PressPause p.s.46 took a road trip! We (Chairman Sharon Braner and Financial Coordinator Laura Francis) packed up our luggage, a computer, projector, screen, and cords of every kind imaginable and drove to Mansfield, TX August 10-11, 2011. After consulting maps, two or three GPS devices, and a couple of phone calls to husbands we arrived intact.
The purpose of the trip was to present a PowerPoint Presentation on Human Trafficking to those lovely women of the Mansfield CWC. Much more transpired!
After introductions and hugs, their lovely team informed us that this luncheon was their last. Their club was ending their traditional monthly gatherings in that very upscale country club. Attendance continued to slide, and finding people to fill the leadership roles were almost impossible. Just telling the story brought tears to their eyes, they did not expect their efforts to end in this way. THEN, they shared that they were continuing their Stonecroft Bible Studies, TEN in the area. Over one hundred ladies from various neighborhoods were faithfully attending Bible Studies they had organized and were leading, not interested in the luncheons but VERY interested in the Word of God. WOW! We were so encouraged by their zeal and love for Stonecroft's mission of evangelism.
Now they plan to gather to PRAY and to seek new ways of meeting people in their community with the love of Jesus. We were able to share with them how we had been taking Stonecroft speakers INTO the marketplace where people were already gathered, rather than inviting them to come to us. The conversation got very exciting. We prayed together, shared ideas and made promises to keep in touch and perhaps get together again for some brain storming and encouragement. New friends for eternity!!!
Oh, yes, Human Trafficking was also shared. After the pictures and shocking statistics, stories poured out of personal experiences of exploitation and real fears for wayward children and grandchildren. Promises were made to speak up if (or when) abuse of women or children is identified. The motivated ladies vowed to keep their eyes and ears open, to closely monitor computers in their own home, to give their daughters and granddaughters the teen-age quiz to start conversations about dating relationships, and to talk to their husbands, sons and grandsons about the commonplace violence and disrespect toward women everywhere.
We came home confidant that those TX women are on the move. This was not an ending for them but a brand new beginning that will take them places they never dreamed they would be. They're moving on with a smile on their face and a zeal for the solution for all slavery from sin and bondage, the person of Jesus Christ.
Once again, we went to be a blessing and received a bigger one instead. Isn't that the way it always works?
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