Freedom Day!
Wow! What a weekend!
Saturday 19th April was Freedom Day in the city of Perth! 
The Salvos and other freedom fighters (world vision, ywam, and a myriad of others..) were out in full strength to walk for freedom in the city.
We blew up balloons, we banged drums, we raised banners and we walked in strength in an effort to allow people to see and hear the call to freedom, justice, mercy, love and the stopping of traffik.
And, we made Stop The Traffik / Salvation Army T-Shirts and looked fantastic while we were wearing them! The logo to the right on the front and a MASSIVE Red Shield on the back!!
During the walk, and the afternoon session in the City we gave out nearly 800 flyers with information about Trafficking, and an invite to a free* screening of The Jammed in Northbridge.
Many conversations were had, many children were excited by the FREE magazine! (KidZone’s galore!) and MANY of the people we gave flyers to during the day, came to watch the movie - and not just because we were offering food** (although that did seem to draw the crowd!)
An estimation of more than 80 people flooded an auxiliary room at the Perth Fortress Corps to watch The Jammed. More than half of those in attendance came through the flyers we gave out, or because of the young enthusiasts just outside the Corps bringing people in!
The movie is incredibly graphic and confronting, but there was opportunity for prayer, support and comfort after the movie, and there is much hope that people did not feel helpless, but through the info from the talk prior to the movie, and the resources available, feel strong to move forward in the fight for freedom.
In the lead up to the event and on the day, we made important connections with organisations and individuals in Perth who are already working for a traffik free world. In particular, a young enthusiastic representative from YWAM walked with us, stayed all afternoon in the city making incredible connections with passers-by and invited 5 of her friends to the movie.
There are some links here, to show you what these groups are up to;
Lost in Traffik (YWAM Perth)
Don’t Trade Lives (World Vision - STIR, Perth)
Thanks for listening to my recap. There will be more news soon about JUSTSalvosWA’s ideas/events and more.
Grace.
*The screening was technically free, but we encouraged a Gold Coin donation on entry, and raised a total of $275.80 for The Salvation Army’s Counter-Traffiking project in India.
**The free food on offer was Fair Trade, and Organic - and for some even gluten and dairy free!! Thanks Fair-Go Trading!
Other people.
Here are the 5 most recent blogs in my google reader. Enjoy them as much as I do. I am so blessed by the stories of other people.
I heard a great story the other day from a guy…
And for your amusement…
Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.
an unheard voice
“give wiping poverty off the earth a go.”
This article was the winning entry in the year 5/6 category of What Matters? 2007—a writing competition, run by The Whitlam Institute, that gives year 5-12 students in NSW and ACT a chance to say what matters in society today. This girl’s writing is inspiring, and not just because she is so young.
If anything, her words are a timely reminder of things we’ve heard a million times and don’t effect us anymore - things like, “one person dies EVERY two seconds from starvation and every year hunger kills more than 12 million children worldwide”.
If she is this full on at this age, imagine the punch she will pull when she’s 15, or 20.
Bring it Lord. Make Poverty History.
Grassroots
As we speak, Youth Leaders and others from all around our Territory are taking part in the Youth Workers conference, that is being run in conjunction with Grassroots, a Forge Initiative.
Let’s pray for them. That the participants would be overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit, and his ability to move them to action in their local setting. That the speakers would speak gospel truths clearly and with great passion and enthusiasm, in a way that is transferrable to the hearts of the hearers, and henceforth to the communities that they surround themselves with when they return home.
Let us pray that there begins a “stirring” in the spirit. Especially for those from WA. That they will return with a renewed energy and enthusiasm for the reality of the Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.
LORD, Bless them.
Great T-Shirt Designs
Would you by these shirts or ones similar? How great are the designs! just found them here.
Fair Trade Guide
Not that I want you to stop looking at the poster for Freedom Day, but, I found this today. 
Freedom Day 2008
I just had a highly productive meeting hashing out some details for WA’s Freedom Day on April 19.
I went in feeling unmotivated and discouraged, I came out feeling excited and empowered! Praise Jesus!
Behind a loud-blowing brass band, we’ll be marching through Northbridge to the Murray St mall, in an effort to raise awareness about Traffiking and Exploitation. We’ll be hanging out in the mall for the afternoon to chat with people, hand out some Kidzones and invite people to come to the screening of “The Jammed” at 6.30pm.
The Jammed is an Australian film, that has one three Australian Film Industry Awards - Best Feature Film, Best Screenplay, Best Music. In recent news:
The Australian Catholic Film Office (ACFO) has awarded its 2007 Film of the Year to Dee McLachlan’s The Jammed. Director of the ACFO and jury chair, Jesuit Fr Richard Leonard said 2007 was one of the strongest years in many for Australian films.”The Jammed, The Home Song Stories and Romulus, My Father were among the best,” Fr Leonard said. “The jury felt that The Jammed was a singularly courageous piece of cinema. Even though the extremely violent world this film portrays means many people would not want to see it, that does not allow us to ignore the sex trade in women and children occurring in our nation,” he said.
The movie traces the story of three women brought to Australia under false pretences for sexual exploitation. The Jammed reveals not only the horror of modern human trafficking and slavery but also peels back the complex moral layers involved for everyone, including governments. Fr Leonard said it would be hard to think of a social issue which the whole Church is presently speaking with such clarity. “Pope Benedict’s statement on human trafficking for sex, his message to mark World Day of Migrants and Refugees, and the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerants have strenuously called for all Catholics, Christians and people of good will to do everything they can to counter the causes and the evil results of human trafficking.” “The Jammed plays the role of raising our consciousness on this issue.” This uncompromising and confronting film illuminates a dark, tragic side of Australian society and thus makes a significant contribution to increasing people’s awareness of an under-recognised but important issue of faith and justice.”
Here is a preview:
A poster summarising the day’s events will be out shortly. Watch this space.
