Prickly Pear, Yearbook of Abilene Christian University, 2006 Page: 79
336 p. : ill. ; 32 cm. Includes DVD, 12 cm.View a full description of this yearbook.
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During the week of Nov. 13, students walked
around campus carrying fast food cups with the
label: "Loose Change to Loosen Chains."
These students were involved with the campus
chapter of International Justice Mission and
were participating in IJM Awareness Week by
collecting money from their classmates and professors
for the cause of justice.
IJM is a human rights agency that rescues victims
of violence, sexual exploitation, slavery and
oppression.
'Ihe campus chapter is designed to educate
others about justice, pray on behalf of the victims
and IJM staff and raise money for IJM to
help rescue victims of oppression.
"We are the modern-day abolitionist movement,"
said Brandon Smith, sophomore political
science major from Fort Worth and member of
IJM."Our goal is to raise awareness of IJM here
at ACU and abroad, as well as raise money to
donate to the IJM headquarters."
More than 20 million people in the world are
enslaved today, Smith said, and about 6,000 of
those slaves are sold across international borders
every day.
"God has commanded his people to seek justice,
and there are over 2,000 verses in Scripture
calling us to seek justice," Smith said. "What we
do here at ACU may seem small compared to the
giant we are attempting to take on. We have hope
in a God ofjustice, compassion and rescue."
The purpose of IJM Awareness Week was to
give the campus chapter of IJM an opportunity
to educate the student body and faculty about
social justice issues and the importance of Christians
being involved in fighting injustice, said
Sarah Carlson, senior journalism major from
San Antonio and co-chair of the campus chapter
of IJM.The campaign was begun by a 7th grader in
Virginia and is aimed at raising awareness of
modern-day slavery, Carlson said.
"It's estimated that in South Asia alone, as
many as 15 million children are held in bonded
slavery, a fact that is hard to believe and sobering
to hear," she said. "There are more slaves in the
world today than at the height of the American
slave trade in the 1800s ... but all students need
to do is contribute just a few coins to help make
a difference in the life of a victim."
It is important for students to be educated on
what is happening in our world, even in our own
country said Andrea Gallman, senior history
major from Houston and co-chair of the campus
chapter of IJM.
"We often focus on poverty and hunger and
medical needs but forget injustice," Gallman said.
"These are all linked - poverty, health issues and
injustice - and we must address them all in order
to end problems with any."
Gallman also said prayer is important to the
cause of justice. Students could sign up to be a
prayer partner on the IJM Web site.
"They send weekly e-mails with prayer concerns
about specific people in IJM and projects
they are working on," Gallman said. "They also
send news updates when something major happens
-a like a successful raid on a brothel."
To encourage interested students to become
more involved with IJM the group also conducted
IJM Small Group Chapel every Thursday.
By: Dani Linthicum,
adapted from the OptimistJoey Halbert, senior political science major from Austin, talks to Derrick Wilson, sophomore political science
major from Houston, about International Justice Mission on Nov. 15 at the group's table in the Campus Center
during IJM Awareness Week.r,
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Abilene Christian University. Prickly Pear, Yearbook of Abilene Christian University, 2006, yearbook, 2006; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth39882/m1/82/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.