Friends of Global Missions

Are you a visual artist? On Thursday, May 24th, 7-9 PM, in room L124/126, adult visual artists and supporters of the visual arts at Northshore will be having an informational meeting.

This will be a time to get to know one another and share our common passion for expressing our faith through the visual arts locally and globally. One goal of the group will be to raise up visual artist missionaries to use art globally in sharing the Gospel."

Human Trafficking: The Local View

May 21^st @ 7PM, room 212-213 Northshore Baptist Church

Human trafficking is a $32 billion global industry, the fastest-growing and second-largest criminal activity in the world — only surpassed by drugs. A welcome convergence of attention and political will has pushed Washington State to the front lines of the battle.

We are shocked and horrified by the numbers. But should it cost numbers in the billions, and victim numbers in the millions, to cause us to rise up and say, “Enough!!” What if the number was only ONE? Should we not care? ONE of God’s children used in an industry so vile?

Ps 12:8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.

And ‘honored’ it is in a society where pornography is considered free speech and ‘pimping’ is a desirable adjective – as in ‘pimp out your ride.’

What is the church’s responsibility? What would God have us do?

As Lynn Varner said in a Seattle Times article April 17^th, “State lawmakers, local law enforcement and advocates fighting sex trafficking are doing the Lord’s work. But they need resources and a public willing to shed its image of prostitution as something from the movie Pretty Woman. Girls as young as 12 are forced into a life that doesn’t come close to the life depicted by actress Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman."

It is comfortable to think trafficking is ‘over there’ – and it is. But it is also in our own back yard. The AWARE organization documented losing 300 young girls from Portland high schools, and another 100 from Vancouver high schools, last year alone. How many were lost from Northshore or Lake Washington? How many is too many? What if it was your daughter, or granddaughter?

Are you willing to join this battle? To become involved? To reach out to the last, the least, and the lost?

In response to the many people who came to our table during missions weekend, and asked, “If I cannot go to Cambodia, what can I do HERE?” we have scheduled an informational meeting on May 21^st at 7 PM in rooms 212-213.

Come and learn about what trafficking looks like in Seattle, in Bothell, and the many opportunities there are to become involved, to make a difference in our community, and in God’s Kingdom.

As I visit countries and partners around the world, I get to directly experience what God is doing through our partners and gain a clearer picture of where He is leading.

Last week I visited Nicaragua. I do not go there as often as I used to, so each of my visits in recent years has been full of meetings, dealing with issues, and addressing concerns about the ministry. Normally I leave the country with a heavy heart, not because I am tired, but because I want to solve and bring resolution to the things they are dealing with.

That did not happen last week. I left Managua with a sense of peace and a deep happiness in the middle of the distress that ministry to people in poor countries can bring. Yes- there were concerns and relational issues and yes- there is a lack of resources and time was spent praying for wisdom on how to proceed, but . . . there was also a sense that what God started with our help, He will take care of and He will bless.

God is blessing the people in Los Cedros as He blesses us each time we interact with them.

This time God had a surprise for me.

On Monday evening, our first day in Los Cedros, Lee Lockridge and I walked the grounds of the school planning, visioning, and talking to Pastora. Suddenly, my eye caught a glimpse of a class full of young people. “What is happening here?” I asked Pastora. It was 6 PM and all the children from the school were already gone for the day.

Pastora invited me to come and see.

In front of us, about 30 former students were gathered together in one of the classrooms they used to study in. “They gather here each week for discipleship under Teacher Cela’s supervision,” Pastora commented.

I went inside the classroom, close to tears . . . the fruit of our labor! Children that we brought in from the streets eight years ago- now young men and women- were sitting there, learning and being discipled together and still part of Havila School. There sat the Jordans, the Jimmies, and the Marias of the community, as examples of the transformation that Jesus brings into our world.

Oh, the faces are not the same; they have had many experiences and are growing up. Many of them still attend school, now dealing with a secular education that does not place any emphasis on Christ. Some of them are seeking jobs and many of them are taking on leadership roles in the church in music, dance, and children’s ministry.

How sweet it is to see and experience the fruit of our labor!

I bring words of gratitude from them and words about what the school meant to them: “Peaceful”, “the place I found friends”, “godly”, “I learned so much”, “love”, “patient, loving teachers”, and “great fun”. Wow, that is what I want to hear.

Being a little too “cool” to comment in front of his friends, privately one young man pulled me aside and said, “Will you please tell my sponsor ‘thank you for all you have done’? I remember them often and I love them.” I am not too shy or cool to tell you all, “YOUR WORK IN THE LORD IS NOT IN VAIN.”

I want to encourage you to keep pressing on with the ministry in Los Cedros- more and more fruit is yet to come.

Thank you,

Your Global Mission Pastor

Most people recognize the words from James, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress. . . .” But, how do we live that out? What does that look like?

One very tangible, practical way is to get involved with the Window to Hope Ukrainian Orphans Hosting Project. This summer, a group of eight or so children will be coming to the states to stay with host families and experience the love of Jesus and the excitement of a summer camp!

Read more about the program here and how you too can care for the orphans!

On Mission Outreach Training
Four week Sunday Class
March 11 to April 1
Room 212/13 at 11 AM

Come see what God is doing in our world and how He wants us to be involved with Him.

Last Sunday Jonathan Wolfgang reminded us of the purpose and reasons we are blessed – for us to be a blessing to others for the Glory of our Eternal God.

We will touch the historical, cultural and strategic plans to bring the people of our world to the throne of grace.

God is seeking worshipers that will praise Him from every tribe, nation and neighborhoods.

This week : THE GOD OF HISTORY presented by Carson Jones.

Hope to see you there.

Hilaro Pardo
Global Mission Pastor

For those of you who were not able to join us at Mission Weekend at Northshore Baptist Church, here are the videos shown in the services.

The Most Interesting Mission Pastor in the World

Mission Testimonies Part 1

Mission Testimonies Part 2

Last night I went to a slave market. Perhaps they were not selling young ladies for a lifetime, but no doubt about it, they were selling them for whatever one wanted.

It was a big building- a warehouse type of space- decorated and air conditioned, but still a warehouse. In stark contrast to the noise and the busyness of life on the streets, this place felt quiet and peaceful. The lighting was dim and the only bright lights were focused on the merchandise.

In a large window display was the most unusual and degrading thing I have ever seen in my life: About 100 young ladies in bikinis, each with a number pinned at their shoulder, sitting there with very fake smiles trying to catch the eye of anyone sitting outside the glass.

In this place of degradation and humiliation of the human race, other humans- men of all shapes, nations, and tribes sat quietly as they selected their slave for the hour. I wondered if some of the American men sitting in that room had previously fought for the freedom of people in other countries only to find themselves now in this place of human trafficking and slavery.

The sadness of the moment was intense. There were no thoughts other than a deep realization that human life is cheap and expendable for too many of us as I watched the grotesque pantomime of money and exploitation play out in front of me.

It is hard to have compassion for those sitting on this side of the glass; those with the bills in their hands and their minds set on themselves.

And yet, last night God called me to compassion and mercy.

I always try to put myself in other people’s positions- in their shoes, if you will- and it has been hard. To feel like one of the girls, being taken by a man that is definitely old enough to be her grandfather. To be in the ugliness of the situation where pressing economic needs and pressures of family make a girl think, “It’s only for the money.”

It is harder for me to put myself in the position of the men- many of them old, unattractive, and all of them losers. The sad reality is that they are prisoners of a glass box as well. They don’t see it, but still, they are prisoners of low self-esteem, sexual addiction, and egocentrism.

It is easy for me to be compassionate for who I perceive as the weak, the neglected, and the victim. But, I acknowledge with my head and with Scripture that in both cases, Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost, to love them both and to give His life for their sake.

I wrote, “with my head” above because I have to confess I am not really there with my heart. I am praying about that, but not there yet.

I want to grab these guys by the shirt and say to them, “Do you know how ridiculous you are making the entire male race look? Don’t you know that you’re old enough to be her grandpa? Do you really . . .”?

I walked the streets of this city in Thailand, ashamed of what we have become, disgusted by what poverty and sin does to people, and how money seems as if it can buy everything except real acceptance and love.

As I walked the streets last night and saw thousands (literally- this is not a literary hyperbole) of girls selling themselves I finally got sick to my stomach. And I don’t want to cure that. I want to be sick for many days to come- to fight, to pray, and to keep seeking what the enemy of our souls has taken away from those on both sides of the glass.

A tee shirt sold by a street vendor summed it up clearly:

Good guys goes to heaven…bad ones goes to Pattaya.

That it said all, Yes, this is hell.

Hilario Pardo

Global Mission Pastor

Reporting about human trafficking in Southeast Asia

Pat Sween shared about ongoing work in South Korea. God continues to bring together the people and resources for His work among women and their unborn children in South Korea. Two of the leaders for Women’s Hope Center will be traveling to the US in March for an international conference in L.A. God is raising up young adults who value the unborn and are actively praying for change in their church and nation on this issue so close to God’s heart.

Glenn, Don and Jon shared about the first School of Entrepreneurial Leadership in India. They have 18 students who will take six classes which will culminate with a conference on entrepreneurship. Two of the students will come to Seattle for a business internship and stay with host families. In October the program will start again with two universities in the same city.

John Gallegos and his wife, Patti shared about their heart for their small group/Gospel community.

February 12th:
We are all very excited to see how the Lord has prepared R. for this next adventure in his life. He is taking the next step to prepare for what the Lord has in store for him. We will remember him in our prayers as he begins his intensive language study.

February 19th:
We are looking forward to hearing an update from Pat Sween on how things are going in Korea. We are also looking forward to hearing from Jon Sween and Don Kiel about their last trip to India as well as get an update on the next trip in March.

February 5th:
We watched the Cultural Component, part 2 in the Operations World View video series. We heard how God created our magnificent world, galaxy and beyond with specific details that rely on enormous precision. We are in awe of the beauty all around us from our microscopic DNA to the enormous universe. He longs for us to delight in Him. "God the Father is choosing for His son a Bride comprised of people from every tribe and tongue and nation." Werner Mischke

February 12th:
We are looking forward to hearing from Ryan C. He will be going to the Near East for language study and to receive his orientation with OM.