Leadership Board for the Fall and Winter 2009

Great things are happening at Baylor Law, and a large part of that is the work that our IJM Chapter is doing and planning to do. This fall we are will be having some great new events and more people will hear about the pains in the world and do something about it.

But we need leaders in the organization to continue beyond the "plans" and really make it happen. If you are interested in joining the the Baylor Law IJM Leadership Board, please email me at j_schneider@baylor.edu. We have a small application to aid us in our selection. Below is a description of the Board and positions available:

Article III: Leadership
1. The commitment of the Baylor Law IJM to a theology of justice founded in the Christian doctrine of God shall be reflected and embodied in the lives of its leaders. As such, leaders must endeavor to live their lives consistent with:
a. Submission to the authority of Scripture:
b. Membership in good standing of some manifestation of Christ’s church.
c. Adherence to the following basic tenants of the Christian faith:
• One God, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
• The Deity of Jesus Christ I whom we trust as our only Lord and Savior, God’s only Son conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary; His vicarious death for our sins through which we receive eternal life; His bodily resurrection and personal return.
• The presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration.
2. Officers: There shall be a Leadership Board (“Board”) consisting of all IJM officers and a faculty sponsor. The Board is primarily responsible for maintaining and executing the chapter’s strategic goals in order to accomplish the chapter’s vision and purpose. The Baylor Law IJM officers shall fill the various roles and positions of an IJM chapter and will be appointed by consensus of the outgoing Board based upon nominations made by chapter members and input from the chapter’s faculty sponsor. The Board shall consist of not less than two and no more than eight student members and a faculty sponsor. Each member of the Board shall have one vote on all issues before the Board. The faculty sponsor may vote on all issues and provide the deciding vote in the event of a tie. The Board shall consist of, but is not limited to, the following roles, constituting the primary functions and responsibilities of an IJM chapter:
a. President: This position is responsible for recruiting law student leaders to be involved, overseeing and coordinating the activities of the chapter and monitoring the usage of funds for the organization. The president is the chapter’s representative to the campus (law school administration, faculty, student government, etc.), the local community (churches, businesses, other schools) and to IJM. The president shall work with the vice-president and the other Board member in order to develop strategic goals that will accomplish the chapter’s vision and purpose.
b. Internal Vice President: This position assists the president in developing, implementing and evaluating the goals set forth by the Board. The vice-president shall work with the other members of the Board in regular discussions of the chapter’s vision and direction. This position develops ways that individuals and groups can use their skills, gifts, and talents to serve God’s passion for justice and serve the victims of abuse and injustice in our world through their active and hands-on involvement. The goals is to give all members an opportunity to contribute to the chapter’s success. This position may serve as the IJM chapter president in the president’s absence.
c. External Vice President: This position helps the chapter, the campus and/or the community understand a) what constitutes injustice, b) specific injustices pcurring in the world c) God’s passion for justice and His heart for these victims. And d) things that can be done to seek justice and rescue the oppressed.
d. Prayer Coordinator: This position is responsible for encouraging and organizing individuals, small groups and the law school student body as a whole to pray on a regular basis for the work of justice, the work of IJM and the individual victims of abuses and injustices served by IJM. Pursuant to this task, the coordinator is responsible for dissemination of monthly prayer letters and updates.
e. Fund-Raising/Special Events Coordinator: This position is responsible for developing and implementing the programs necessary to raise funds for IJM and to raise awareness of the work that IJM is engaged in across the world.
f. Treasurer: This position is responsible for developing a budget for the chapter, developing strategies for securing a budget and administering funds.
g. Secretary: This position is responsible for maintaining records of meetings of the leadership board and any other relevant activity.

Cambodia: Prayers Now

I just spoke with my friend Jeff Cook who is currently an IJM Fellow in Cambodia. A very important case is before a 3 judge panel today. While he did not give me many details, he did ask for prayers that everything goes well:

• The justice system here needs some improvement, and we never really know what will happen when a case goes to trial. There are three judges (no jury) and a lot of time the defense lawyers do not show up. So just pray that everything goes smoothly and that the perpetrators are held accountable.

On Monday we met to pray for the people of Cambodia. The thing that continues to strike me is that our fight against injustice is not just against a rich and powerful minority that abuses that power, but also against a culture of indifference. The fact that nearly 2/3 of those involved in the sex industry of Cambodia are forced against their will shows that this problem is deep. These victims are trapped physically and psychologically, and too many people are unwilling to fight. Today, I am going to pray for more and more people to gain the strength to rise up against the "norm". It's time to end the breeding of our culture of indifference. Cambodia should not accept the evils contained within its society, and neither should we.

Weekly Prayer Gathering: The Philippines

Recently, I was listening to an audiobook about World War II. The narrator was talking about the Philippine Islands before the War when he mentioned the thriving sex trade involving young girls. I was taken aback. I stopped to recognize that the injustices that we are fighting today did not just begin yesterday. We are fighting not only against the powers running the streets but also against a grave injustice that has become a part of the culture. Children have been enslaved and forced into prostitution for generations, yet they are still fighting. On IJM's website, they estimate that as many as 100,000 children are victims of the commercial sex industry. For a problem that already seems so big, it only seems even more insurmountable.

Yet know that we have a God who hears the cries of the oppressed:

Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself,
"He won't call me to account"?
But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;
you consider it to take in hand.
The victim commits himself to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.
Break the arm of the wicked and evil man;
call him to account for his wickedness
that would not be found out.
The Lord is king for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.
You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
in order that man, who is of the earth,
may terrify no more. (Psalm 10: 13-18 NSRV)

The battle rages on, and in the Phillipines, the wicked people do revile God. In fact, in March of this year, allegations were made against IJM Cebu in an attempt to discredit the organization in its attempt to answer the call to encourage the afflicted and defend the orphans and the oppressed. It is my prayer that you will join the fight to destroy the stronghold established by Satan in the Philippines. Stop right now and pray. Also, join us on Monday, June 29, 10:30 a.m. in the Baylor Law Lawyer's Lounge.

As you go, I want you to shout with the Black Eyed Peas, from the song "Bebot", the following words, which I know God sings to his children in the Philippines everyday:

"Pinoy ka - sigaw na - sige
Kung maganda ka - sigaw na - sige
Kung buhay mo’y mahalaga - sige
Salamat sa ‘yong suporta - sige"

(If you're a Filipino - Shout!
If you're beautiful - c'mon - Shout!
If you're life is beautiful - Shout!
Thanks for your support - c'mon)

Still Fighting

"My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm." Isaiah 51:5

After a brief hiatus, the Baylor Law IJM Chapter is back and stronger than ever. Before getting back into writing about injustices in the world, I want to invite everyone to share in our weekly prayer gathering: Mondays at 10:30 a.m. in the Lawyer's Lounge at Baylor Law School.

This week (June 15), we will focus on Central America. Below is a brief outline of the injustices facing our brothers and sisters in Central America each day:

• Illegal Land Seizure (Mexico, Honduras, Belize, Nicaragua)
• Police Brutality (Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua)
• Un-prosecuted sexual abuse, especially children (Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Nicaragua)

Please pray look into these injustices and start praying now. Below is the true story of two children in Guatemala (taken from IJM.org):

Helena and Wilma, Guatemalan sisters of ages eight and 11, were prostituted by their mother, who sold them to multiple men to be raped. When the abuse was discovered, the Guatemalan National Commission Against Child Abuse referred the girls’ case to IJM. IJM investigators worked with police to track down and document evidence against each of the four perpetrators in the case, and to locate and ensure the cooperation of witnesses.

IJM lawyers fought in court for the girls in legal proceedings that stretched over a year. Aftercare staff worked to ensure that the girls, who are now being cared for by their loving father and step-mother, received the medical and psychological care they needed. Today, the girls are healing, and the perpetrators of their abuse are each serving jail sentences.

Indonesia's "New" Trade

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).

In Jakarta, one can now get more than just an overpriced bottle of tea, soda, or snacks at the corner kiosk. Now men are paying extra for sex. In between the mosques and right in front of the national police station, girls from 13 to 20 are being pimped out to passersby. Many of the girls are from outside of Jakarta, from the rural countryside. Many of them have been sold by their families in exchange for small amounts of money in times of need. Like the children bonded in India, the girls receive the smallest amount from what they bring in. Most girls get paid less than $15 a month and a small commission for each guy they are with.

In 2002, Indonesia introduced an anti-trafficking law to protect children of their country, but it has no effect on these girls, who are left to carry the shame in order to help support their family. Many of these girls are within view of Indonesia's National Commission on Women and National Commission on Human Rights. The police refuse to take any action, and even act as if it does not exist. When the authorities don't help, where can one turn? Organizations are trying to get in there and help, but it is slow-going.

Please pray for these girls who are losing their childhood on the streets of Indonesia. Remember them. Tell someone about them this week. Seek the power and comfort that flows from God. Know that God seeks justice.

(Information about the injustice taken from Australian Associated Press, April 20, 2007.)

Bonded Child Laborers in India's Silk Industry

Gary Haugen writes that the first step in preparing our minds and hearts to fight the injustices of the world is to cultivate a compassionate awareness (Haugen, Good News About Injustice, p. 38). Since many of these evils happen on the other side of earth, it is difficult to sustain the reality in our minds. But, as Christians, we should be used to believing without seeing. After all, “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).

Each day I encourage you to go before God, and ask Him to remind you that evil is on this planet, and that we should fight for justice. Below is our first weekly prayer reminder. Quotes and information is taken from Human Rights Watch: Child Labor’s article “Small Change: Bonded Child Labor in India’s Silk Industry” (2005).

At 4:00 a.m. I got up and did silk winding. . . . I only went home once a week. I slept in the factory with two or three other children. We prepared the food there and slept in the space between the machines. The owner provided the rice and cut it from our wages. He would deduct the price. We cooked the rice ourselves. We worked twelve hours a day with one hour for rest. If I made a mistake-if I cut the thread-he would beat me. Sometimes [the owner] used vulgar language. Then he would give me more work.

-Yeramma S., eleven years old, bonded at around age seven for Rs. 1,700 (U.S.$35) Karnataka, March 27, 2002

This is the thing that God blessed me with, so I have to work like this. I can't do something else. . . . It is written on my head and nobody can change this. I am born into this community so we don't know what else to do. We have to do this and nothing else. . . . I don't want to go to the looms, but there is no other way.

-Vimali T., fifteen-year-old low-caste girl, bonded to a loom owner for Rs. 8,000 (U.S.$167), Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, March 21, 2002

Children are very compliant. They don't demand minimum wage, create a union. You can lock them up and keep them from going home. Adult laborers take breaks for lunch, to smoke, but children will work the whole day without breaks. They are seen as more efficient workers. On the one hand they are afraid of the employer, on the other of their parents, so they just do as they are told.

-Director of a nongovernmental organization running schools for former child laborers, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, March 12, 2002

[S]ericulture is a labour-intensive industry. . . . India,with its population explosion has no labour problem. Sericulture does not require great skill but only delicacy in the handling of the worms and it is ideally suitable for the unskilled family labour, particularly womenfolk, aged, handicapped and children.

-1997 sericulture textbook (G. Ganga and J. Sulochana Chetty, Thiangarajar College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, An Introduction to Sericulture, 2d ed. (New Delhi: Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., 1997), p. 23)

There are millions of children toiling as bonded laborers today as you read this entry. The majority of their childhood is spent in tight, dark spaces under the silk loom, working in a vain attempt to pay back a debt their family has incurred in a time of need. Sometimes this debt can be as little as $15US, but due to the need to reimburse the debt in a lump sum and extreme interest rates, many of these children will never be released until their injuries prevent them from being able to work.

The work will leave these children starving, uneducated, and too often crippled by the time they approach adulthood. There is a mandate for the Indian government to free these children, yet, due to apathy, caste bias, and corruption, the government and its officials do everything they can to deny that these children exist at all.

Despite heavy pressure in the 1990s and promises by officials to ease the problem, there has been very little action to save the futures of these small children.

Please pray that God’s justice may deliver these children from the evil ones that are using them to make a dollar or two. “The Lord is known by His justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands” (Psalm 9:8). Pray for the freedom and reclaiming of a childhood for every child laborer in India. And remember who our God is, and that He is good and able.

What is IJM?

(As found in the IJM "Campus Chapter Tool Kit")

International Justice Mission (IJM) began operations in 1997 when a group of human rights professionals, lawyers and public officials launched an extensive study of the injustices witnessed by overseas missionaries and relief and development workers. The study surveyed 65 overseas ministries representing 40,000 overseas workers and found that almost 100 percent were aware of abuses of power by police and other authorities in the communities where they served. These overseas workers, however, did not have the resources or expertise to confront the abusive authorities and bring rescue to the victims. They required the assistance of trained public justice professionals to meet these needs. Accordingly, IJM was established to help the Christian community “seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan (and) plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:17).

Based on case referrals from overseas workers, IJM mobilizes its human rights experts, attorneys and law enforcement professionals to conduct confidential investigations of the abuses. Then IJM mobilizes interventions that bring the perpetrators to justice, provides care for the victims and encourages structural changes to prevent these abuses from happening again. In addition, IJM partners with local ministries and churches to ensure effective and appropriate aftercare for the victims that will help them heal spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally and economically.

In recent months, IJM has focused its operations on issues of child bonded slavery in South Asia, forced child prostitution in South Asia and Thailand, police abuses against street children in Bolivia, and illegal detention of men and women in Kenya. IJM has established eight operational field offices in South Asia (2), Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, Guatemala, Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand. These offices manage the day-to-day docket of human rights cases in their area and train local justice professionals in the investigation, documentation and intervention practices and procedures of an effective justice agency.

IJM is determined to bring the church into a new awareness of the strong biblical mandate to seek justice, of the innumerable cases of manifest injustice that exist in the world, and of the amazing opportunities to correct these injustices by the diligent application of professional training and expertise. IJM is determined to respond to the call to justice by mounting successful interventions on behalf of victims of oppression and injustice worldwide. As a faith agency, IJM is determined to pursue this mission in humility and prayer, maintaining a vigorous and growing prayer ministry in support of its efforts.