Mike King

Homeless Man a Hit-and-Run Victim

Thomas Wasmer IV, 39-years-old was a pedestrian victim of a hit-and-run case in Kansas City this month.  Unfortunately, not only did the Police not investigate this incident, they didn’t even make a police report.  What did Thomas Wasmer have going against him that resulted in this inhumane treatment? Thomas Wasmer was homeless.  Paramedics arrived on the scene of the“hit-and-run” and took Wasmer to a hospital.  Wasmer had multiple injuries and spent six days in the hospital before insisting that he be released so he could attend church and smoke a cigarette. 

Wasmer attended church every Sunday.  After the service church members helped pain-stricken Wasmer return to the hospital where he underwent surgery.  Thomas Wasmer died several days later with fellow church members by his bedside.  The Rev. Stan Runnels of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church sent an e-mail to church members to inform them of Wasmer’s death.  A KC Star reporter who saw the e-mail made an inquiry with the police department to find out how the investigation was going.  It was at that point the reporter discovered that no report had even been filed.  Wasmer was an alcoholic and insisted on being homeless but he was loved and accepted at his church and regularly worked around the church grounds

The KC Police have not explained why a criminal report was not filled out and pursued.

"Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:9

SOAP/SODA

Those of you who read my blog know that I speak occasionally of Nick Pickrell, (as recently as last weekend) who was in my youth group, Student Life group and involved in Youthfront during during his adolescent years.  Nick served on our Youthfront staff for several years and now lives at Cherith Brook working among the people living in the Northeast part of our city.  Several weeks ago we had several young people working at Cherith Brook during Serve Day.

Nick contacted me this weekend to let me know about a city resolution called SOAP/SODA (Stay Out of Areas of Prostitution/Stay OUT of Drug Areas). SOAP/SODA will make it legal for judges to tack onto any prostitution or drug offender's sentence a geographical ban. Meaning, if someone is charged with prostitution, it will become illegal for her/him to even be seen on certain streets (public places) in the Historic Northeast. Nonprofits from the Northeast (Grace United, Veronica's Voice, Cherith Brook, Micah Ministries, Reconcilation, etc.) will be radically impacted in a negative manner in their efforts to work with and help people trying to move out of these kinds of lifestyles.  For many people this will be forced displacement. 

Nick and many of the people who have been delivered from prostitution and drug abuse went to ask the city council to postpone the vote on this resolution until the nonprofit organizations (those who actually work with those most affected by this resolution) could have their voices heard, but to no avail. The resolution passed and is now on its way to becoming an enforceable ordinance.

I encouraged Nick to contact the ACLU, never thought I would make a recommendation like that.  There are more hearings on Tuesday and people are being mobilized to speak up for more restorative ways to deal with these issues.

Training young abolitionists

On Saturday I attended the Student Abolition Leadership Training.  Sally Rymer, an Associate Youthfront staff member at the ripe age of 16, provided training for a group of high school students and adults.  The training was held at Lakeland Community Church.  Once again I was blown away by the passion and giftedness of Sally and her ability to help her peers catch the vision for working to eradicate global slavery in all its forms.  The adults who attended had no problem being a student of Sally.  It was also cool because several students from my church, Jacob's Well, attended the training day. 

This training will be offered again on Saturday, February 7, 2009 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.  If you want to give your students an opportunity to co-operate with God's agenda to bring restoration and shalom encourage them to attend. REGISTER HERE

Here is a video featuring Sally when she was 14 years old. 

Sally Rymer on the news

A couple of months ago we featured a story on Sally Rymer in the YouthFront News.  Sally is 15 years old and is a YouthFront Teen Staffer.  She has launched a student movement for the purpose of stopping modern day slavery.  We are so proud of Sally.  Sally recently appeared on NBC news.  Watch the news story here.

Early wisdom from the church on how to deal with Charlatans

Last May I shared my frustration here with the Charlatans of the Prosperity Gospel movement and the examples I saw of their abuse during my trip to Africa.  Recently I have been curious about the content in the 1st Century Church Manual called the Didache that was probably written between 70 and 100 AD.  It is believed to have been connected to the Apostles of Jesus (and their disciples) either by direct and/or indirect influence. The Didache is mentioned by Eusebius (c. 324) as the Teachings of the Apostles following the books recognized as canonical.  The Didache describes practices and conduct of the emerging 1st Century Church. 

One section deals with Charismatists or Prophets who are traveling around with messages and agenda's for followers of Jesus.  The translation I was reading states that if a Charismatist claims they are speaking for God and says, "'Give me your money (or anything else)!' do not listen to him.  On the other hand, if he bids you give it to someone else who is in need, nobody should criticize him!"  Didache

SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD PLAN TO ME.  What do you think?

Not For Sale

This was a great weekend at Jacob's Well.  This morning my friend Ashley Cleveland spoke. We have been in the book of James for several weeks.  Ashley spoke from James 4:1-12 and did a great job.  Listen here.

Deth Im is a new pastor at Jacob's Well.  Deth, like so many at Jacob's Well has a commitment to work for Justice.  Deth organized a Not For Sale rally yesterday.  We held it yesterday at St. James United Methodist Church.  David Batstone is the author of the book Not For Sale and Instigator of the Not For Sale Campaign to end modern day slavery.  We had a great crowd, especially for a beautiful fall Saturday afternoon.  David is an excellent and passionate communicator.  The stories he told motivated the crowd to enlist in this campaign in meaningful ways.  Human exploitation is not just happening somewhere "over there."  Terrible examples of human trafficking is happening right here in our midwestern city.  This month in YouthFront News we will be featuring an article about a 15 year old teen staffer from YouthFront Camp who decided to organize her school to fight against the atrocities of human slavery.  We are strategically planning at Jacob's Well about mobilizing for the Not for Sale Campaign.  At YouthFront we are working on a plan to mobilize high school students to work for Justice.  I spoke with David about partnering with Not For Sale.  I believe adolescents want to embody the gospel they believe in.  They want to change the world.  I can't wait to see what comes out of this.

With Tim Keel and David Batstone.

Let justice roll

Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amos 5:24

If you are in the Kansas City area check out Justice Jam sponsored by Church of the Resurrection and featuring the music of my friends Don and Lori Chaffer and Waterdeep.

Also,

Check out this coverage of Slavery in the Suburbs by CBS News on the issue of Human Trafficking in North America.  HT to Bob Carlton on this.