For part two of our five-part Advent series, Pastor Jon Odom reflects on the second candle of Advent: the candle of preparation. Using examples from his recent trip to Lebanon, he shines a light on what it means to prepare for the work that God has called us to. By Jon Odom It was an unwanted … Read More
When it might often seem like there is very little we as a country can agree on, I believe there is one issue where we can find consensus – that violence is never acceptable, especially towards women and children who are most vulnerable, whatever form that violence takes. Whether the issue is child marriage, physical … Read More
“What is the aim of this Congress? And what will happen for us next?” asked 19-year-old Hameed to a captive audience in the U.S. Capitol building. Over live video stream from the Harsham IDP (Internally Displaced People) and refugee camp in Iraq, Hameed (19), Yasmeen (13), and Mohamed (16), shared the hardships they experienced when … Read More
This Advent season we are reflecting on the different candles of the Advent wreath and how their themes relate to our role as advocates for Christ. Co-pastors Rick Enloe & Gino Grunberg at Harbor Christian Center in Gig Harbor, Washington provide insight on the candle of hope for part one of our five-part series. By … Read More
Millions of children and thousands of mothers die each year, mainly from complications with pregnancy or childbirth. And 99 percent of maternal deaths occur in the developing world. By 2030, the global community hopes to end preventable maternal and child deaths, but that cannot be accomplished without hard work, persistence, advocacy, and a lot of … Read More
Harassment is one of many challenges girls and women face in Delhi, a sprawling city of 25 million people where there are problems of safety, vulnerability to violence and exploitation, pollution, and unsanitary or overcrowded living conditions. But empowered by sponsorship, girls in one neighborhood are overcoming poverty and trading child marriage for college textbooks. … Read More
As a girl growing up in Zeeland, Michigan, I had a lot of dreams about what my future might look like. There were the immediate dreams (making the basketball team, getting all A’s) and the future dreams (going to college, finding a great career, having a family). Some of those dreams were realized, and others … Read More
There are 535 men and women who serve as our members of Congress and these are just some of our country’s leaders. People who are government leaders, whether members of Congress, the President, the Cabinet, or even state representatives, are faced with difficult decisions daily in addition to balancing commitments to family and friends. Often, … Read More
On Tuesday, October 2, following World Vision’s Day of Prayer, World Vision US partnered with Food for the Hungry, Catholic Relief Services, and Christian Connections for International Health to bring together a bipartisan group of members of Congress, government officials, and pastors, to pray for mothers and children around the globe. The event was opened … Read More
By Whitney Young, Child Protection Research Assistant, and Jessica Bousquette, Child Protection Policy Advisor “Some things are just wrong. Child Labor is a brake on sustainable development…its eradication must be pursued with the utmost determination.” –International Labor Organization, Global Estimates of Child Labor: Results and Trends, 2012-2016 On September 19, the International Labor Organization (ILO) … Read More
Yesterday, the Senate introduced and moved through committee S. 1848: An original bill to amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 to modify the criteria for determining whether countries are meeting the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking, and for other purposes. While the title is long, the short story is that … Read More
We often hear about difficulties in Congress and how approval ratings are at a record low. We want to say thank you for realizing that in the midst of the chaos, your voice still matters. Today, largely influenced by your emails, phone calls, and tweets, the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development (READ) Act – previously named … Read More
