As I ponder the story of Jairus, that notable Pharisee whose daughter was dying, I am somewhat startled by the absence of any family members going with him to find Jesus. He seems to be alone. (If you missed the earlier studies of this story, I hope that you will find a way to read them.
When Julian DeShazier, a 37-year-old Black pastor, marches in Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests, he removes his clerical collar – a symbol of authority – and follows the instructions of organisers, many of whom are younger than him, and many of whom are women.
DeShazier and members of his Hyde Park University Church in Chicago, Illinois, decided that the youth, whom he describes as “faithful, but secular”, are “best positioned to lead this movement right now”. The role of the Church is “to be supportive of them in offering ourselves in the ways they show us they need us and to fill in the gaps as well.”
Wilmington is one of the most visited cities in New Hanover County.
It s also ranked as one of the top four most common cities for the occurrence of human trafficking in North Carolina, according to Just Ask Prevention.
First Fruit Ministries in Wilmington started a safe house, called 5.11 House, that provides safe, stable housing and case management, housing navigation, peer support, recovery services, behavioral health services, primary medical care, and financial assistance to victims of sex and labor trafficking.
The house, which is a six-month transitional safe house allowing victims of human trafficking time to get back on their feet, has started accepting referrals for residents.