A Lenten Focus on International Justice
On February 18, 2024, Robin Padanyi, Alberta’s Director of Development & Mobilization for International Justice Mission (IJM) led an after-service discussion with four table groups in which he referred us to a Lent and Holy Week journey of prayer developed by IJM: Encounter Justice: A Lent Journey of Prayer PDF. We started by considering Nehemiah’s prayer in Neh. 1:4-11. Robin provided several opportunities for us to reflect on how prayer, fasting and lament apply to global situations where gross injustice prevails. He provided some examples where supply chain issues and the associated travel leave many vulnerable to trafficking and slavery. Victims who are lured by promises of lucrative employment elsewhere are told that they have incurred debt by virtue of their travel (or for some other manufactured reason), and are then informed that interest is accrued at exorbitant rates so that they have no hope of ever repaying their debts. Even after some victims are rescued, they are reluctant to share their experiences because they are burdened by a deep sense of shame. (They blame themselves for having gotten into such situations, but their silence can cause oppression to fester.)
Some of the insights that were shared through group interactions:
- We need to listen to how God’s Spirit is leading.
- We need to make ourselves aware of the exploited, as God hears the cries of the oppressed. Education is important, to be able to pray into specific circumstances.
- We must not take the weight of the oppressed on ourselves; it is God’s weight to bear.
- We must realize that it takes a long time for individuals burdened by shame to develop trust in others sufficiently to share their stories.
- We need to create a community that gives space to encourage meaningful conversations, especially to allow victims among us to share their burdens.
- We are called to a long obedience in the same direction (as Eugene Peterson has stated).
Eight Holy Week devotionals are available for the week leading up to Easter. With biblical insights, engaging discussion questions, and powerful stories, IJM’s ‘Encounter Justice’ resource will take you through the prayers of six different men and women in the Bible followed by Jesus’ journey to the cross. Use the links below or sign up HERE to receive them emailed straight to your inbox in March.