Sneak Peak: Introducing the Vineyard Justice Network

Over the past couple of month's we've been hinting at the future direction of VAST. Now, we're ready to share the next stage of our development: the work of VAST will be folded into the broader framework of the new Vineyard Justice Network (VJN)!

Over the next month, you will be able to access exciting new podcasts, videos, articles, and downloadable resources that will continue to help you to effectively and more strategically address human trafficking in your community, state, country, and missions partnerships.  But what we're really excited about is how the Vineyard Justice Network will empower us as a community of pastors and leaders to understand and address the 

Interconnectivity of God's Justice. 

human trafficking - poverty - environment

How is fighting  human trafficking connected to ending poverty?

How are root causes of poverty connected to caring for the environment?

How does environmental stewardship prevent human trafficking?

 What does it look like and mean for the exploited to lead the way in ending exploitation? The trafficked to lead the way in ending trafficking, the homeless to lead the way to ending homelessness, the undocumented immigrant to lead the way in immigration reform?

By connecting the dots between these key issues of structural injustice and leadership, we will foster depth in our dialogue, ask better questions, and challenge ourselves to empower the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed to lead the way in our common struggle to participate in and enact the Kingdom of God today.

• We will begin with highlighting and celebrating the wealth of resources and the depth of work already represented by Vineyard churches. We bring together the wisdom of our shared experience in serving and standing in solidarity with the poor and the least-of-these.
• We offer holistic wisdom to all our churches, along with many easily-accessed resources for getting started and growing with a missional, Kingdom-centered approach.
• Our network already spans Vineyard churches across 32 states, in every region.

We are not promoting any particular ministry, nor are we trying to start a non-profit for Vineyard USA.  Instead, we're focusing on resourcing and networking - bringing together our Vineyard church pastors and leaders who are already tackling one of the three targeted areas: human trafficking, poverty, and the environment.  VJN offers is a new space to have conversations that either aren't happening, are happening in isolation, or are sporadic. We recognize that it is essential for existing Vineyard pastors and leaders to shape the conversation with an "inside-out" approach. 

We're so excited to have your voice join ours, as we seek to envision a world where mercy and justice kiss.

Women Leadership training and Mentoring Program Opportunity

Hi friends,

I wanted to share this great opportunity from our friends at Vital Voices, an organization that seeks to fight human trafficking through their mission to identify, invest in and bring visibility to extraordinary women around the world by unleashing their leadership potential to transform lives and accelerate peace and prosperity in their communities.

You have until MARCH 29 to nominate (or self-nominate) a woman leader from Poland, Russia, Qatar, UAE, Panama, Peru, India, Thailand, Ethiopia, South Africa, Turkey, Macau.

Apply now.

Vital Voices Global Partnership and Hilton Worldwide welcome submissions for participants* in an upcoming mentorship program, the Global Freedom Exchange: A Hilton Worldwide and Vital Voices partnership leveraging leadership to end trafficking. Submissions may include nominations by third parties or applications by participants. The program is a two week experiential, interactive learning and networking program that will be held from June 17th – 28th, 2013, in Washington, D.C., New York City and Dallas, Texas.

We seek emerging and established women leaders who are on the forefront of global efforts to prevent and end child sex trafficking. As the program will provide opportunities for dynamic mentoring relationships, we request nominations and applications for emerging and established women leaders who have demonstrated an interest in and ability to mentor other women and girls and to take part in a greater network of women leaders.

*Participants must come from any of the following countries:

Poland-Russia-Qatar-UAE-Panama-Peru-India-Thailand-Ethiopia-South Africa-Turkey-Macau

Download the one-pager and application form.