Let Justice Roll Like a River
Left to right: Timothy Cahill, Justin Blomgren and Ethan Johnstone
Three California Baptist University students—Timothy Cahill, Ethan Johnstone and Justin Blomgren—embarked upon the kayaking adventure of a lifetime to spread awareness and raise money for IJM. On May 12th this tenacious trio manned their boats in St. Paul, MN to begin paddling 1,704 miles down the Mississippi River, making stops along the way to tell others about the IJM mission. After challenging weeks of kayaking, fundraising, and sharing the IJM message, these brave men successfully landed in New Orleans, LA on July 9th.
The Bible passage Amos 5:23-24 served as their theme: “Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.”
Their journey serves as an inspiration to IJM staff and supporters everywhere!
Multiplying Money through Corporate Matching
Tyson Dusch doubles his giving each month through his company’s matching gifts program.
Tyson Dusch of Pomona, California has been contributing to the work of IJM for the past three years. He consistently donates a generous portion of his Starbucks employee income to IJM, which he is able to double with the Starbucks Choose to Give! corporate gift-matching program.
Years ago Tyson was impressed by IJM’s mission to rescue individuals from violent oppression. He found through his company literature that if he donated to IJM, Starbucks Coffee would match each of his gifts up to $1,000 annually. Now each month, this devoted patron supporter is able to couple his much-appreciated gift to IJM with a matched gift from Starbucks.
BBQ to Bring Rescue
Several Cleveland friends band together to host a BBQ dinner for IJM!
IJM supporters Bob and Sharon Rowland partnered with eight other couples from their community to raise awareness and funding for IJM by hosting a BBQ benefit in their backyard. In August of 2007, the Rowlands and their fantastic host committee were joined by nearly 100 friends from the Cleveland community for a night of live music, a silent auction, dinner and a presentation on IJM’s work. Each guest paid $75 to attend the event, knowing that all proceeds would go directly to IJM. By the end of the night, the ticket sales plus additional donations totaled $61,000 raised for IJM.
When asked about the successful event, Sharon Rowland explains, "We simply invited others to hear with us the courageous story of IJM's work to rescue our brothers and sisters from violence and oppression. While others received liberty as a result of our evening, so did we. In a very small sense, we began to free ourselves from our own greed and exhausting need to get our own way, growing together in compassion and vision."
A Rescue Racing Team Provides True Rescue
In 2006, Rick Massie founded the Rescue Racing team, a unique desert racing group committed to raising awareness and funds for IJM. The Rescue Racing team began when Rick Massie invited Jeremy Bangs, Mike Massie, Ryan Massie, Dave Morton, and Chris Tomaszewski to assist him in preparing, driving, and navigating a desert racing truck. Rick felt their work should be for a cause greater than five guys having fun, and when he read Gary Haugen’s Terrify No More he knew this was a cause worth working for. It was then that he pitched the idea of a “Rescue Racing” team.
Left: The Rescue Racing Team (in order from left to right, top row first): Chris Tomaszewski, Rick Massie, Jeremy Bangs, Dave Morton, Ryan Massie
Right: Rick Massie’s Rescue Racing truck- complete with a conspicuous IJM logo on the side.
At any Rescue Racing event, you can now find the Rescue Racing truck decorated with IJM logos and a pit trailer stocked with IJM literature and apparel that can be purchased to benefit IJM. The Rescue Racing team has already given more than $30,000 to IJM and is committed to continued support in the fight against injustice in the future!
The Rescue Racing team is spreading IJM’s message and mission to new audiences. We greatly appreciate their inspiring initiative and generous support!
Eager to Make a Difference
A group of 7th grade students at Belding Middle School gives a presentation about IJM to their community.
After studying the West African slave trade, a group of 7th grade students from Belding, Michigan decided to help free modern day slaves. This group collected funds for IJM through the Loose Change to Loosen Change campaign, and in a matter of months the entire 7th grade class of Belding Middle School collected over $600.
The students, however, didn’t stop there; the following spring they developed an inspiring presentation to educate students, parents, teachers and the community about the widespread problem of modern-day slavery. They presented the work of IJM to eight different groups, including the Belding Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club, and many local school districts. By the end of the school year, the students more than doubled their initial earnings, raising over $1,600 for the work of IJM in all.
Teacher Mike Nelson was awestruck by the dedication his students gave to the campaign. “The students are all completely committed to this work and are eager to make a difference,” said Nelson. “We hope that the collected money will help to free at least one child.”
Jewelry for Justice
Shari Hormel and Beth Babcock created and sold “Jewelry for Justice” to raise awareness and funds for IJM.
After many years of supporting IJM, Shari Hormel joined forces with Beth Babcock in a fundraising endeavor called “Jewelry for Justice.” Over the course of several months they created unique earrings and bracelets and sold them at their church, Westminster Chapel. The congregation loved the jewelry and the IJM cause, and Shari and Beth sold 100 sets raising $2,500, all of which they donated to the work of justice.
“It is so easy to take something you love and turn it into good,” Shari explained. “Raising funds is not as scary as you think. I loved having fun with friends, supporting a great cause, and receiving the positive response from our church.”
Since many of the jewelry sets were bought as Christmas gifts, Shari and Beth also saw the project as a way to educate others outside of their church about IJM. Therefore, on each set of jewelry they included a short description of slavery and human trafficking and the need for an organization like IJM.
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