Hi everyone
Just a quick note to let you know that I am in Hong Kong. I will be gone for another week still. Please keep me in your prayers as today we leave for mainland China.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
China - Touch Their Poverty!
I have been asked to be a part of a human trafficking assessment team to Mainland China. I will be going with a team of Salvation Army leaders to various project sites within poor communities in China which are at risk for human trafficking. My role on the team will be to see the situation through the eyes of a westerner and give my feedback as to how this problem may best be communicated to the west. My goal for the trip is to "touch their poverty." Or rather I want to be touched by their poverty! I want to feel the discomfort of their living to the point of it breaking my heart.
This is something that The Salvation Army has always been called to do. Last August I was able to read, "Good Morning China!" a book by Lt. Colonel Check-Hung Yee which tells the history of The Salvation Army in China. In an epilogue his daughter says, "As you step back in time and experience God’s transforming work in this generation of brave soldiers, may your heart also leap and be fanned to flame with the bond of love for China’'s 1.3 billion souls.’ As I read this book that is exactly what happened. I found myself with a burning desire to go to China and see the army at work there.
I plan on coming back to the states with a renewed vision and passion for God's calling on my life for the world. I will be leaving next Wednesday and coming back on April 8th. I would love to ask you all to support me and the team. Please pray for us even now as we prepare to go. On my return it is my plan to provide a report of the trip on this blog.
One friend wrote to say the Lord had layed the following verse on his heart regarding this trip:
'You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn-bush will grow a pine tree, and instead of briers, the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign which will not be destroyed.'
Isaiah 55:12
I am raising support to cover the cost of this trip. If you feel that you would like to help support this trip financially or would just like more information please contact me at Jason_Pope@uss.salvationarmy.org.
PS. Below is a copy of some information on China's Trafficking problems.
People’s Republic of China
China is the world's fourth largest country, with a population exceeding one billion two hundred and ninety million (1,290,000,000) and average life expectancy of approximately seventy-two (72) years. Urban unemployment is estimated at ten percent (10%) and substantial unemployment and underemployment exists in rural areas. The poverty rate is ten percent (10%).6
Human trafficking is an acute problem in China ? a problem which has been and will continue to be exacerbated by the country’s one-child policy.7 The common cultural preference of families for boy children has led to a thriving practice of selective abortion of female babies. The result is serious gender disproportion which has left millions of men without potential spouses. To illustrate, approximately one hundred seventeen (117) boys were born for every one hundred (100) girls in 2000, compared with one hundred eight and one-half (108.5) in 1982. In the southern provinces of Hainan and Guangdong, the ratio was one hundred thirty to one hundred (130:100). A natural ratio would be one hundred four to one hundred seven, compared to one hundred (104 to 107:100).8 Thus, the effort to find wives had led to a flourishing traffic in women and girls, internally and from countries such as Burma, North Korea, Laos and Vietnam.9 Police are said to have freed forty-two thousand two hundred and fifteen (42,215) kidnapped women and children in the past two years.10
In March 2004, Li Weixiong, vice-chairman of a committee studying population issues told a government advisory body that a “dramatic rise” in levels of prostitution and the buying and selling of women was “by no means a sensational prediction.” He stated that if the situation continues, by 2020 there could be thirty (30) to forty (40) million men who would stay single all their lives.11 This will create an unprecedented and overwhelming demand for women. In addition to trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation and brides, there is also traffic of male babies for adoption.12
The U.S. Department of State’s 2004 Trafficking in Persons Report noted, “Chinese women are trafficked to Australia, Burma, Canada, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Europe, and the United States” for purposes of prostitution.13 China is given a Tier 2 ranking in the report, indicating that its government does not comply with the minimum standards of the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 but that it is making significant efforts to come into compliance.14
This is something that The Salvation Army has always been called to do. Last August I was able to read, "Good Morning China!" a book by Lt. Colonel Check-Hung Yee which tells the history of The Salvation Army in China. In an epilogue his daughter says, "As you step back in time and experience God’s transforming work in this generation of brave soldiers, may your heart also leap and be fanned to flame with the bond of love for China’'s 1.3 billion souls.’ As I read this book that is exactly what happened. I found myself with a burning desire to go to China and see the army at work there.
I plan on coming back to the states with a renewed vision and passion for God's calling on my life for the world. I will be leaving next Wednesday and coming back on April 8th. I would love to ask you all to support me and the team. Please pray for us even now as we prepare to go. On my return it is my plan to provide a report of the trip on this blog.
One friend wrote to say the Lord had layed the following verse on his heart regarding this trip:
'You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn-bush will grow a pine tree, and instead of briers, the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign which will not be destroyed.'
Isaiah 55:12
I am raising support to cover the cost of this trip. If you feel that you would like to help support this trip financially or would just like more information please contact me at Jason_Pope@uss.salvationarmy.org.
PS. Below is a copy of some information on China's Trafficking problems.
People’s Republic of China
China is the world's fourth largest country, with a population exceeding one billion two hundred and ninety million (1,290,000,000) and average life expectancy of approximately seventy-two (72) years. Urban unemployment is estimated at ten percent (10%) and substantial unemployment and underemployment exists in rural areas. The poverty rate is ten percent (10%).6
Human trafficking is an acute problem in China ? a problem which has been and will continue to be exacerbated by the country’s one-child policy.7 The common cultural preference of families for boy children has led to a thriving practice of selective abortion of female babies. The result is serious gender disproportion which has left millions of men without potential spouses. To illustrate, approximately one hundred seventeen (117) boys were born for every one hundred (100) girls in 2000, compared with one hundred eight and one-half (108.5) in 1982. In the southern provinces of Hainan and Guangdong, the ratio was one hundred thirty to one hundred (130:100). A natural ratio would be one hundred four to one hundred seven, compared to one hundred (104 to 107:100).8 Thus, the effort to find wives had led to a flourishing traffic in women and girls, internally and from countries such as Burma, North Korea, Laos and Vietnam.9 Police are said to have freed forty-two thousand two hundred and fifteen (42,215) kidnapped women and children in the past two years.10
In March 2004, Li Weixiong, vice-chairman of a committee studying population issues told a government advisory body that a “dramatic rise” in levels of prostitution and the buying and selling of women was “by no means a sensational prediction.” He stated that if the situation continues, by 2020 there could be thirty (30) to forty (40) million men who would stay single all their lives.11 This will create an unprecedented and overwhelming demand for women. In addition to trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation and brides, there is also traffic of male babies for adoption.12
The U.S. Department of State’s 2004 Trafficking in Persons Report noted, “Chinese women are trafficked to Australia, Burma, Canada, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Europe, and the United States” for purposes of prostitution.13 China is given a Tier 2 ranking in the report, indicating that its government does not comply with the minimum standards of the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 but that it is making significant efforts to come into compliance.14
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Military Metaphor or War
There is a conversation going on on Phil Laeger's blog which was continued from Larry's blog. Stephen makes a comment that The Salvation Army is engaged in a real war and not just using military metaphor.
I don't think it matters as much to me if we are in a real war or if we are using warfare metaphor to describe the life that we live as Christians. What matters to me is that we are called to share the gospel with millions of people who do not know Christ. By using military terminology we are hurting our opportunities to share the gospel with millions of people who have seen Christians over the centuries abuse power to try and spread the gospel through physical, military force rather than the force of love. Whether we are in a real battle or a metaphoric battle, we should drop describing our actions in battle terms because it is ineffective and hurtful to our purposes.
What do you think?
I don't think it matters as much to me if we are in a real war or if we are using warfare metaphor to describe the life that we live as Christians. What matters to me is that we are called to share the gospel with millions of people who do not know Christ. By using military terminology we are hurting our opportunities to share the gospel with millions of people who have seen Christians over the centuries abuse power to try and spread the gospel through physical, military force rather than the force of love. Whether we are in a real battle or a metaphoric battle, we should drop describing our actions in battle terms because it is ineffective and hurtful to our purposes.
What do you think?
Monday, March 13, 2006
Flying Kites at Night
I was pretty blessed by One Time blind this past weekend. They were great on the stage and all but I was actually blessed by something different.
We were at youth councils on the beach in Jekyll Island Georgia. Saturday morning at 7:30 am there was a polar bear swim in the ocean. I am on the staff that put on the weekend but I was not interested in waking up that early or in going in the freezing cold water. Reluctantly I went down to the water, anyway. One Time Blind was a guest drama group that we had hired to come to the weekend. The two girls from the group got up and came out to the polar bear swim.
I was shocked to see them. They were an outside group and many times the outside groups only show up to the meetings which they are on the schedule. But here were these girls making me look silly for having wanted to stay in the hotel room.
Not only that but later that night they also came to the young adult pizza party and had what I considered to be some of the worst pizza I have ever tasted. One of their members couldn't even eat pizza and they had the option to go into town but they wanted to be with us.
Following the young adult party they wanted to go fly kites on the beach. Now mind you it was like 1:30 in the morning. But their merch table had glow sticks on it and they had decided that they wanted to see what would happen if they attach their glow sticks to the kites and fly them at night. As we walked down toward the beach we noticed that the wind wasn't really blowing.
The kites that we had were worth about a dollar and broke as we ran down the beach dragging them through the sand because there wasn't enough wind to get the kites in the air. Failure? Maybe not.
I was so thankful for the spontaneous, craziness of the moment. I was thankful to stand on the beach and look out over the wet sand to the place where the water had receded to as a result of low tide. I was thankful to see the sky stretch on for miles over the ocean.
I was thankful because somewhere along the way a small bit of the passion has slipped. It used to be that the kite flying would have been my idea and I would have went swimming just for fun. Life had lost a touch of luster. And the group reminded me to keep having fun.
We were at youth councils on the beach in Jekyll Island Georgia. Saturday morning at 7:30 am there was a polar bear swim in the ocean. I am on the staff that put on the weekend but I was not interested in waking up that early or in going in the freezing cold water. Reluctantly I went down to the water, anyway. One Time Blind was a guest drama group that we had hired to come to the weekend. The two girls from the group got up and came out to the polar bear swim.
I was shocked to see them. They were an outside group and many times the outside groups only show up to the meetings which they are on the schedule. But here were these girls making me look silly for having wanted to stay in the hotel room.
Not only that but later that night they also came to the young adult pizza party and had what I considered to be some of the worst pizza I have ever tasted. One of their members couldn't even eat pizza and they had the option to go into town but they wanted to be with us.
Following the young adult party they wanted to go fly kites on the beach. Now mind you it was like 1:30 in the morning. But their merch table had glow sticks on it and they had decided that they wanted to see what would happen if they attach their glow sticks to the kites and fly them at night. As we walked down toward the beach we noticed that the wind wasn't really blowing.
The kites that we had were worth about a dollar and broke as we ran down the beach dragging them through the sand because there wasn't enough wind to get the kites in the air. Failure? Maybe not.
I was so thankful for the spontaneous, craziness of the moment. I was thankful to stand on the beach and look out over the wet sand to the place where the water had receded to as a result of low tide. I was thankful to see the sky stretch on for miles over the ocean.
I was thankful because somewhere along the way a small bit of the passion has slipped. It used to be that the kite flying would have been my idea and I would have went swimming just for fun. Life had lost a touch of luster. And the group reminded me to keep having fun.
Monday, March 06, 2006
This Much and No More!
Yesterday,I went to worship at the Lakewood Corps. Captain Marion Platt spoke on the passage of scripture from Acts 5 which outlines the story about Ananias and Saphira. They had sold a piece of their property, gave some of the money to the church and then told everyone that they gave all of the money to the church. They wanted the credit without the sacrifice. Better yet, they wanted to take from community without giving to community. Its a shady way of doing business. They thought they could get ahead by taking more out than they put in.
Continuing on from my last post, Did he or didn't he? The rich young ruler wanted to be a part of the community. He had given the preliminary elements but he had held back from the community that which he was most uniquely endowed to contribute. God blesses all those who earnestly believe in Him. But some are blessed monetarily, some through wisdom, some through relationships, some through gifts of healing and the list goes on. But the strongest gifts that we are given are also the ones that are most difficult to give back to God's kingdom.
If we want to be a part of God's kingdom then we must give what is our best. As one of my friends has put so elegantly:
Thank you for showing me the emptiness of all I held onto, I surrender it all, I surrender my everything for you. P. Laeger (AKA P Diddy)
So in the case of the widow who took her last penny and dropped it in the offering plate, Abraham who raised the knife in the air over his son, or Keith Green who said he wouldn't play music any more until God blessed him or the rich young ruler who walked away sad...we all have an opportunity to give that "Best" thing which God has given us back to Him.
And He is able to make the camel walk right through the eye of the needle.
Continuing on from my last post, Did he or didn't he? The rich young ruler wanted to be a part of the community. He had given the preliminary elements but he had held back from the community that which he was most uniquely endowed to contribute. God blesses all those who earnestly believe in Him. But some are blessed monetarily, some through wisdom, some through relationships, some through gifts of healing and the list goes on. But the strongest gifts that we are given are also the ones that are most difficult to give back to God's kingdom.
If we want to be a part of God's kingdom then we must give what is our best. As one of my friends has put so elegantly:
Thank you for showing me the emptiness of all I held onto, I surrender it all, I surrender my everything for you. P. Laeger (AKA P Diddy)
So in the case of the widow who took her last penny and dropped it in the offering plate, Abraham who raised the knife in the air over his son, or Keith Green who said he wouldn't play music any more until God blessed him or the rich young ruler who walked away sad...we all have an opportunity to give that "Best" thing which God has given us back to Him.
And He is able to make the camel walk right through the eye of the needle.
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