Everyday heroes

We’re inspired by these everyday heroes whose lives we see transformed before our very eyes because people from all different demographic and denominational backgrounds are stepping up together to say “We are the Church, and we love you.”

And when that happens, the Kingdom of Heaven gets a tiny bit closer to earth.

Student Awareness We love speaking with students, and how open they are to conversation about the problem of trafficking and meaningful solutions. After speaking with a high school class from De La Salle, we received notes from the students about how much they appreciated what they learned. “I realized I need to treat women and girls with more respect,” wrote one teenager. Many others commented on how their eyes had been opened to trafficking “in their backyard” for the first time.

Driver Takes Initiative To Prevent Trafficking We received an unexpected message through our website this year from the driver of a Trimet bus, who believes he may be seeing trafficking cases on his route regularly. Instead of simply turning the other way, this driver took initiative and sought out more information on how he should go about reporting these cases and getting victims help. We were able to connect him directly with our contacts at the Portland Police Sex Trafficking unit, who gave him training on how to safely report cases, and developed possible intervention scenarios together. Our vision is for this training to be mandatory for all Trimet Employees someday!

Hands of Hope: A survivor from California joined us only a few weeks ago. “Melinda” was trafficked by her whole family as a child. She escaped for a while but was found by her family and ended up on the streets hiding out. God safely guided her to a wonderful church in California who took her in and showed her great love, mercy and compassion, but she was again in danger and needed to move for her safety.

Several people from a local church here in Portland offered to host her until we can find the right residential trauma-based facility for her. We are so grateful and excited to see the body of Christ respond to an urgent need. The church has been amazing by warmly welcoming Melinda. She feels so loved and cared for and the couple hosting her has offered to let her stay for a few months until long-term plans develop. She is a very courageous young lady who loves the Lord, but also has a long road of healing ahead of her.

Adorned in Grace Design Studio Summer activities at the Design Studio have included a weeklong beach trip, hikes, movies, berry picking, pool party, picnics and volleyball. The majority of the girls, some of whom are from refugee families, have never done these things before and the excitement on their faces is priceless.

One mentor commented, “I’ve been walking with these girls for a number of years now. God has blessed me this year by giving me a REAL love for them, the kind of love I’m used to feeling when I look at my own children. A number of times over this last year I have found myself feeling that “welling up” kind of love and pride for these girls. I have told them how proud of them I am and that I love them. It’s genuine love. They have shared their hard lives with me and I am better for it. I have learned to love people better because of them. What a gift!”

What about you? How can you be an everyday hero today for someone in need?

Originally published at compassionconnect.com.