If you’re reading this, your eyes have been opened to the sad truth that around the globe, millions of people—people just like you or those you love, are being oppressed. This truth is hard to swallow and in our weakness we can be tempted to close our eyes, to turn our backs, or to walk away from those who suffer injustice. However, we worship a God who loves justice and who is ready and able to equip His followers to serve as agents of rescue and redemption. Below are a few stories about American students who are embracing this call to “seek justice” (Isaiah 1:17) and by doing so are helping write happy endings to the stories of victims IJM serves.
Five Pines Live, Berrien Center, MI
Run for Justice - After leading his students throught The Justice Mission, youth leader Mike Emerson and a group of students from the Five Pines Live youth group wanted to do more. They organized an annual Run for Justice. Students organized the run and gathered sponsorships from individuals, businesses and churches in their area. They also took the message of IJM to 21 other local youth groups, understanding that raising awareness and raising financial support go hand in hand. In 2005, the Run for Justice had participants from seven churches in addition to Five Pines, and raised over $5500 to support IJM’s ministry! You can download tools to launch your own “Run for Justice” by clicking here.
Church of the Advent, Birmingham, AL
The Justice Benefit - After going through The Justice Mission curriculum with the high school Sunday school class in the spring of 2004, youth director Tommy Mayfield wanted to provide an opportunity for students to educate others about IJM and invite them to participate in the work of justice through financial giving. Tommy and his students spent the summer thinking and praying about the best way to proceed and eventually launched a fundraiser they called The Justice Benefit. They invited four other local youth groups to go through The Justice Mission and to join in their fundraising efforts. Learning from another successful fundraiser in their community, Tommy helped the youth form fundraising teams that went out into the community and asked parents, friends, and local businesses for donations. In addition, Tommy organized several Justice Luncheons for local business and church leaders. In November, a benefit concert was held to celebrate the students’ efforts and to raise additional awareness and support for IJM. Larry Martin, IJM’s Vice President of Education, spoke at the event and at the Church of the Advent’s adult Sunday school class the next morning. The Justice Benefit introduced hundreds of people to IJM and raised over $27,000 for the work of justice.