Steps of Faith
/A Walk For Freedom
Today was the annual A21 Walk for Freedom, founded by Christine Caine. This year, the walk was hosted in 50 countries in 500 cities! This incredible movement is raising awareness for the injustice of human trafficking in its various forms across the globe. I’m amazed at the work that is being done through orgs like A21 and others I’ve connected with in both Canada and in the USA.
Myself along with Bonnie Pauls and Joeline Magill at Saskatoon’s A21 Walk for Freedom in 2015
Memories
This photo came up as a “Facebook memory” from 2015 when a friend hosted Saskatoon's first Walk for Freedom to end Human Trafficking. (Thanks Lorrie!) A few months prior, it was encouraging to see Bonnie post on social media that she was hosting the Walk for Freedom. I’ve known her for years as one who is full of integrity, prayerful with her words and actions and doesn’t just do things “just because”, but is quite purposeful with her time. To witness this gentle soul step out in faith to host the walk for freedom was no small task, but I knew she would do it with excellence as she was inviting others to join her in serving, walking or fundraising. I reached out to her to meet for coffee, ask how I can help and also catch up. Little did she know, that I too was also in the midst of stepping out in faith. I had learned of Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking through a local group called Saskatoon Acts around 2011-2014 and namely watching a documentary called Nefarious, Merchant of Souls with them one night. Since then, I knew I needed to do something. Little did I know that when I had stepped back from my leadership responsibilities with WJOF in 2015 (after leading there for 16 years), I had conversations with some new leaders who planted seeds in my heart to consider what I could do to help the cause. I remember praying to my Creator, I don’t know what I can do- but if I can help, here I am. I’ve journeyed long enough to accept my weaknesses of what I am NOT good at, but also utilize the strengths I do have which includes being a visionary and I love to gather people and see what happens! At the same time, I was scared of the what-ifs looming in my head. Yet, that summer I gathered some awesome people in my living room for a chat in person and by video conferencing, hosted a second meeting in a board room in Moose Jaw, SK at the Grant Hall, and a third larger meeting hosted at the Wall Street Common in Saskatoon. All to engage in conversation by sharing together our individual/ collective vision of what we were seeing at that time. I can sense in these conversations the truth that “hope deferred makes a heart sick”. Taking a step of faith towards action can seem unnerving, but doing so in community brings empowerment. We shared what was in our hearts and minds for addressing the needs for transitional housing for trafficked women alongside awareness,/education and outreach in our own city and province. What we found is that our individual dreams seem to have aa collective vision.
Steps of Faith
It's amazing to look back at our memories in life knowing that they were steps of faith towards your present reality. When the Walk for Freedom was hosted in Saskatoon for the first time in October 2015, Hope Restored Canada was just in its idea stage: aka "Operation Restoration" with vision brewing in the hearts of both myself and Joeline. She too was stepping out in faith and planned to resign from her long-time work with youth to focus on this area of social justice. I am so grateful we joined forces and together, (along with a crew of others across the province), we officially launched HRC the following year. Thankful for community efforts and movements like the WFF to publically raise awareness to rise up to say human trafficking is not OK- not on our watch. Much has happened in the last 4 years (I’ll write more about that later), as I have transitioned last spring with taking off the numerous hats founder people like me have in its formative years. We appointed a new chair of the board and we’ve hired Joeline as the interim executive director. It’s been a ton of work, a labor of love and filled with the ups and downs of organizational formation. Miraculously, we are now opening our first transition house for trafficked women in Saskatoon this month. Again, more steps of faith are needed. But that’s where each person makes a difference. Each step is a catalyst for change. Individual courage is a necessity. Moving a mission forward, teamwork is required. Being successful with any movement towards social justice, collaboration is key. As Christine says: "No one person can do everything, but every one of us can give something"
“No one person can do everything, but every one of us can give something”
Global Catalyst
I see the Walk for Freedom as a global catalyst to either engage in their organization through the walk itself, be an ambassador or advocate throughout the year, become educated or inspire one to engage with other organizations in one’s own city, province or state. There are other ways to take a step of faith like donating to the cause, become more educated, pray, engage your business in some way, the list of ways to join the movement is long. To learn more about HRC, click here. To learn about the incredible A21 Org and how it started, here is a message from Christine and Nick Caine as they celebrated the first 10 years as an organization:
*If you'd like to attend next year or host it yourself, visit their site to learn more https://www.a21.org/index.php
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
