He was trafficked over 1600 years ago...

Over 1600 years ago there was a young boy of 14 years, trafficked as a slave from Scotland to land of Druids and pagans. As a slave for over 6 years tending sheep he learned the local language and culture. Finally, he escaped his captors and was reunited with his family.

In an act of redemption, God called this freed slave back to his captors. Once captive, now free, he brought the Good News of Jesus - Hope, Salvation, LOVE to transform this dark, rough land... Ireland.

St. Patrick himself was a victim of human trafficking. He turned around and fought it head on by returning to the very people who captured him and showed them love and compassion like they'd never seen!

How are we fighting this horrific crime today? As you celebrate this day of green, in whatever way you may be, remember those who are in slavery and those who hold them captive. St. Patrick helped transform a nation. So can you!

Read more on the story of St. Patrick here.

Freedom Sunday

Today is Freedom Sunday - a day set aside to increase awareness and encourage action against human trafficking. Love Chapel Hill is one of nearly 2400 churches, spread across 50 countries to join as a part of the Abolitionist Faith Community.

ORANGE has been our recurring theme for the fight against human trafficking. Today we have had the opportunity to increase awareness about where and how slavery exists, but also some very simple ways that we can begin to make a difference.

As a apart of Love Chapel Hill's participation in Freedom Sunday, we watched a few key videos which are posted below. I've also posted here a few other videos that are really eye opening.

** Please know that the topic of human trafficking can be very raw and offensive. These videos, while mostly shown on mainstream television, do contain content that I would consider to be for mature audiences only; best watched in a group setting.

If you have any questions about ORANGE, Freedom Sunday, or human trafficking in general, please feel free to email me and I'll do my best to get you connected to the information you are looking for.

Check out these videos:
Freedom Sunday:








Additional:
Constance


Call+Response Extended Trailer - KEY INFO

Sharing the Journey of Lent

Lent is perhaps the most difficult season of the Christian Church calendar. It's dark, a desert place, wilderness that causes an intense introspection. Even though we know LIGHT defeats darkness, we walk through this season, surrendering and submitting again that Jesus paid the price and walked through the deepest and darkest places, taking on our sin and death.

As we remember what Christ has done, we as a church are walking through this season together in fasting and in prayer. I want to invite you to share in this journey as we read common texts over these 40 days. Join us over at the Love Chapel Hill blog - 40 days. http://lovechapelhill.wordpress.com

ORANGE

When's the last time you thought about slavery? It's not even on the radar for most of us. Crazy thing is though, there are more slaves in the world today than EVER before. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 27 million, in fact. Hard for me to even conceive... 27 million individual lives are caught in the bondage of slavery...

Even worse, I'm part of the problem. All of us are. It's part of our supply chain. Most clothes made of cotton, most electronics, a lot of food, coffee - somewhere in the supply chain many of the mainstream products we buy use slave labor. A major area of modern day slavery, also known as human trafficking, is sexual exploitation. The numbers are shocking.

There is so much to learn about human trafficking, and perhaps learning about it is the first step to doing something about it. As a church, Love Chapel Hill is starting into the fight against human trafficking. How do we become modern day abolitionists. You can learn more about the problem and find very practical ways to get involved over at lovechapelhill.com. Checkout the ORANGE page.

Keep in mind as you go shopping this weekend, look for SLAVE FREE products.

Have a GREAT THANKSGIVING!

What are you celebrating today?

Ok, If you're not wearing green today would I pinch you? Probably so. Can't help it. I'm pretty sure that was ingrained in like kindergarten. If you are wearing green today, what are you celebrating? Is it the Luck of the Irish? An excuse to throw back a pint? Maybe the one day of the year wearing your pointy green shoes isn't weird? Perhaps it's a family heritage or just plain old tradition?

Though there is some family heritage for me (my dad is probably marching in the St. Patrick's Day Parade today in Dublin) , I don't have green shoes, and it's not so much about the Luck of the Irish... It is, however, very much about the Love of the Irish!

There's this teenager who was taken captive and enslaved in Ireland... after 6 years of captivity, he escaped. In his freedom, this guy's heart was broken for his captors and the land of his captivity. Out of LOVE he returned... Patrick so loved Jesus, he lived a transformed life and did the unthinkable. He LOVED his captors!

Patrick LOVED the Irish, though they were seemingly unlovable. They didn't know of Grace, Mercy or Hope, but Patrick did. He experienced it and couldn't help but share it. Being empowered by God and knowing the culture Patrick was able to start real and relevant expressions of The Church in Ireland. Don't think so much about steeples and hymnals... Think about communities of people doing life together, working community gardens and welcoming in strangers.

Through one community lives were changed and other communities began to spring up around Ireland. Inviting people in and giving them freedom to belong before they ever believed proved to be the mark of God's movement in Ireland. There's something to experiencing the Love of God... It transforms lives! Patrick experienced it and carried it to Ireland - are you experiencing it and where are you carrying it today?

The Love of the Irish... God's Love for messed up people... That's what I'm celebrating today!