SCTNow – a Retrospective on the Good, the Bad and the Eternal

I believe it was 2011, Stop Child Trafficking Now’s 3rd annual, and my 2nd walk-year, when their Kansas City ambassador was asked by a survivor there, for a fairly significant amount of the event’s donations that would come in from walkers and donors, so that she could use it for her local anti-trafficking shelter. It was about 5,000. She was told that there was actually a certain process that other non-profits must go through in order to direct funding from the walk to their npo of choice and that meant applying to become a partner with SCTNow first. Then once an approved partner, they could be on the list of npo partners for all donors to choose from when they donate online – i.e.: anyone could check the box to designate 10% of their donation to go toward her shelter, or a different partner’s program.
It was clear she did not like that answer, and started asking where all of the walk funds actually go. Legit and very good question! The issue with that was, SCTNow was started as an arm of ministry under a different non-profit. Its Founders, Ron and Lynette Lewis, were/are Pastors of a large church in New York, and they thought they should start the anti-trafficking movement under that church “umbrella” like many ministries start. But the movement took off faster and expanded further than they initially expected. Word got out about this “new” exciting cause and the organization’s unique approach (decreasing demand), and 20-30 city ambassadors were soon organizing walks and other events across the nation. The funds started pouring in, for SCTNow’s operations and investigations of suspected traffickers and suspicious establishments. Each ambassador had a charge to try and raise $25,000 per walk. I think my first year we raised $33k, my 2nd year, we raised just over $25 and the 3rd around $13k.

As far as the transparency of “990’s”, SCTNow had them all up and avail. online on GuideStar.org, but if anyone was to see it, it was misguiding. What they’d actually be seeing was the funds that came in under the umbrella of that church’s outreach ministries -which SCTNow was originally a part of.

That woman was convinced SCTNow had something to hide and she wanted to get to the bottom of it. So an investigation was conducted by local (KC) news reporters and aired on their segment, “Problem Solvers”. It had one objective – to get as much dirt on SCTNow as possible. Expose their deeds of dark intentions.

There were days in 2013 – the year I heard about it all, when I really wondered if SCTNow was hiding anything from their donors and even their ambassadors. Mostly because after many requests, I couldn’t get a reply with a break-down of funds and how they were allocated. Turns out, I didn’t get it probably because it didn’t exist. All the funds received were, for far too long, put in the “Strategic Global Initiatives” nonprofit – that originally the church used for many different outreaches and ministries. To make matters more intense, there were two interviews that hit KC news stations  – one where SCTnow’s Walk Campaign Director completely failed. She was at a walk, and she didn’t know how to answer the interviewer. Her unpreparedness made her look stupid and much worse, made SCTNow look guilty. As you know, news station interviews have links and can be spread all over the nation quickly.  With that, the reputation of a wonderful organization with God-fearing Founders was obliterated with an unprepared interviewee and the help of social media. Of course the way they set up the organization in the first place, by not waiting it out to get their own individual 501c3 status was a crucial element that affected their reputation.

The operations (the work SCTNow hired retired Navy Seals and other professional agents to conduct) – were legitimate and expensive. To pay them a decent pay to travel to areas with suspected trafficking going on, to work with that area’s law enforcement, collect data over time and document it detail for detail in a program, in order to hand over to law enforcement for them to use in solid case building… It was spendy, and took time. But it was ethical, difficult work that was worth the time and funds raised.

The President of these Operations, Clark Stuart, was full of integrity, as was everyone I knew in SCTNow. He was targeted in a different interview by KC investigative media as well, and did not know how to answer some questions either, because they were asking him direct questions about SCTNow. The problem was,  he and his team were simply hired by SCTNow. He was actually with a for-profit company called “Global Trident”, which SCTNow used to conduct these operations. So he shouldn’t have been the one to ask about funds. Since they thought he worked for SCTNow, which I learned was because SCTNow actually had him listed as Director for a time, on their website, when he said he did use funds that were raised in SCTNow walks, they thought of it as a conflict of interest (of course) and basically accused him personally, of embezzlement. But what he was admitting to, was what he was subcontracted/hired to do by SCTNow as their mission. It was legitimate. But it was confusing. What SCTNow should have done was NOT list him as Director, but as he was – President of Global Trident – the 3rd party organization SCTNow used to carry out their mission.

This whole thing was a huge spiritual battle that lasted a long time…1.5-2 years, I’d guess. Even when the Founders stepped down and they got a new Director, she asked for a large salary that SCTNow simply had no way to provide. Next thing I knew, she was gone too, and the reigns were handed over to a Pastor and Author from Chesapeake, VA, named Eric Watt. He quickly changed his title from President/CEO to Chief Volunteer Officer and changed the SCTNow name to Empower, and now it has been changed to HMNTRFK (http://endhumantrafficking.com/)

Strategic Global Initiatives did finally separate into two entities, and SCTNow got its own 501c3 status. But that was in 2012. It was too late, and their reputation was already past hope for recovery.

What was not made clear and should have been, was that all of the walk funds that came in except for about 10% for admin costs, DID go toward operations to decrease demand / help find, track and gather data on predators and traffickers. I know this first hand, as I got to know one of the agents they hired, and traveled to the State Capitol to speak with a Representative of Congress with him about all the work he was doing for SCTNow. I even saw the intricate mapping program on his computer, that he used in his operations. He was passionate.

Well, if SCTNow was investigated for fraud, misuse of funds, or embezzlement…what was the result?

The news station investigation out of KC was inconclusive, and then the Department of Justice conducted an investigation of SCTNow and Clark Stuart with a fine-toothed comb. They concluded there was no embezzlement. In fact, they could not find anything unlawful about how SCTNow conducted their organization.

At the conclusion of their investigation, there was no evidence of mishandling funds, so there were no charges against SCTNow, Global Trident, any of their agents or representatives. No arrests, guilty verdicts or convictions. Just a reputation that was ruined so badly that there was no other option but to dissolve SCTNow, which happened in January of 2013. It was so unfortunate. They made many mistakes that cost them everything. But I still believe, those leaders loved God and had integrity.

~~~~~

I can look back at my time spent fighting for justice as their Portland ambassador, and be proud. Not hurt. I was never angry or upset. Even with how it ended, I am still proud to say I was a part of SCTNow and all they accomplished in those few years we raised awareness across America. Thousands of people learned about sex trafficking for the first time. Many were inspired to then do other various things to promote justice and freedom in their cities. One specifically, was my co-laborer and amazing friend the Tulsa ambassador, Ms. Kristin Weis. She and her husband Jason began their own npo, The Demand Project, after SCTnow dissolved.  They are doing incredible work alongside law enforcement in OK now, providing direct services to many victims and survivors and literally catching predators and online buyers. SCTNow was their launching pad for the positions they now hold, just as it was for me.

I worked for SCTNow for 5 to 6 months each year of ’10, ’11 & ’12, for no pay. About half of those months averaged full-time hours.  My fellow ambassadors and I sacrificed a lot to make an impact in our communities because the Lord called us to do just that, with that organization, for that time. I had no doubt. He blessed so many of us during those years and He made some lifelong connections in our lives with other freedom-fighters. I give Him all the glory!

Some may think of scandal, embezzlement (or possibly poor fund-management at best), when they think of SCTNow. But I think of communities coming together, I think of us as pioneers of an American awareness movement, I think of hard work that all paid off on incredibly rewarding Walk days, and I think of how God uses anyone he chooses, who will say YES to Him. We ambassadors were some of His agents of change and hope during those years. It was really humbling as I had absolutely no experience organizing a large event in my life. And it was jaw-dropping to see all He did through us – how quickly he did it, and the impact of it…most of which I’m convinced I won’t see until I’m standing at the Bema seat, in heaven. And that’s totally ok.

Three years later, I guess I had some re-processing, remembering, crying and realizing to do. Maybe I’d stopped short in the midst of the scandal, and just wanted desperately to move on to where I felt God was calling me to next: prevention via education of youth.

I had to remind myself today, of all the good that came from that journey my family and I went on. Because Satan does try to whisper lies. I don’t think of it much actually, but there have been times when he’s tried to get me to focus on the negative, the lack, the visible outcomes, and if anything, get me to believe it was all for nothing. Or that I should have known better, left sooner, picked wiser.

But I choose to fix my eyes on:

what is unseen. On all that I learned. On my deepened relationships – how I now know how to set boundaries with my workload and passion in order to honor my family first. And on how God revealed his love and grace to so many who were involved. It was my SCTNow huge decals all over my car that caught the attention of a survivor living in my neighborhood in 2010 which led to her writing out her story for me, and shoving it under my windshield wiper. She was living with a customer at that point, twice her age, and she had a 3 year old son from another man. We met the next day, and I’ve been supporting and mentoring her ever since. I’ve been watching her learn who she was created to be.  She loves God and has grown so, so much, especially in the last 2 years. She’s overcome PTSD, Depression, suicidal thoughts, self-sabotaging tendencies, and more. She’s now starting a family with a man who treats her with respect and has stayed faithful by her side for a long time. She has a ways to go, but I recently honored her in a post Monday and this was her comment:

i love you. Like so so much!! You have literally seen it all!! Youve seen some of my most low points and victories. One thing ive learned along the way is no matter which it is, you are ALWAYS there! Its been such a great journey and experiencing a solid, legit friendship has been a-mazing!! Thank you, for always being there and directing me back to whats real and truth. I appreciate you so incredibly much sister!!

Unlike · Reply · 2 · October 19 at 7:05pm

This is so incredible to me. I don’t add it in here to get props or a pat on the back. I add it because it is a very tangible example of one thing the Lord has done through my work with SCTNow. He used it to connect me to her and cultivate her identity in Christ and show her what a friend should look like.

Questions to Ask When You’re Looking for a Great Anti-trafficking Organization to Join:

I took a hold of some rich lessons and I can now caution others, when they are looking for an organization to get involved in. Here’s what I came up with today:

• Ask God for direction.
• Research how long it’s been in existence. If 1-3 years, it may fizzle out against the competition or make too many rookie org. mistakes. Ask what they’ve accomplished thus far and ask about some lessons they’ve already learned.
• Ask if there’s a healed survivor on the board or giving consistent input.
• Research how much money they raise annually, and the percentage of funds that go to administration. If it’s over 10%, Ask why? It may be a legit reason to you.  If it’s 20-30% that goes to admin costs, I would move on.
• Ask if they have partners. If so, who are they? Go to their websites. Do you agree with the partners’ mission statements as well? You should, because they may be receiving some of your donation. Does the org. work with local law enforcement? If so, call a few of each of them (partner reps and law enf. agents) to ask for a reference about the org.
• Look up the leaders & board members. Ask yourself if they are reputable. Look into their former efforts in social justice, human rights, etc. & look them up on their social media profiles. See if you have any mutual friends you trust, and if so, ask them what they think.
• Ask the Director for a breakdown of raised funds for the last couple years, or even the last year. If it takes uncomfortably too long or they don’t reply after many attempts, don’t invest yourself in the org. Move on to one that can answer you in a reasonable time-frame or has specific breakdown of funds received, available on their website.

That’s the good, the bad and the eternal – that I took away from my experience as an ambassador with SCTNow. I trust it will help others out there!

Birth of a Dream: Pulled to Prayer

After attending Compassion Connect’s 2nd “Connect PDX” event a few weeks ago, I was pulled once again, toward the concept of starting a Prayer Night in honor of sex trafficking and all of its facets.
The Lord gave me a picture of what things would look, sound, taste, feel, even smell like in the room where people from various denominations would come to pray, open-house style, one night a month.
I began making the plans, while praying for a venue. A friend of mine heard a compelling sermon from a guest preacher, Sujo John, & she texted me her heart’s pull toward the power of prayer and those affected by this growing tragedy. She would be my cohort and would raise my faith, for as scripture says, “where two or more are gathered…”

My hubby attended a Remember Nhu banquet this weekend while I attended a Compassion First one. He happened to be seated at the same table and right next to a manager of a local Christian coffee shop. She seemed very intrigued by the issue.
Two days later, as I was lookin online to find a place to meet another friend to discuss writing, I thought – why not that coffee shop? I perused their beautiful website awhile, and noticed they have a room they rent out to non-profits and orgs that are “Mission Increase Foundation” members. I technically work for Compassion First (caregiving) who I am 90% sure is a MIF member. And that fact, if true, would secure a place for us to meet. For FREE. And not just any place. A place that eerily meets the specific vision I had, to engage all the five senses, & bring a cozy, relaxing feel to all who enter. I put a call in to that manager who sat by Ricky, and I also left a message for Compassion First to make sure they are with MIF.
And now I wait.
Not anxiously….but expecting great, things. In max-capacity ways. Real results.
Many people (room max is 25), great levels of faith expressed, Holy Spirit movement in a “neutral” place, at night, for anyone to come and intercede.
I asked Ricky to help me with a name for this Night and after much consideration and way too many cheesy puns, he answered with an answer that made me smile…

“Break Free”.

…(to be continued!)

Ending Slavery in Your Lifetime

I weighed 150 lbs and thought, “I am just too heavy for my height”. It was my all time high. Determined to lose 20 pounds, I downloaded an app to help track my calories consumed vs. calories burned, and thought, “I may never reach that illustrious 130, but I’ll try”. My hopeful three months to success actually stretched closer to eight. Weeks went by as I plateaued at 137lbs. And I just kept at it.  Many many days were fails. But I gained this rather refreshing sense of grace as the sun rose each morning. It was a new day. And then it happened. Last February, during a partial fast (no food after 2pm for a week), I realized I had actually reached that goal I set months and months before. Yeah, I was disgracefully slow in getting there. But I was a hundred-and-stinkin’-thirty pounds! And I’d hit it right before My husband and I flew to Philly for a romantic trip to The Justice Conference.

I used to think we (the collective, “this generation”, we) could end slavery in our lifetime. I’d cheer on my volunteers and online friends with the anthem of hope that we could DO THIS. Heck, I even adopted one of my own. Singing and shouting it, copy and pasting it from a myriad of NPO’s slogans since 2009.

But I stopped posting them and I stopped singing the anthem over a year ago. Did someone burst my idealogical bubble? Did some campaign completely fail and render me faithless? No. My hopes are still so high. Even as I watch worldwide awareness shed light and empower people and even decrease the number of victims, I’m staying level headed and realistic. Hopeful and diligent…not in denial.

I was watching “Half the Sky” the other night, and I think it was Nick Kristoff who said there will always be those sick people in this world that will inevitably hurt or exploit the vulnerable. Is he not right? Can a passionate generation of activists eradicate domestic violence? Or child abuse? Evil wears skin a thousand shades of pain. Sexual slavery is just one shade. And evil may not win this war in the very end, but it will as it has before, continue to pervade and seek to undermine our every effort as we fight this fastest growing criminal industry in the world.

I can yell it from the steps of the Capitol Building, plaster it on my Facebook background or just keep silent about whether or not I believe we can end it. It doesn’t end it any sooner. As dismal or hypocritical as it may sound coming from my fingertips, in my blog called “Let’s END This”, I’ve come to believe the slavery of human beings will probably always exist, as it nearly always has, in its various forms. Legal, illegal, sex, labor, adult, child, male, female.

It’s a subjective truth that I’ve determined will not deter me. Depressing as it may seem at times, I won’t be depressed by it. There are too many chains that have yet to be rattled loose.

I didn’t give up on my goal of losing 20 pounds last year. I kept myself accountable, no matter how slow my progress. And even though I believe slavery will not be eradicated in my lifetime, I won’t give up fighting for innocent people who feel tricked, trapped and under someone else’s total control. Those people…those MILLIONS of people are made up of individual people with full names, salty tears and fatherless babies.

America Fererra, in a “Half the Sky” spoke my thoughts…

Sometimes the problem feels so big that changing one life doesn’t feel like enough. But it IS. If you’re that one girl, that got rescued…it matters.

If you do one thing for one person, and keep doing things, even if it seems like it’s “little”, you’re ending this. You could do something, like handwrite a letter of encouragement to a survivor you’ve never met, who just had a baby. Or pray that a victim’s husband’s career takes off so she can stay home and recover from PTSD. Text a verse, offer to watch a child, sign a petition, buy fair trade chocolate & survivor-made jewelry or re-gift an old gift card that’s been bulking up your wallet for months. Do not be deceived. These are not insignificant. It all matters.

Results will vary. Numbers might be low. But believe this. It matters to them. So maybe we should change the question from “Can we end slavery in our lifetime?” to “Can I make an ongoing, lasting impact with my actions?”

In your final days on this earth, I may be proven wrong and trafficking may be a thing of the past. But if this damn injustice is raging on, you can still rest knowing that you answered that call on your life with each little thing you did. And that you didn’t just wave your freedom flag for this sexy cause for six months, but you persevered with compassion, seeking out those you could serve.

You can rest because your actions on behalf of the oppressed will leave their mark in history.

The Lone Freedom Advocate

Still pondering a dream I woke up from this morning, about a cute little creature that escaped me and fell through a crack in the floor. I reached for it, but it had fallen too far. I looked closer to find it had fallen thru to a lower level, right into someone else’s lap. Safe. Not lost. I hurried down the stairs and to my surprise, in those few moments, it had grown. My family and I played with it happily.

Last night at the Newberg awareness event I let myself get discouraged bc I’m not technically with an org…or a representative of a non-profit. I’ve also been trying to reconcile the loss of friendship with a survivor.

I’m by myself now, and doing what I can from where I am with what gifts I have been given. I let myself feel disconnected with diminished purpose…until the sun broke, and I realized that I am a representative of Something even better – the One true God, Author of Salvation, Redemption and Transformation.

The belonging & covering I felt in my 2.5 yrs. w/SCTNow pales to that of who I am in Christ. The 2 yrs I spent mentoring a survivor were not the end. He has more for me to do, more for me to speak life into. Much more.

I am the lone Freedom-Advocate!
And I’m ok with that, cause I know that I am never alone. The important things are, that I:
keep loving on my family,

keep praying and acting on behalf of the oppressed and

keep my head up.

Whatever It Is You Do

Update time!
It’s been too long. I do miss writing about my passion. I do!
I’ve been all caught up with moving twice, two kids starting school, and was hip deep into a bible study on James until today. The weather of my life is calming – winds are dying down and the mind quieting, hopefully for long enough stints that I can bust out my mini laptop and get all caught up on the world of human trafficking around me (& once again, reassess where I fit into it)!
I feel like I’m getting further and further out. Further away from urban Portland culture and so I’m telling myself that’s ok. I can make mountains move from anywhere if I have faith (+ some availability. And the guts to put to action my convictions from week to week. Ok, and a Snickers Ice cream Bar would help, for the energy I’ll need to getterdone. I mean, mountains are heavy).

So I will do what I can and I charge you all to do the same. Like my husband says to me as he quotes some movie I’ve never seen, “You do…whatever it is… you do”. That’s all we’re responsible to do. We know the evil is rampant and will not let up. But we also know that wherever we live, whatever skill set we have, whoever God has placed us in connection with right now, we have to commit (and I’m speaking to myself here too) to KEEP FIGHTING.
Because there will always be the abused and vulnerable among us.
And because it is simply right and just to fight for them.

This month, if you’re anywhere near these areas, join me as I pick up my benevolent pace and attend these three pretty exciting events:

• This Friday: Family Life Church is hosting a Trafficking Awareness Night. Speakers will include a Portland DA who has taken on plenty of trafficking cases, Ms. Amanda Marshall.
6:30 dessert social, 7pm it starts!

• Sept.14: “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” 1 mi. walk to benefit SARC. On 5th and Hall in Beaverton. Free Voodoo Donuts and “Jim & Patty” (Coffee People) coffee, lots of games, prizes and men in very uncomfortable heels.

• Sept. 27-28: Good Shepherd Church in Gresham is hosting a 2-day “mentoring workshop”. The Portland Police & LIFEWORKS NW are actually working with the local church to partner up and provide some training for compassionate peeps who can mentor girls and teens – like those taken right off the streets from forced prostitution. So many of them desperately need a stable, trained person to talk to. We can be trained for this. We have a lot more to offer than we think. Consider becoming a mentor! There will be so many great speakers there, including Survivor Rebecca Bender.

So. Excited.

A Tribute to Kelsey Emily

This morning, I noticed this rose. One of three. Of the others, one was big and robust with peachy petals still turned in, and one was cherry red in color, dainty, content in drinking its life water. I removed them from the cream pitcher to leave this single flower that stood out to me.

I’d like to give her a chance to bloom. I don’t know why she hasn’t, except that I cut her away from her original source of nourishment.

It wasn’t her fault.

She would’ve been able to open up and become more. She would’ve been able to bless more people, much longer with her stunning beauty and pleasing colors. There must be two dozen of her friends still thriving from the same source and soil. They are dancing in the wind as I type this.

But now I fear it’s too late for this one. We won’t get to witness the potential she beheld.

She is gorgeous. Her smile fascinates. Her eyes shimmer.

Her soul thirsts for sustenance. Her spirit, for significance. Her memory, for honor.

Her name is Kelsey Emily.

Soroptimists Luncheon + Awareness at the Benson Hotel

Through a random connection who helped sponsor my last Walk, I was invited to speak at a Soroptimist meeting (women who fight for the rights of other women and children). TOMORROW! I get 20 minutes only. This is hard! But hopefully I will get to cover all that I have planned & hit AWARENESS and PREVENTION hard…

~~~

Awareness does not make for instant, tangible results, but it is crucial.

It is the cornerstone of all progress made in anti trafficking efforts

Women of all ages can get involved in preventing sex trafficking RIGHT NOW by beginning with awareness.

Education in the form of Documentary Screenings.

Feature Film: Nefarious Merchant of Souls

• .Unites a community and informs them of what Sex Trafficking looks like from a global perspective
• .Audience leaves feeling grieved, yet HOPEFUL and compelled, bc the film ends w/3 empowering action steps adopted from William Wilberforce who was dedicated to ending trans-Atlantic slavery. He changed the course of history through:

1. Prayer
2. Awareness
3. The Giving of Funds

Fund Raising in the Form of a Fun Event

Featuring: World Concern’s Free Them 5k

 

• .WC provides awareness training for children re: trafficker’s scams and their rights as children
• .WC provides vocational training – job skills, for safe ways to generate income
• .WC provides safety for migrating families – small business loans so they don’t have to move or to help them settle in and make a living once they’ve moved. Education about dangers of traveling over borders since this is a high risk place for all kinds of H.T.

Free Them 5k gives a healthy outlet for us women to get involved in the solution: walk or run a 5k, & even bring our families! 1-2 hr time commitment, 3.11 miles.   Details: (www.worldconcern.org/portland5k)

• When: May 25th (Sat. of Mem. Day wkend)
• Where: Horizon Community Church in Tualatin
• Cost: $30 to register now (under 18 = $10) & follow prompts to easily set up a fundraising page and ask family or FB frnds to help you reach your set goal of any amnt. Believe it or not it’s FUN to raise funds. Last year’s participants raised $143k in Seattle! = REWARDING >>> cause you know that this trustworthy NPO is using those funds to provide those three important things for those at high risk of being trafficked (awareness training, vocational training and safe migrating)

Grassroots Activism in the form of Volunteering.

Featuring: The I5exit campaign

• Explain how event works ~ volunteers hold signs at I5 exits to generate curiously and website traffic >>> education and resources including Polaris Project’s Nat’l HT & SARC’s local 24-hr. hotline / 2,500 visitors in one day, 5k+ visitors over two week period.

Time permitting:

*Other forms of prevention worthy of mentioning:

• Legislative Activism in the form of Lobbying at the Capitol whenever there is a trafficking related bill that needs to pass. THIS WEEK Senate Bill I lobbied for in March passed, and the House Bill is still undecided on. So there is hope that if passed un-amended, men who are caught for paying for sex with a child (rape) will be charged with a felony at the 1st offense. NOT a misdemeanor.
• Education in Middle and High School Health Classes (Forsaken Generation, Prevention Project and Shared Hope Int’l are all piloting curriculum to educate teens about this crucial issue).