Want to change the world? Then you’re in the right place
The world today has so much pain and suffering most people blame God for the trials we face. You look at your friends what do you see? I know if I look at mine all I see is the pain of their home lives or how much they long for a sense of security. Sadly, most teens are not raised in good Christian loving homes, this often leads to runaway teens, teens looking for love in the wrong places such as prostitution or a dangerous boyfriend, and most turn to crime and end up in jail. Trust me, I would know, I am a foster child. I have had the privilege of not living in a foster home and being placed in a wonderful family before I could be shipped off to one. I am so blessed! Yet just because I don’t live in one doesn’t mean I don’t know about all the dangers that creep inside them. I have talked to many other teens who have been in foster homes and have been lucky enough to find families before it was too late…and others that still lived in them. I have heard the stories! Oh yes Annie was based on true events…when I say this I’m talking about the orphanage she lived in. In modern times that would now be called a foster home. They aren’t sanctuaries of hope that’s for sure, many teens and kids would much rather live on the streets then live in a foster home. I won’t go into detail about the things that happen because it might be too graphic for some of you readers, but I WILL tell you what I have heard. The kids are beaten, molested, verbally abused, worked too hard, and constantly in fear. They are afraid to even go into the dinner hall to eat sometimes. So you can imagine why they wouldn’t want to be there. By the time they turn 13 years old almost All foster kids won’t be adopted. You see no one wants a teenager sad to say, especially one who has a lot of pain in their lives that they need to work through. So most foster teens are thrown out if they get to full or they just run away. This is a whole new danger for them. They are now exposed to human trafficking, gangs, and much more. It has been proven that every 4 kids that run away will be taken into sex slavery. EVERY 4 KIDS, GIRLS, TEENS. Thousands of kids/teens run away each day. No wonder it makes millions. Here are some facts on human trafficking. 1. Globally, the average cost of a slave is $90. 2. Trafficking primarily involves exploitation which comes in many forms, including:
3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
forcing victims into prostitution, subjecting victims to slavery or involuntary servitude and compelling victims to commit sex acts for the purpose of creating pornography. According to some estimates, approximately 80% of trafficking involves sexual exploitation, and 19% involves labor exploitation. There are approximately 20 to 30 million slaves in the world today. According to the U.S. State Department, 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year, of which 80% are female and half are children. The average age a teen enters the sex trade in the U.S. is 12 to 14-year-old. Many victims are runaway girls who were sexually abused as children. California harbors 3 of the FBI’s 13 highest child sex trafficking areas on the nation: Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. The National Human Trafficking Hotline receives more calls from Texas than any other state in the US. 15% of those calls are from the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
9. Between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. each year. 10. Human trafficking is the third largest international crime industry (behind illegal drugs
and arms trafficking). It reportedly generates a profit of $32 billion every year. Of that number, $15.5 billion is made in industrialized countries. 11. The International Labour Organization estimates that women and girls represent the largest share of forced labor victims with 11.4 million trafficked victims (55%) compared to 9.5 million (45%) men. Source: https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-human-trafficking They are also exposed to hunger and diseases. These are all people like you, the same age as you, maybe even younger! All God’s children, having these things happen to them. Princesses that don’t know who they are, princesses who have never heard about Jesus probably, heard what he has done for them. All they know is survive. Your probably asking “Then why hasn’t God done anything!?!? Why doesn’t he change it!?!?” Well im here to tell you that he has done something. By creating you. The popular song by Matthew West says it all.
"Do Something" I woke up this morning Saw a world full of trouble now Thought, how’d we ever get so far down How’s it ever gonna turn around So I turned my eyes to Heaven I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?” Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of People living in poverty Children sold into slavery The thought disgusted me So, I shook my fist at Heaven Said, “God, why don’t You do something?” He said, “I did, I created you” If not us, then who If not me and you Right now, it’s time for us to do something If not now, then when Will we see an end To all this pain It’s not enough to do nothing It’s time for us to do something I’m so tired of talking About how we are God’s hands and feet But it’s easier to say than to be Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves It’s alright, “somebody else will do something” Well, I don’t know about you
But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire I don’t want a flame, I want a fire I wanna be the one who stands up and says, “I’m gonna do something” If not us, then who If not me and you Right now, it’s time for us to do something If not now, then when Will we see an end To all this pain It’s not enough to do nothing It’s time for us to do something We are the salt of the earth We are a city on a hill (shine shine, shine shine) But we’re never gonna change the world By standing still No we won’t stand still No we won’t stand still No we won’t stand still If not us, then who If not me and you Right now, it’s time for us to do something If not now, then when Will we see an end To all this pain It’s not enough to do nothing It’s time for us to do something [x3] You see? God did do something. He created you! So stand up! Get off your coach! Turn off the TV! Get out there and start changing it! Who says you couldn’t do it?!?!? Tell me! I wanna know! Who says you can’t make a difference? Guess what, God says you can! 1 Timothy 4:12 ” Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” So what are you going to do? Are you just going to sit on your coach and continue to watch the TV or are you going to get up? Be different! Go change the world! Because guess what world changers didn’t change anything by thinking they couldn’t do something! They thought they could! Why? Because they have God. They have Jesus. They have the Holy Spirit, and so do you. So why are you any different? Why can’t you change the world? Don’t know where to start? Then let me tell you about Covenant House. Covenant House is about getting those kids off the street, whether its foster kids, teens running away from abusive homes ect. They provide them with a room and fresh meals. They also teach them education, how to get a job, good manners, how to deal with their emotions, and they teach them good life lessons. They need your help though. They get so many kids that they rely on YOUR
donations. Just 10$ Will provide one of their kids with a day of hot meals. 25$ for a warm winter coat. 35$ for a cozy bed and there is much more you can give! They give you unique ideas on how to fundraise for them! Have a birthday coming up? Ask your friends and family to donate money instead of gifts! Do you like to work out, ride horse, cook, clean ect. You can ask your friends and family to donate 1$ or more for 30 days of you doing your favorite activity and donate the money to give a nice coat or 3 days of meals! Its super easy and you get to help save lives! For more info go on their website https://www.covenanthouse.org/help-the-homeless/gift-catalog Help end Human trafficking by Donating to Not For Sale. https://notforsalecampaign.org/ They help the victims of Human trafficking recover and start a new life. How to help STOP Human trafficking with your everyday choices: Don’t see movies that promote it such as magic mike. Spread the word! Slavery isn’t over! Tell teen girls about Jesus and how much he loves them so they won’t get caught in the “I want love trap” Lock your doors and don’t walk places by yourself, even in your neighborhood. If you think someone is in trouble and might be in prostitution or slavery tell an adult.
There are many other things and ways you could change the world! Find your passion and ask God what he is calling you to! So take the challenge! Get up and change the world!