Cheatham County Commissioner 'Sundaed' to Freeze Human Trafficking

Jesus is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark as saying, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” » The word “ransom” in Koine Greek, translated as “lutron”, refers specifically to the price paid to ransom a person from slavery.

In 2021, the United Nations reported that 50 million people worldwide were living in slavery, and many women and children were enduring the horrors of sex trafficking. Just as Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice for those in spiritual slavery, members of Gateway Church Assembly of God in Ashland City and workers at Project Rescue want these women and children to know that Jesus’ offer of freedom applies to them as well.

Pastor Leslie Moore, GCAoG children's director, and 1st District Cheatham County Commissioner David Anderson, also a member of the church, gathered to raise funds, along with children ages 5 to 12 from the church, to benefit Project Rescue, a mission organization with the Assemblies of God, as it builds a shelter in Honduras to help and rehabilitate women and children rescued from human trafficking.

Each AoG church holds regular fundraisers involving children, called the Boys Girls Missionary Challenge.

Moore said, “BGMC teaches children to help our missionaries, to make sacrifices in missions, to help the needy around the world, to pray for missionaries and various ethnic groups, to love and accept people of all races, to reach the lost, and to keep their hearts open to God's call for full-time missions. Children receive a buddy barrel (a small plastic barrel) and fill it with lost change each month.

During the month of May, children participated in what is called May Madness, the major annual fundraising campaign, each time with a different departmental objective. Last May, the kids included Anderson and Moore in the fundraiser, “fun” being the key word. Anderson and Moore upped the ante, competing to see who could raise the most money for Project Rescue. The winner would be “sundaed,” meaning it would be doused in chocolate syrup, sprinkles and whipped cream.

Anderson emerged victorious with $1,800 to Moore's $230, and the county commissioner received his “reward” on Sunday, June 2, during the church service.

Jeremy Godwin, chief operating officer of Builders International, a strategic partner of Project Rescue, said there will be more slaves in the world in 2024 than at any other time in history. According to Godwin, partnering with churches like GCAoG is essential, because church aid accounts for about 70 percent of their funding.

The scourge of human trafficking on the planet is serious, and what is even more sobering is the statistic that at least 75 percent of women and children who find themselves involved in the sex slave trade have been in it. sent by their own family.

“That’s the number we actually know. Unfortunately, there are often other things that the child doesn't speak up about or isn't willing to point the finger at. It’s a horrible situation, but poverty leads to it when these families see no choice but to sell their children,” Godwin said.

GCAoG and PR have already partnered on humanitarian projects in Colombia and Israel, according to Godwin, and he said of the Ashland City congregation: “I can honestly say with a small handful of people that I've met , the people of Gateway who give selflessly. , who are incredibly generous and have a long-term commitment to making an impact not only in their community, but around the world, whatever the cost.

The scriptures teach that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. For Anderson, doing everything he can to send that message to those trapped in abuse, whether in Cheatham County or across the world, is one of the best ways. to reflect the character and mission of Christ.

“I think Jesus, the suffering and all that, is Jesus saying there is a way out. [There are many who get abused] and everything mentally, sexually, verbally, emotionally. There is a way out, God is there and He wants to restore their lives. He wants to show them that there is a better way to live, to walk away from people who want to harm them, and that God is the answer. The problem is, when you have God on your side, nothing can defeat you,” Anderson said.

For Moore, the goal is to teach young people that serving others is being like Christ.

“The Bible tells us that Jesus was moved with compassion. We want the next generation to imitate Jesus in this way, so that miracles can continue to happen. Compassion moves us from perceiving the need to wanting to do something. Encouraging children to participate in these small challenges not only transforms their little hearts, it also has a big impact on the world,” she said.

For more information about Gateway Church Assembly of God, visit www.GatewayAG.org/. For more information about Project Rescue, visit www.ProjectRescue.com/.