“Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalms 82:4
Today & Everyday
876 young girls [1]
Trapped into Sex Slavery
Raped multiple times every day
The rest of their lives
Rescue is not the end of the pain … wounded physically and emotionally, separated from family and culture, alone, lost, filled with shame, unloved, feeling unlovable. The pain goes on.
… But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. … Luke 10:25-37
Samaritan’s Touch brings the healing power of committed compassionate love to victims from human trafficking and violence. By connecting victims to families who make a commitment to “sponsor”… to “adopt”… to love them as they go through recovery and into restoration of their lives, Samaritan’s Touch brings the healing power of God’s love as a light of hope into their darkness.
The Lord overwhelmed my heart with the burden for Samaritan’s Touch on Sunday June 29, 2008 through an article in the Houston Chronicle. "DETAILS EMERGE FROM SEX RING CRACKDOWN" [http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2008_4591643].
Just that morning in Sunday school we had read an article that confronted us with the question, “Why isn’t the church doing more to help the victims of human trafficking?” Twelve hours later, as I read the last paragraph of the article above describing how the 120 women who were rescued from sex slavery in 2005 were still struggling for survival, my heart was torn with the enormity of their pain and the realization that God’s people making a commitment to demonstrate His love could dramatically change lives crushed by pain. That night, watered by rivers of tears, the Lord planted the seeds of a vision for Samaritan’s Touch in my heart.
Since the birth of the vision, God has opened a variety of doors and initiated relationships that have verified not only that the need is great, but that Samaritan’s Touch brings missing pieces of support to the existing programs which provide recovery services to victims.
The Sponsor Family concept of Samaritan’s Touch is very simple, it involves a family:
Investing some time: In the early days it may be a couple
of times a week, as the victim begins to heal and grow in restoration it will
probably diminish to a few times a month.
Committing to consistent compassionate Love: Victims
usually feel unloved and unlovable. Victims of sex slavery are overwhelmed with
shame. It is an immeasurable blessing to discover that someone really cares and
doesn’t class them as damaged or useless. The Sponsor Family’s committed compassionate
love encourages – builds courage in - a heavily wounded heart to
face an uncertain and terrifying future. Just knowing that someone will be
there to hold their hand for the long-term and walk through it together with
them brings great healing.
Building “family” relationships: Bringing the victim
into the home to spend time with the family and join in some normal family
activities and celebrations, like going to church, picnics, birthday parties, and
holidays. NOT having the victim move in!
Practical help: Learning specific needs and providing
help – like practicing English, learning how to get around town on the bus,
tutoring for classes – or finding help when necessary. NOT financially
supporting the victim!
Exploring the world: Victim’s have been trapped in tiny
worlds. They have usually been kept for years in one building - never seeing
the outside. Sponsor families can widen the horizons and build confidence just
by taking the victim to discover the community they live in. Driving around
town, visiting museums, parks, going to movies and community events help bring
the victim into the world.
Teaching: Victims have a lot to learn! Most have limited
education and often don’t know English. They may not even really know where
they are in the world. They often don’t understand local culture. Create
opportunities to learn.
Being available: Knowing there is someone to call in an emergency
or when they are hurting. One of the biggest fears after being captive is the
fear of getting lost in the “big world” that they were shut off from. It’s a
big blessing to just know there is someone they can call, who loves them, and
will come get them if they get lost or are really hurting over something.
The Sponsor Family concept of Samaritan’s Touch addresses three significant needs that are currently unmet:
1. Consistent relationships that victims can depend on throughout the entire long process of recovery and healing, and into the years that follow. Right now in moving through the current government process, the victims are moved through a series of organizations committed to helping in recovery. The goal of the current government sponsored system is to help a victim establish an independent life in about 12-18 months. These organizations care greatly and bring blessed relief, recovery, and support to victims, but their continuing case load keeps them from providing long-term committed loving relationships. A Sponsor Family works with the existing organizations and provides a foundation of a consistent loving relationship throughout the current process and into rest of the victim’s lives.
2.
A Family Community! Shame and issues of safety often prevent
the return of victims to their own cultural group. Victims are lost and alone
in a strange world. There is no “community” for them! A Sponsor Family commits
to bring the victim into the family’s community, to not only stand with them as
they go through the recovery process, but to give them a new sense of belonging
by spending regular time with the victim and inviting the victim to join in
some family times.
3. Committed love! The essence of Samaritan’s Touch is the commitment that the Sponsor Family makes to LOVE the victim with God’s love. NOT having the victim live with them – NOT paying the victim’s bills, but to demonstrate Christ’s sacrificial love by supporting in whatever practical “hands-on” way is necessary to help the victim through the painful and often confusing process of learning a new language, a new culture, customs, public transportation, personal financial management, how to survive in a strange world, and how to find a job. The ultimate goal is to demonstrate to the victim’s heart that, no matter what, their Sponsor Family will be there to love them – to stand with them – to anoint them with the healing power of Christ’s love.
YOU are needed! YOU can help!
Samaritan’s Touch is just getting started. There are numerous ways that YOU can help turn the vision into reality. Anything you do will ultimately be a part of God’s healing touch into the lives of victims who are crushed by evil and overwhelmed by pain. Make a choice to do what YOU can!
1. SUPPORT:
Pray about how God wants YOU to support the vision for Samaritan’s Touch. There
are many expenses to be covered as we build strategic relationships with
existing organizations and support providers. Travel will be a big requirement.
Web based tools need to be built to manage relationships with churches and
Sponsor Families. Training needs to be developed for Sponsor Families.
Financial support is very important, but support can be provided in
other ways too: donation of airline miles, web development services, graphic
design, research, writing, etc. Ask us if your skills can be of use to help
turn the vision for Samaritan’s Touch into reality!
Tax-deductable donations can be made payable to Samaritan’s Touch.
2. INTRODUCTIONS: Who do you know that might share our vision – our burden? Introduce us! We know that God works through relationships. Help open doors!
3. ENCOURAGEMENT: Share with us your thoughts – your ideas! We have a lot to learn as God leads us down a new road!
4. INTERCESSORY PRAYER TEAM: We know that the birth and growth of Samaritan’s Touch is God’s work. We cry out that every plan – every effort – would reflect His heart, in His way, in His time. We need prayer! Committed Prayer! If you will make a commitment to pray regularly and diligently for Samaritan’s Touch we would like to add you to the Intercessory Prayer Team. We will send you regular (hopefully weekly) updates on status, needs, and plans so that you can kneel with us in prayer before the Lord that in all things HIS name would be glorified and many hearts would be healed. Soli Deo Gloria
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Progress!
We are already seeing doors open and hearts being healed.
1. ENCOURAGEMENT: We have been getting good encouragement that the vision for Samaritan’s Touch is a new idea and will bring much needed support to the current efforts to restore and heal victims. Samaritan’s Touch will magnify the impact of current services on the lives of victims.
2. FIRST SPONSORSHIP: We have been excited at the opportunity to bless one victim’s life. After our first weekend with her she said, “This has been the best weekend of my life!” She has also used our computer to call her husband and son in India and have a long conversation and to introduce us to them. We have spent one day a week with her for many weeks now and our joy is boundless as we see the joy on her face, and hear her tell others about her “adopted family.” Our excitement will be greater when we see other families discovering the blessings that come from choosing to love someone who is hurting - seeing God work miracles of healing!
3. YMCA’s VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING DIVISION: We will soon be helping to present workshops on human trafficking. Information about how families can become Sponsor Families will be added to the workshops. After hearing reports from the victim that we have sponsored, the YMCA is ready to begin connecting Sponsor Families to some of the more than 100 victims in the Houston area.
Let Us Hear From You! – Send us an Email
Please let us know if you want to lift us up as a part of the
Intercessory Prayer Team
Share with us your thoughts, suggestions, and encouragements!
Tell us how YOU can help heal wounded hearts through Samaritan’s
Touch! Do you have resources or skills you would like to share with us?
Would you like to be a Sponsor Family – to bring the healing
power of God’s love to someone who is hurting?
Pass this along and introduce us to others!
Remember: When you impact someone’s life you don’t just change their life. You touch every life they touch … and every life they touch … and every life they touch. Like ripples in a pond spreading out from the impact of a single pebble. Ultimately, when you touch one life with God’s love you are touching eternity for His glory!
Soli Deo Gloria
Samaritan's Touch ● 12954 Westleigh Houston, TX 77077 ● 713.397.0834 ●