Thanks to so many generous donations, we were able to complete the Aftercare Center Vehicle Project. We're excited to show you pictures of the van that your donations were able to buy for the aftercare center.
The girls now have safe, reliable transportation to and from the center. Thank you to everyone who donated towards this project!
We knew it was happening in our back yard. We just didn’t know how imbalanced it was.
There are 300,000 victims of child sexual exploitation in the United States, but only five specialized aftercare homes exist to meet their needs. Trafficking in the U.S. is growing much faster than our collective response to it.
This is a gross injustice.
After months of prayer, research, and planning, we’ve decided that For The Silent needs to address this imbalance at home. In 2010, we will refocus our efforts on children trafficked and exploited within the U.S.
Please check back in the coming weeks as we announce our new direction in response to this need.
A Collection of Squirrel Tales
Compassion Art CD/Book/Coffee
On September 26th, nine wonderful runners from Missouri ran a 5k... for the silent. Aubrey Brown, Zack Caddy, Ashley Combs, Alesha Curry, Greg Gorham, Dezi Powers, Lisa Warren, Megan White, and Rachel Wilson raised over $3,400 for the Boy's Counseling Project, making huge strides towards meeting our goal of $19,000.
They raised some of the money with a pancake breakfast, an idea that probably sounded just as good after the run as before.
We all enjoyed ourselves and had a great time running the race together.
After the race, the runners and a few friends got together for a time of prayer specifically for the issue of human trafficking.
Our thanks to the MO runners for their awesome work! Below are a few photos from their run and breakfast. (Click the thumbnails for large versions.)
For The Silent was featured in South Africa's Today Magazine, in a wonderful piece about trafficking by Nicolette Ferreira. Here's an excerpt:
We can help For the Silent to spread the good work. Imagine that for every card you make, every painting you paint and every song you write, each cent earned goes into the care of a rescued child. The next adventure race that you sweat out or the next gig that you rock, could fund new classrooms. Through your art, singing, handmade creations, praying and even running, you (yes you, Today reader!) can be a voice for the voiceless... Let’s make a loud, disrupting noise.
You can download a PDF of the entire article here. Thanks to Nicolette and Today for bringing this topic in front of their readers!
On June 7th, we grew $5,760 closer to completing the Aftercare Center Vehicle project as 16 runners from Mosaic Community Church Seattle ran the North Olympic Discovery Marathon... for the silent.
Erika Kraus, who organized the group of For The Silent runners, said: “At Mosaic we are committed to giving what we have to see God’s justice and mercy distributed to those who need it and we are thrilled to run for the silent.”
Below are a few photos from the marathon. (Click the thumbnails for large versions.)
Filled with a desire to make change in their world, Marek & Shelagh Dlouhy turned their handmade jewelry business into a chain of compassion for exploited children. Handblown glass beads from the Czech Republic become beautifully unique necklaces and earrings with 10% of the proceeds going to For The Silent. Check out dczbeads.com!
Update: The current Fundrace has been postponed. Please check back or contact us for more information about future Fundraces. Thanks to all who showed interest! The original announcement continues below for posterity.
We're excited to announce the Fundrace 2009 featuring Luminate (freshly signed to Sparrow Records). From April 29–May 26, local East Texas youth groups will compete to see who can raise the most money for the Boy's Counseling Project. The winning youth group will get a private "storytellers" concert by Luminate, while also helping bring hope to countless boys in Cambodia who have been trafficked and sexually exploited.
For more information about the Fundrace, download this PDF. To get your youth group involved, contact us!
The classrooms that we raised funding for last year have been completed! Our partner organization, Hagar International, provides the most amazing care to 40 girls who have been rescued from sex trafficking and exploitation in Cambodia. The classrooms will help facilitate the girls' education during their time with Hagar.
The girls are very excited to go to school in actual classrooms. Thank you to all who helped us make this happen!
Pictured is a prayer and celebration time with the classrooms in the background.
For The Silent will be hosting a benefit worship concert featuring The Paul Baloche Band. All proceeds are going to For The Silent and will help fund the Boy's Counseling Project.
The event will be April 5th, 6pm at Rose Heights Church in Tyler Texas.
$8 Tickets @ The Scroll and Lifeway or $10 at the door.
Updated: The Tyler Morning Telegraph wrote two excellent articles about us and the concert: "For The Silent Founders Fight Child Exploitation" and "The Paul Baloche Band To Play Benefit April 5".