40-40-40 ... Day 19: Anchor Ministries

Welcome back to the 40 days of Lent! Between traveling for my grandmother's memorial and coming down with the flu, my 40-40-40 train definitely got derailed. Yet even in my derailment I've seen how God has already opened my heart to his generosity through this Lenten practice. (For example, at the airport on Wednesday I bought a candy bar and a book -- Ready Player One -- to send to our troops, without even thinking about what it would do to my budget.)

Being at my grandmother's memorial also reminded me of the beauty of family. The opportunity to get together with cousins from afar and share stories of when we were kids was everything Grandma would have wanted it to be.

And since I'm very much in family mode, I'm excited to share today's guest blog post by another family member! There is so much good being done in the world, and this good is being spearheaded by a Terrell... how cool is that! (Okay, so Sarah and I are 5th cousins by marriage or something way back in the family tree like that, but family is family!) I really wanted to find an organization that was fighting human trafficking, and this one is doing that and more. Meet "Anchor Ministries."

Anchor Ministries: Driving a Spoke into the Wheel of Injustice

by Sarah Terrell

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor, anti-Nazi dissident, and martyr said, "We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself."

Anchor Ministries is a ministry in New Bedford, Massachusetts, that aims to drive a spoke into the injustices around us by relentlessly loving God and the people of New Bedford. We seek to make disciples of Jesus Christ as we meet the needs of the community and point those who are in bondage towards freedom in Christ.

New Bedford is a large fishing port on the south coast of Massachusetts, about an hour south of Boston halfway between Providence, Rhode Island, and Cape Cod. It’s a diverse city with a rich history built on the whaling industry as well as a key destination in the Underground Railroad. Like much of the rest of the country, we are currently deep in the throes of the opioid epidemic. In addition, 23.4% of New Bedford residents – more than double the Massachusetts average – live below the poverty line (source: South Coast Urban Indicators Project). Combined with the opioid epidemic, this creates an uphill battle for many families as they struggle with staggering housing costs, securing quality education and healthcare, and public safety. Many people find themselves at a crossroads with nowhere to go. According to the 2017 Point in Time Homeless Count, there are currently 352 people who are identified as homeless in our city.

As we spend time with those in need, we’ve seen how the vulnerabilities of addiction, abuse, poverty, and the search for acceptance intersect to create an atmosphere that is ripe for exploitation and trafficking.

A typical Wednesday community lunch at Anchor.

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery in which traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to control victims for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or labor services against his/her will. Labor trafficking can be found in commercial cleaning companies, domestic servitude, agriculture, construction, restaurants, hotels, and traveling sales crews. Sex trafficking can be found in street prostitution, pornography, online escort ads, illicit massage parlors, and strip clubs. The average age for a person to enter “the life” (as it’s called) of a sex trafficking victim is 12-14 years old.

Human trafficking is a crime that cuts across all demographics and affects almost every country. People of any gender, nationality, socio-economic status, any level of ability, or any race or ethnicity can be affected. Contrary to popular belief, human trafficking is not something that only happens overseas or in developing countries. It’s alive and thriving right here in the U.S. – in everywhere from large cities to affluent suburbs and rural communities. And it’s happening in New Bedford.

In order for trafficking to exist, at least three people are involved: the trafficker, the victim, and the buyer. Each one wrestles with a deep level of brokenness in this cycle. The victim’s vulnerabilities are exploited and he/she is subject to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. The trafficker has his or her own story of brokenness and abuse that conditions them to continue the cycle. Buyers are stuffing their own pain by trying to fill the void in their hearts with lust and power. In the end, no one wins.

Sounds like a pretty bleak picture, right? So how does Anchor Ministries address homelessness, trafficking, and spiritual needs? We believe that Jesus came to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, and to set the captives free (see Isaiah 61). We stand with the poor and oppressed as we seek to usher in God’s Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.

Volunteers assembled toiletry bags to distribute on our night outreaches for victims of trafficking.

As we spend time with those in need and seek how God would like to use us, we see three main streams of our ministry evolving:

1. A community center which serves the needs of the homeless and working poor in our area (north end).

• We offer weekly community meals, Bible studies, referrals for services, neighborhood outreaches, and a mobile food and clothing truck. This center is a space where we cultivate relationships over a shared table or a cup of coffee. We also offer times for training and equipping our team and those we serve in topics like how to read the Bible, healing prayer, and recognizing and responding to trafficking and abuse. 

2. A new church plant (south end) which serves as a place to gather for worship, teaching, and community.

• Gathered worship and teaching 
• Community events, conferences
• This is the only church in an area of the city with about 10,000 residents. It is in a unique location as it borders both a working-class area as well as areas in need. It is well-equipped to serve the homeless in the south end area. 

3. An anti-trafficking ministry which seeks to:

• Educate: Educate the community on how to recognize and respond to trafficking 
• Escape: Build trusting relationships with those caught in trafficking and exploitation, and to work with law enforcement to help victims escape their situation (ex: street outreaches for victims) 
• Empower: Connect victims and survivors to resources and offer support through discipling relationships 
• Pursue justice for victims 
• Foster healing environment for men and women caught in all areas of the cycle 

We believe that the love of God shown in the death and resurrection of Jesus is the most powerful force in the world. We take to heart the commandment to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Left to Right: Andy, Fred, and Arthur. Andy and Arthur are two of our volunteers. Fred was one of our friends who we met at the food truck. He’s been on the streets for many years and struggled with his addiction to alcohol. Through our community meals Fred (a former chef) found the support he needed to enter a rehab program and is doing fantastic. He even contributes to our events by managing the kitchen at our fundraisers and conferences.

ACTION STEPS

How can you help?

We covet your prayers for our ministry and our team. If you would like weekly updates from Anchor including prayer requests, please sign up for our email list at www.anchornb.com.

Prayerfully consider partnering with Anchor financially. We are in the process of becoming a nonprofit and are funded by private donations (which currently pass through Pacific Union Congregational Church). For more information on how to give, go to www.anchornb.com.

Donate travel-sized toiletries (email us through our website for a complete list) or grocery store gift cards to help us continue our street outreaches and weekly community meals.

Follow Anchor Ministries on Facebook.

Watch this short video to learn more about Anchor Ministries.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. -John 1:5