Upcoming Event: Local IJM Prayer Gathering

Abby Shaw  |  News  |  Missions

Local IJM Prayer Gathering - Hanover, PA

IJM, one of CFC’s Mission Partners, is very dear to my heart. The International Justice Mission’s vision is to “Rescue thousands, protect millions, prove that justice for the poor is possible.” It is a global Christian organization that protects men, women and children from violence in the developing world. This amazing group of professionals, and believers, work in 17 communities around the world, helping to rescue victims of slavery, sex trafficking, sexual violence, property grabbing, police abuse of power, and citizenship rights abuse.

Imagine if you called the police, and no one was able to help you. Or if they did offer help and then turn against you. You could not find protection from the violence. This is the reality for 40 million around the world, where work, home and the streets, are not safe. I don’t know about you, but that makes me so thankful to live in a safe country.

I recently became the mother, of our beautiful baby girl. When I think how anyone could harm such a precious life, it makes me feel sick inside. I could not imagine how I would handle violence towards my daughter, without having any help or protection from those in authority. IJM finds those in need, and they intervene to bring justice to victims of violence and slavery. IJM partner’s with local justice systems to find those who are suffering, and they rescue. They help to restore lives through the work of social workers, and appropriate after care shelters. They work with local police to restrain criminals, and then represent survivors in court. Through their dedicated work, they have seen many lives transformed by God! To me, that is the most exciting part!

The work of justice begins with prayer. All of this extremely difficult work requires prayer, faith, and trust in a God who is bigger than the violence and darkness which lurks in our world. IJM hosts a global prayer gathering annually, to bring these great needs before the Lord. My passion for IJM began at the prayer gathering. It was here where I saw the work of the Lord; lives changed forever, from darkness to light. For the first time ever, IJM is hosting local prayer gatherings across the nation. I was very excited to learn that there will be a free event in Hanover, PA on Saturday, April 21st at 3:30, at the Bridge, located at 200 S Hanover Street, Hummelstown, PA. This will be a great opportunity to experience powerful prayer and worship, hear stories from the front lines of IJM’s work to rescue slaves and transform nations, and join a community committed to ending slavery and injustice. If you are hoping to find out more about IJM, this would be a great way to get up close and personal with the work, and to be directly involved in praying for specific needs. Hope to see you there! For more information, and to register, please see https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ijm-pennsylvania-prayer-gathering-tickets-43949607459.

Abby Shaw | Guest Contributor