Engaging the Faith Community

1
Engaging the Faith Community

• Jessica PittmanCentral Valley Justice Coalition
• Melissa GomezCentral Valley Against Human
  Trafficking

2
partnering with the church and community to
prevent human trafficking Act Justly. Love
Mercy. Walk Humbly.
www.cvjusticecoalition.com
3
Religion a double edged sword

• No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be
  satisfied until justice rolls down like waters,
  and righteousness like a mighty stream. - MLK

• And when this happens, when we allow freedom to
  ring, when we let it ring from every village and
  hamlet, from every state and every city, we will
  be able to speed up that day when all of God's
  children, black men and white men, Jews and
  Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able
  to join hands and sing in the words of the old
  Negro spiritual, "Free at last! Free at last!
  Thank God almighty, we're free at last!"

4
Religion a double edged sword . . .

• We think it deplorable in the sight of God that
  there should be any change in the difference and
  variety in his creation and he certainly would
  desire to keep our races pure. Alabama Baptist
  Newspaper, 1950s, in support of Jim Crow laws
• Larry Tise notes in his book, Proslavery, minister
  s wrote almost half of all defenses of slavery
  published in America and believed the Bible
  taught that white people could own black people
  as work animals.

5
. . . Faith is a freeing force.
6

• CVJC has the vision to see ALL faith communities
  across our region educated, empowered and engaged
  in the fight for justice.

7
Snapshot of our Community

• Fresno/Clovis has over 500 churches. Data
  suggests almost half the population is affiliated
  with a religious congregation. (citydata.com)
• CVJC has worked with over 50
• Peoples Church (3000 people influenced)
• Northpointe Church (2000 people influenced)
• Catholic Diocese (20,660)
• Cornerstone Church Fresno First Baptist
  (radio tv broadcasts, reaching tens of
  thousands)

8
Prevention

• Annas story human trafficking prevented
• Victims identify themselves and go on to lead in
  our community
• Prevention work in the community (JJC
  partnerships)

9
Recovery

• Victims often experience spiritual abuse and
  isolation from their faith community
• Jamies story denied access to her faith and to
  her spiritual community
• Victims experience judgment from those inside
  outside the faith community.
• Spiritual Support Groups (Amsterdam)
• Victims often find it a struggle to find their
  way and move on after such trauma.
• Example Mentorship

10
Hope Quotes from Survivors

• The church has helped me succeed in making life
  changing choices for myself, I now believe in
  myself and what I am able to accomplish.
• Christine, survivor of sex trafficking
• As a survivor it was the love of the Jesus
  Christ displayed through the church and then
  embraced by my community that really helped me to
  get out, and stay out Divided we are weak and
  ineffective, but together we are a force to be
  reckoned with!
• Debra Ehrlich, Founder/CEO, Breaking the
  Chains

11
Ways we serve our community advocates

• Freedom Sunday, Freedom Churches
• Practical Resources Ex Pink Packs from Woodward
  Park Baptist, Lydias Closet
• Mentoring Ex Every Neighborhood Partnership,
  Mentorship Alliance Program, Chaplaincy
• Community support Ex Survivor Circle, Celebrate
  Recovery
• Consultation Resource Line
• Screening of Volunteers

12
Resources connected to the faith community

• Please check out our website!
• cvjusticecoalition.com/local-organizations/

13

• Change does not roll in on the wheels of
  inevitability, but comes through continuous
  struggle. And so we must strengthen our backs and
  work for our freedom.
• - Martin Luther King, Jr

cvjusticecoalition.com 559.227.8001