How Do You Keep Your Connections Vital?

by Sheila Alishouse, Traffick Stop traffickstop1@gmail.com After a full morning of preaching on June 23, I attended the Freedom Connect 2013 Conference at BUMC. The first speaker alone gave me much to consider! Kevin Potter, spiritual director for Oasis USA, helps communities become “Traffick-Free.” In his presentation, he explained that “Traffick-Free Communities” are built through deep connections among their residents. The more caring relationships people have, the less likely it is they can be exploited. Traffick-Free Communities are built through warm neighbors, deep friendships, and grassroots networking. When community relationships become strong, a city gets known by traffickers as too “hot” to exploit. Kevin’s observations ring true to me. Most everyone I’ve counseled with serious dilemmas or problems experienced isolation before those issues developed. Playing catch-up by trying to develop a support system after you are struggling is much more difficult than keeping your connections vital when things are going well. At every Impact Class, we encourage our new members to “keep your connections vital.” Make daily time for God, develop strong friendships in the church, join a small group, and work with others in mission. And if you already have a strong support system, reach out to people around you who need a little extra care. So many of you do a great job of nurturing your relationships and connections. I think of Betty and Lloyd Schiel, who have turned their neighbors into dear friends. They have helped many people through times of grief with their kind and loving presence. Because Betty and Lloyd reached out to them, some of their neighbors are now BUMC members engaging in their own ministries of care and connection. I thank all of you who are nurturing friendships with your neighbors and coworkers – it’s a great gift. Loving your neighbor really does change lives. If Kevin Potter is right, relationships are the glue that protect us and make our communities strong enough to resist outside attack. Every week, we pray to God, “Lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil.” Keeping our connections vital is how we can cooperate with God in this protective process. Are you interested in helping to make our community “Traffick-Free”? If you are, let’s continue the discussion. This might be a good next step to explore with our Traffick Stop Team. The connections which prevent trafficking will help us all! -- Thomas Cross