Call to Action

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
Those verses challenge me for so many reasons. They challenge me because they are verses that guide my life. Many people think I'm just a health nut, but there's more to it. We are told that are bodies are temples that house the living God! What an honor! That He would CHOOSE to dwell IN US. Wow. We are not our own, we belong to Him, we were bought at a price, and that bill of sale is the cross of Jesus Christ. Honor God with our bodies--that's what He asks of us. I'm thankful for this freedom. We were bought so we could be free.
I love those verses. But I hate those verses. I hate that not everybody experiences the freedom that was intended for them. As I pour my heart out before the Lord, regarding those who are being sex trafficked, I'm angry that they don't experience this freedom. I'm angry that while it is true that they are not their own, and they too, were bought at a price, yet their price is of monetary value, and comes with slavery, battery, sexual abuse, and severe torture. How can this be? I was bought at a price (the cross of Christ). These women have also been bought at a price (money/slavery). It's a dichotomy that I cannot piece together. I'm angry. And while my anger doesn't paralyze me, it calls me to action.
I want them to be free. I want them to know they are beautiful. I want them to know they are cared for. I want them to know, that they too, have been bought with a price (of immeasurable value), and that payment was Jesus on the cross. I want them to know that although I've never met them, and I've never heard their story, I'm praying for their freedom.
And so I will run. I will take 10 days off of work, and I will run. I will run 20 miles a day, for 10 days across the state of Minnesota, so people will hear of their stories. I will run, so they can be free.
I'm not sure if anybody is reading this. But if you are, would you prayerfully consider partnering with me?
https://ventureexpeditions.missionsconnex.com/BreeWilliamson

Call Me the Whistleblower

This weekend I had the opportunity to watch the movie, The Whistleblower.  Wow.  It's not one of those movies you walk away saying, "that was really good."  Rather, it's one of those movies you walk away saying, "wow, I can't believe this is happening.  I must do something about it."  The movie, The Whistleblower, is about a human trafficking ring in Bosnia that is being funded, protected, and engaged by U.S. personnel as well as members of the U.N. international police.  Throughout the movie, the main female police officer discovers that the U.N. is aware of the human trafficking ring, and are covering it up to prevent further war in Bosnia.  It's shocking to see these women, as slaves, and yet the ones who are supposed to be rescuing them are contributing to their nightmare.  It's so hard for me to believe that this is based on a true story...but it is.  It's one of those movies that forces you to ask the question, "now that I know about it, what am I going to do about it?"  I will be a whistleblower.  I will continue to blow my whistle, to raise awareness to the injustices of human trafficking that are taking place.  I cannot sit back and let it happen to my sisters all over the world.

And so it further encourages my pursuit of RunFreeMN.  This summer, I am taking 10 days, and I will be running 200 miles, across the state of Minnesota, to raise awareness and funds to help the fight against global human trafficking.  I will continue to push the issue.  I want people to know.  I want people to feel uncomfortable. I want people to know that people are hurting, while this industry is thriving.  I want to run, because they can't.  I want to run so they can be free.  I want to run because I know my trip can engage others in the story of hope. 

Throughout the month of March, I will be posting one statistic on human trafficking, along with a scripture verse relating to justice.

Will you be a whistleblower?  Please consider donating to my RunFreeMN trip here: https://ventureexpeditions.missionsconnex.com/BreeWilliamson

Thank you for believing in me.

RUN:FREE

This summer (last week of June, through the first week of July), I will be running across the state of Minnesota. Call me crazy, because really, it is. I will be starting in Watertown, SD, and running eastward, ending near Prescott, WI, totaling over 200 miles, in two weeks. Why? Why am I doing this? I am doing this because all over the world (including the U.S.--we are NOT exempt), women and children are illegally being bought and sold into sex slavery, everyday. The largest number of women sent to Las Vegas, and forced into sex slavery in the United States, come from my backyard, Minneapolis. There are more human slaves today, than when slavery was legal. Rather than running miles and miles because I love running, I have the opportunity to run for the joy of helping those affected by human trafficking. There is an organization in China call Eden Ministries, which provides support to women who have been rescued and delivered from human trafficking. They provide resources and an opportunity for a new life. They teach women a trade, such as weaving, jewelry making, etc, so they may become self-sustaining women, and not have to return to their former life. I can run. And I want to make a difference.

I am running through an organization called Venture Expeditions, which is a non-profit organization that provides an opportunity to raise awareness and funds that benefit social justice causes, and make a difference in the world. You can see the kind of miles I'll be running through this link: http://www.ventureexpeditions.org/page/runfree-1
If you would like to join me on this run, I would LOVE it!!!

If you are interested in supporting me in this journey, here's how you can help. First, you can be praying. Pray for the people who are affected by human trafficking. Pray for the offenders who are running the sex trafficking business. Pray for me, that I would remain healthy, strong, and smart as I embark on this journey. Second, you can donate money! 100% of the donations will be going to Eden Ministries to help these women. You can donate here: https://ventureexpeditions.missionsconnex.com/BreeWilliamson

Third, you can spread the word. The more we can make people aware, the greater chance we have at putting an end to human trafficking. And fourth, if you'd like to buy me a pair of running shoes, hey, I wouldn't turn them down, as I'm going through a pair every two months! ;)