooped into believing their children will lead better lives elsewhere if they sell them.

Prosguel Andre, 32, an admitted trafficker of the Haitian Cannibal Army gang, has admitted to selling more than 45 children. He has said….

"There are a lot of orphans here. Babies with nobody to care for them. It's easy to take them. Last month, a white woman came from the Dominican Republic. She gave me $500 for two little girls. I don't know what she wanted with them."

What is happening in Haiti is not unique because human trafficking usually increases after natural disasters. For example, the massive tsunami that struck Asia left thousands of children were left vulnerable to similar crimes.

There are organizations that are doing a lot to help bring an end to this disturbing issue. For instance, Unicef is working with the Haitian government to try and introduce anti-trafficking laws. As part of this, the United Nations police force (UNPOL) recently began patrolling these unofficial borders. Also, Hilton Worldwide has promised to combat child sex trafficking by becoming the second US-based hotel company to sign the international code of conduct known as "The Code" which is aimed at protecting children from being sexually exploited in the travel and tourism industries around the world. Hilton will implement policies that condemn child trafficking and also train employees how to spot potentially illegal activities. USA Today reports:

“Last year, Hilton came under fire by online social-justice groups such as Change.org on this issue following the discovery last year of a brothel in one of its hotels in China. In July 2010, Chinese police found a brothel operating in the independently run karaoke bar inside Hilton's five-star Chongqing hotel. At the time, authorities ordered the closure of the hotel for a full week and the hotel lost its fifth star. Although the issue of child trafficking did not come up, the connection was nevertheless made.”

More people and organizations need to get involved because this is an issue that affects every nation! One such organization is ECPAT International (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking). ECPAT and The Body Shop have formed a partnership to create and implement the global “STOP Sex Trafficking of Children & Young People Campaign.” For more information about them and this campaign, please visit www.ecpat.net.

The Land of Never Enough

By Neil Schori

I don't know about you, but I never seem to have enough.  Most of my months have a few days left in them when my paycheck ends.  My house feels like a zoo at least half of the time because I've got 5 people under a roof made for 2.  Sometimes when I look around these affluent suburbs, I can convince myself that I'm the only person around here that isn't a CEO of a Fortune 500 company.  Never enough.  Can you relate to any of this?

But when I slow down, I become aware that the truth is really different than my lying perception and my fickle heart.  I'm getting ready to leave for Haiti in a few days to serve some of the world's poorest people and then two days after I return, I'll be with my family celebrating Thanksgiving.  I need this desperately.  Both of these events will be such beautiful reality-checks for me and keep me grateful for what I do have in the land of "never enough." 

Right now, I want to tell you about two things that make my heart nearly burst with joy.  The first is you.  I'm deeply honored to journey alongside all of you passionate seekers of justice for victims of domestic violence.  

Without all of you, the journey would not have the same meaning.  Why?  Because we were made for relationship.  We were never meant to walk this road in isolation.  Just ask any victim of domestic violence what her perpetrator's main tool was and you'll discover quickly that she was forced out of all of her meaningful relationships so that her abuser could in effect control her every move.  Isolation breeds confusion and fear.  Relationships bring the truth to light.

I'm also incredibly thankful for my DNA.  I'm not talking about my parents here, but I am thankful for them too.  The genetics I'm talking about are more enduring than an earthly blood-line.  I'm an advocate for the abused and oppressed because I have a Savior that has shown me the Way.  

Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus came down to Earth.  He lived a perfect life even while dealing with all of the things that make me angry and cynical and at times completely unpleasant to be around.  He showed me that I don't have to fight for my own way.  I no longer have to "look out for #1."  He showed me that real life...not the "life" that comes from the land of "never enough," but the kind of life that makes you know why you were made to be in this world...comes from selfless service and sacrificial love.  He showed me that selflessness always trumps self-serving.  And this Jesus died for my sins so that I could be forgiven of all the wrong that I've ever done.  I'm an advocate because Jesus was my Advocate first.

Take some time to slow down over the next couple of months in between your over-eating and Black Friday shopping, and think about those things that make you truly grateful.  I would bet that not one thing on your list can be bought.  Tonight, while I'm engulfed in the artificial light of this computer monitor, I'm thankful for the real light you fighters for justice have brought to my life.  And I'm profoundly aware of the God who loves me and called me to real life and such meaningful work.

With a Grateful Heart,

Neil 


Editor's note:  Neil is now in Haiti.  You can follow him on Twitter ( @neilschori ) or leave a comment here on the blog, I'm sure he will appreciate your support.