JESSICA BIBER
Staff Writer
Injustice is everywhere – in sex slavery, in child soldiers, in genocide. International Justice Mission turns a flyer about poverty or a sound bite about ignorance into action.
Like many other Pepperdine students, you are probably familiar with the scenario: Every time you open your mailbox, you receive a bright piece of paper pleading for help with an issue in a faraway country. Somehow such an important message never seems to lead to anything more than a wistful suggestion to keep the cause in mind.
That is why International Justice Mission began: to provide students with a concrete way to become actively involved in causes, even if they are thousands of miles away. Members are committed to praying, spreading awareness and raising money for the nationwide International Justice Mission.
“Our vision is to serve God through being passionate about what he is passionate about,” said International Justice Mission President Tiffany Gee.
This semester, the International Justice Mission is tackling the issue of human trafficking.
March 25th marks the 200th anniversary of the end of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Despite the silence surrounding this issue, more human trafficking occurs today than it occurred 200 years ago. Every major port or border is an avenue for the thousands of foreign children and young adults who are sold into sex slavery by their impoverished families or tricked into it by companies who promise a better life in America.
Earlier this semester, the International Justice Mission showed a prescreening of “Trade,” a movie that depicts the slave trade. After spring break, International Justice Mission will continue to spread the word by hosting a week of awareness March 12 through 16. Students can hear speakers, watch videos and learn more about human trafficking.
“This semester we realized we could not tackle everything, and so we chose to focus and do one thing really well,” Gee said. “A couple of our advisors are connected to individuals who know about human trafficking, so this is what we decided to focus on.”
In the past, the International Justice Mission has been a voice against the civil war in Uganda, where military leaders kidnap children and force them to fight as soldiers in the conflict.
The International Justice Mission has also raised awareness about the AIDS epidemic in Africa, genocide in Darfur and sexual violence.
Injustice is not the only thing that the International Justice Mission changes, however. Junior Britney Van Burkleo sees her future in a completely different way because of her involvement with the club.
“I have wanted to be a teacher my whole life,” Van Burkleo said. “But now I plan to teach for a little while in the United States and then go to Uganda and open schools and get an educational system established… It’s cool because I can see God showing me how he can use me in a really specific way.”
Junior Kristi Koon agrees and said being a part of International Justice has broadened her horizons to what is going on in the world.
“The issues really do affect us, whether they are happening thousands of miles away or right next door,” she said.
According to Gee, participating in IJM directly relates to her calling as a Christian.
“Being a part of this is a way for me to serve God. I think so often of we get caught up in everyday life and we as Christians lose an important part of our faith if we aren’t serving. Working on behalf of the poor and the marginalized is a huge part of our faith and IJM lets us show that.”
Right now, the International Justice mission is looking for individuals to help prepare a benefit concert at the end of the year, to work at tables that promote their causes and even to simply pray for the issues the International Justice Mission raises.
If you want to get involved, the club meets on Monday nights at 9 p.m. in CAC 302.
“We have a really long e-mail list,” Gee said. “So sometimes people can’t come to the meetings but they can still be involved by being prayerful about what the e-mails talk about. Every bit helps.”
02-22-2007