Last night I was in Salford, Manchester for an evening about the 27 Million launch and A21 Campaign against human trafficking. The cause of worship wedded to justice has long been one that speaks to my own heart; I’m very aware that it’s easy to become comfortable in our lives and think that it’s all about God blessing us, whereas in truth we are saved to serve and blessed to be a blessing to others.
Manchester-based hip-hop and rap band LZ7 have worked with Matt Redman (one of my favourite songwriters) on a song called ’27 Million’ which will be released on iTunes on 27th February. More on that later…! LZ7, headed by Lindz West, started the evening with a series of their songs (‘We’re Gonna Party,’ ‘Sold Out’, ‘Ditto’ and most memorably ‘This Little Light’.) This last song, a new version based on the children’s classic ‘This Little Light of Mine’, much loved at Goldthorpe, can be heard here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C4XwH7UitU
After that, Beth Redman spoke from Matthew 14 and 1 Samuel 17 about how, when we give the little have to God, He can do amazing miracles. It’s easy to be overwhelmed when faced with statistics, desensitised to issues or feeling the hopelessness of the sin that is all around us. The figure of 27 million sold in human trafficking, effectively modern day slaves, often working in the sex industry, is almost more than we can comprehend or imagine. We like to think it is only happening abroad, but Beth spoke about a recent case in Salford itself where a deaf and dumb 10 year old girl had been kept in a basement and repeatedly raped and used in the sex industry. Such things rightfully shock and horrify us, but we can feel that there is nothing we can do about such things. Just as one little boy gave his lunch to Jesus and the overwhelming problem of how to feed thousands and thousands of people was solved by the combination of his action and God’s miraculous power, just as David’s stone and faith in the Almighty God toppled the mighty giant, Goliath, so too our actions, however small and insignificant they may seem to us, can make a difference in God’s mighty hands.
One way in which we can do this is to bring the matter to the attention of those in authority and power, working with the police to prosecute those involved in human trafficking and seeking to provide shelters for people who are brought out of this, offering them hope, restoration and true love. The song ’27 Million’, which hopefully will make it into the mainstream charts, tells the story of one woman who was sold into slavery, used as a ‘human commodity’, ‘dead from the inside out’, and urges us:
‘We’ve got to rise up,
Open our eyes up,
Be her voice, be her freedom,
Come and stand up.’
For the cost of a download, we can actually bring what is happening in our society into the light of recognition. Who know what God can do when we offer Him all we are and seek to work for justice?
Matt Redman ended the evening with worship:
* Blessed Be Your Name
* You Never Let Go
* Here For You
* From the Inside Out
* Chains, Be Broken
* 10,000 Reasons
* Our God
* We are the Free
* Dancing Generation
Once again, I was struck by the notion that God has set us free to serve… to make an impact… to live out love and forgiveness… to let our little lights shine. May we receive grace and strength to do that wherever we are, doing whatever He calls us to do.
POSTSCRIPT
Saturday evening 6:30 p.m.
There’s a live webcast with further information about this tonight!
http://twentysevenmillion.2xstreamlive.tv/