Chapter 13: You Have Relationship Power
Hi Folks, We have a very short chapter to review this week. The concept is simple. Healthy relationships are filled with love and are mutually beneficial. Our relationships are for our personal benefit and for the benefit of those in which we are called into relationship. Through relationships, we are called to sharpen and encourage each other in our spiritual walk, thought processes, decision-making, and personal and professional growth. Our relationships matter.
What makes women’s relationship powerful is our natural bent toward win-win, consensus building and ensuring the inclusion of others. In our globally connected world women are natural change agents—whether in local community development where helping one woman impacts an entire community to leading civil society, or at the peace table in conflict.
– Cindy Breihl, World Vision
Our relationships can provide safe communities and partnerships in which we can change the world. Pursuing justice is hard work, and none of us should do it alone. “We need the support of loving people (145).” Therefore, I encourage you to use your relationships, partnerships, and connections to share what you have learned from this book and our discussions about human trafficking.
I’m so excited to be in the Washington DC area this week to attend the International Justice Mission Global Prayer Gathering. This will be my first time attending the gathering. I cannot tell you how excited and humble I am to connect with brothers and sisters this week to pray for victims that may sometimes feel isolated and abandoned and for those who steadily remind them of God’s hand at work in their lives and the reality that they are not alone. Will you join us in prayer this week?
Reflect
“Spend some quiet time reflecting on and praying about your giftings, networks and relationship. Where do you have [relationship] power (152)?”
“If you are just beginning your journey into being an abolitionist, don’t do it alone. Who can you reach out to? Try to think of five people you can approach to join you as you move forward (152).”
Take Action
Connect these organizations:
World Vision’s Empowerment, Respect and Equality program which “fights poverty and capitalizes on the power of female relationships (152).” www.worldvision.org
Someone’s Child, “through its resources and networks learn what you can do to make a difference.” www.someoneschild.org
International Justice Mission, Freedom Commons website to find out what is going on in your local community and how you can get involved. www.ijm.org
Blessings, © Natasha Sistrunk Robinson 2014
Refuse to Do Nothing Book Discussion
Chapter 1: The issue of Human Trafficking
Chapter 2: We’ve Done This Before
Chapter 3: So you want to be an activist?
Chapter 4: Take Action #HumanTrafficking
Chapter 5: Be Brave, No Excuses
Chapter 6: Stop the Violence
Chapter 7: Not in My Backyard
Chapter 8: Sex for Money
Chapter 9: Be the Nosy Neighbor
Chapter 10: Congo, Your Phone, and Child Slaves
Chapter 11: Chocolate, Not So Sweet
Chapter 12: You Have Purchasing Power
A SISTA'S JOURNEY 