Point Magazine Summer 2018

SUMMER 2018

BUILDING THE

KINGDOM in Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and Mexico p. 14

HOW YOU CAN HELP FIGHT human trafficking p. 22

BATTLING BACK to the basketball court p. 10

CONTENTS 4 From the President 5 University News ON THIS PAG E 126 students earned their degrees from Point at spring commencement. For more on graduation, turn to page 8.

ON THE COV ER Houses built by Casas por Cristo in Ciudad Acuña, Mexico. Turn to page 14 to read more about two alumni and their ministry there.

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BACK ON THE COURT Raven Brown ’18 battles back from kidney surgery to play her senior season of basketball.

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BUILDING THE KINGDOM Two alumni are sharing God’s love with families living in poverty.

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IN OUR OWN BACKYARD Dr. Kristie Roberts-Lewis explains how you can help fight human trafficking.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

POIN T M AG AZI NE Volume 57, Number 1 Summer 2018 EDITOR/DESIGNER Sarah G. Huxford CONTRIBUTORS Bethany Broderick Katherine Hamilton Steve Schwepker

It hit me, as I considered the back story of this missionary, that a few years ago, she came to Point as a student-athlete, with minimal commitment to her faith. During her time here, she fully committed her life to Christ, graduated and moved to South America to actively share the love of Jesus with college students every day. Her transformation at Point now has led to transformation on another continent!

In this issue, you will read more stories like the one I just mentioned, where our students and graduates are literally bringing the good news of Jesus everywhere . . . in Mexico, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic; in nonprofit ministries that are fighting sex trafficking; on the sports field and court; and more. As our mission statement indicates, we are serious about the idea of “educating students for Christ-centered service and leadership throughout the world.”

This issue is a good indication that we are on track.

Point University is expanding and growing every day. With our expansions of our academic offerings, both on our traditional campus and online, you can be sure that our students and graduates are changing the world. I hope you will schedule a time to come visit us and see for yourself the wonderful story God is writing through Point University!

In Christ,

Dean C. Collins ’79 President

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CONTACT US: Point University Attn: Point Magazine 507 West 10th Street West Point, GA 31833 706-385-1000 editor@point.edu ©2018 Point University Point University’s mission is to educate students for Christ-centered service and leadership throughout the world. Point University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate and master’s degrees.

Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, at http://www.sacscoc.org, or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Point University.

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t’s hard to believe another year is in the record books, and a new academic year is beginning at Point University! I sat in a local church recently and listened to the pastor read a letter from one of the missionaries whom the church supports. This young missionary is a recent Point graduate, and her letter shared the good news of baptizing a new believer in a campus ministry located in South America.

Point Magazine exists to tell Point University’s stories. It is intended to serve as a vehicle for connecting the University’s alumni and friends. For the first 49 volumes of its existence, Point Magazine was known as The Gold & Blue.

The magazine is published by the Communications Office, which retains the right to determine the editorial content and presentation of information contained herein.

Articles or opinion pieces contributed by guest writers do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of Point University and its board of trustees. Point Magazine welcomes reader responses to its content.

HEADLINES Point Golf Club The University's golf course is undergoing renovations, which will be completed in time for our annual golf tournament on October 4! To reserve tee times or check out more information about the course, visit pointgolfclub.com.

University News To read the latest Point news, visit our website at news.point.edu.

New Degree Programs Launched at Point In accordance with the Point 2020 Strategic Plan, new, online, graduate-level programs are being added to Point University’s academic offerings in 2018. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has approved the master of science in human resource management, graduate certificate in human resource management, the master of management, the master of public administration with a concentration in crisis management and the master of business administration in strategic management and leadership.

Additional online programs scheduled to launch in August include the bachelor of business administration with a concentration in logistics management, the bachelor of science in entrepreneurship, and the bachelor of science in youth and family studies. Point will also offer certification courses for the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt to both degree-seeking and nondegree-seeking students.

Dr. Chris Davis, vice president for graduate and professional studies, steered the efforts in designing the new programs. “We’re delighted to offer new programs for our growing student population,” he said. “With an evolving professional environment, these programs will prepare students to succeed in high-demand careers.”

The new programs will be offered in a fully online format and provide a flexible, convenient education option for busy students. Alumni and friends seeking more information about enrolling in these programs should visit online.point.edu.

john_ramsey97: Seeing

every sticky note go up on this cross, each one thanking God for everything He has done, continually shows me how thankful I am for @pointuniversity! No matter the background, language, past, home, or history, we can all find unity at the foot of the cross! #pointuniversity 6 | POINT MAGAZINE

gwenhenderson: I was

going to wait until next year to celebrate both degrees.

But why not live this moment now. 1 degree down!

1 more to go #graduation #pointuniversity #2018 #success

jenniferwatkinsjones:

@pointuniversity Skyhawks lacrosse celebrating a win over Berry College in Rome yesterday!

#

mplank1970: Once cleaned up, an open field revealed this treasure. #pointuniversity #impactday2018

Share your tweets, Facebook posts and Instagram photos with the Point community! Tag your posts with #pointuniversity.

lightstock; social media photos provided by users

WHAT'S TRENDING

COMMENCEMENT ON SATURDAY, MAY 5, Point graduated 126 students at Crossroads Church in Sharpsburg, Georgia. Students from the University’s traditional and adult-degree programs — including those who sat in class in West Point and those who earned a degree online — were awarded associate and bachelor’s degrees. Point awarded two students with the Hathcock Award, the University’s highest honor, which recognizes outstanding students who have excelled in academics, leadership and Christian character while enrolled. Students earning that distinction were Dylan Moore, of West Point, Georgia, and Eva Cooper, of Pooler, Georgia.

President Dean Collins ’79 began the commencement noting that the Class of 2018 experienced several milestones while at Point. Among them were the first athletic teams to win NAIA conference tournaments and go to national tournaments, and the first class to send a marching band to a national competition. This class also saw the retirement of beloved biblical studies professor, Dr. Steve Hooks ’69, who was present on stage for the day’s celebration (see opposite page). Collins remarked that the class also experienced enormous grief as it lost two of its members, A.J. Houston and Tariq Morris, while they were students at the University.

On hand to propel students into the next stage of their life’s journey was Leonard Phillips, who recently joined Point as vice president of church and business partnerships.

Phillips spoke of how the Word of God has impacted his life and encouraged students to look at success from God’s perspective.

He also noted that obtaining a college degree is not only valuable to the graduate, but it is a mark of great pride for an entire family. Phillips proudly commended the 126 Point graduates as they continue the University’s mission and take the cross to the marketplace, into ministry and the mission field, and to all of life.

To see more from commencement, visit our online photo albums at flickr.com/pointskyhawks

8 | POINT MAGAZINE

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“Scripture changed my life, the way I think, and is practical, powerful and packed with principles for everyday living,” he said.

RETIREMENT

DR. STEVE HOOKS ’69: A FAITHFUL SERVANT

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s the retirement of Dr. Stephen M. Hooks ’69 approached, he was honored at a reception at the William T. Parr House, during which President Dean Collins ’79 expressed appreciation on behalf of the Point University community. Collins gave special attention to the impact of Hooks’s 30 years of teaching at Point.

Those who gathered at the Parr House represented many others who, remembering various parts of the story of this veteran professor, join in honoring him.

Thom Miller ’64, who once served as education and youth minister at Central Christian Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, knew Hooks first as a high school senior.

An outgoing leader of the youth group at Central, Hooks was “always willing to serve in any capacity,” Miller recalls. He also comments that Hooks has always been known for his “intelligence, empathetic listening and a warm smile that just made you want to be around him.”

During his college years, Hooks excelled academically and was active in campus and church life. He served for three of his college years as youth minister of North Druid Hills Christian Church in Atlanta. He and Kathy Keel began dating after she began her college studies in 1968. In 1970, a year after his graduation, they were married. Completing her college education elsewhere, she later had a career as a public school teacher.

The newlyweds set up housekeeping in Salem, Virginia, where Hooks was already associate minister at Salem Church of Christ. That ministry continued for five years.

Stephanie was born during those days. Meanwhile, Hooks earned his M.Div. at Emmanuel Christian Seminary in Johnson City, Tennessee.

The Hooks family then moved to northern Kentucky. During an eventful first year there, Hooks preached at Erlanger Church of Christ and Kurt ’97 was born. Hooks also began his studies at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. For 12 years, beginning in 1976, he taught at Cincinnati Christian University. While working there, he also earned his Ph.D.

BY EDDIE GROOVER ’67, CHANCELLOR EMERITUS

Hooks returned to his alma mater in 1988. He shouldered additional responsibilities in 1993, when he worked as acting academic dean, but for three decades — 1988-2018 — he taught. For Hooks, teaching was a ministry. His colleague Wye Huxford ’73, vice president for spiritual formation and dean of the chapel, comments that students sometimes said they did not want to be late for classes offered

by Hooks because they did not want to miss his prayers. Huxford adds that his friend encouraged questions and sometimes invited students to continue a conversation at lunch. As a professor, Hooks was frequently in his office writing. He wrote Hebrews (1990) and Job (2006), for example. He also preached in churches, conventions and college chapels.

In addition to traditional academic work, in 1998, Hooks launched Seminary of the Nations (SON). Over a span of 15 years, this innovative mission outreach enabled more than 50 Christian scholars to teach more than 10,000 national pastors in more than 50 countries. Colleague and friend Dr. Jim Donovan ’74 comments, “Through the dream of Dr. Steve Hooks and the subsequent ministry of SON, countless people have been influenced for Christ.”

Dr. Barry Blackburn describes his colleague as a “consummate teacher, preacher, humorist and friend.” Blackburn adds, “If Hooks hadn’t been so warm and humble, I would have been deeply intimidated!”

Dr. Holly Ritchie Carey ’01, another biblical studies colleague, says, “There is no more encouraging, supportive or passionate professor than Steve Hooks.”

I am only one of the many grateful friends of Stephen M. Hooks, but few are blessed to have been his friend for more than 50 years.

To view photos from Dr. Hooks’ retirement reception, visit flickr.com/pointskyhawks

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BACK ON THE COURT

BY SARAH HUXFORD

SKYHAWK BASKETBALL PLAYER RAVEN BROWN ’18 OVERCOMES MAJOR OBSTACLES TO CO M P E T E I N H E R S E N I O R S E AS O N

10 | POINT M AGAZINE

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SU MMER 201 8 | 11

THE THERMOMETER SAID HER FEVER WAS OVER 100 DEGREES. She woke up sweating through her clothes and sheets, but she felt freezing.

She knew then that something was seriously wrong.

For women’s basketball player Raven Brown ’18, things had been going pretty well. An Atlanta native, she’d transferred to Point for her junior year, after playing her first two years at Mars Hill University in North Carolina. She was closer to home and family, pursuing her degree in accounting, gaining valuable work experience and playing on a winning college basketball team. What could go wrong?

The life of a student-athlete is never easy. Brown knew from experience that succeeding in the classroom and on the court was a balancing act — and that school had to come first. “You are missing class, traveling all the time and on the road, but you find time for what matters and what is important,” Brown says. “Being a student-athlete, you are a student 12 | POINT MAGAZINE

courtesy of skyhawk athletics

IT WAS MONDAY MORNING, AND

first, and without being a student, you wouldn’t be an athlete. So I found it very important to make sure I did my work before we traveled, so I could have it out of the way.”

So when Brown woke up feverish that Monday morning in October, it wasn’t just basketball season she was anxious about — she knew her academic career was on the line, too.

“I tried to look over it,” she recalls.

“I was in serious amounts of pain, and I was not able to do much moving. But two days went by, and it only got worse.”

After a flurry of doctor’s visits, including a drive home to Atlanta to see specialists at Emory, Brown learned her diagnosis: ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction. According to the Cleveland Clinic, UPJ obstruction is a blockage in the kidney that results in serious damage to the organ. In Brown’s case, the solution was surgery to remove one kidney, permanently damaged from the obstruction and no longer functioning.

“Before the diagnosis, we were not aware of the significance of what was going on,” says Tory Wooley ’12, head women’s basketball coach. “After learning the severity of the matter, I was immediately concerned for her as an individual, first.

Your heart goes out to a person who is faced with a health condition like what she was faced with.”

Rudie Denson, assistant women’s basketball coach, adds, “We did not worry about basketball at that point, we just worried about her life. We made sure that we prayed for her daily and received updates on her from her family.”

Brown, naturally, was worried about basketball. “When I found out I had to have surgery, I was trying to get it as quick as possible, because this was my senior year, and I had so much hope for my team,” she explains. “My only thoughts were, ‘How quick could I get back?’”

Brown’s surgery took place over fall break weekend, in mid-October. Bas-

courtesy of skyhawk athletics

ketball season begins in November. The countdown to getting back in the game was on.

But first, she had to recover from major surgery. “After surgery, I was unable to do a lot of things by myself,” Brown says. “It was like going from being a baby to an adult in a matter of a month — learning how to do a lot of things all over again, and being so dependent on other people. It was very eye-opening to me.”

Meanwhile, her teammates, coaches and professors back at Point were praying for and encouraging her. Wooley says he felt encouraged by visiting her after surgery and seeing her in such good spirits.

Denson adds that the team made a poster to take to Brown while she was in the hospital. Professors worked with her to allow her to make up work she’d missed.

Brown was able to get back to campus fairly quickly after surgery, but getting back onto the court was a bigger challenge. “When Raven first came back from surgery, she was nervous about playing with full contact,” says Denson. “She did not want anything bad to happen to her while she was on the floor. She had to adjust to her new ‘normal.’”

“My first two or three games back were quite funny, looking back at them,” Brown says. “I only played about one minute each time, but I was so scared and nervous, you could see in the way I moved. I got in and turned the ball over right away. It was embarrassing, but now it’s pretty funny.”

“November 16 was my real first game back, against Reinhardt, and it was the best feeling ever,” she adds. “When I was going through surgery and recovery, this was the game I wanted to be back to play in, and God willing, I was able to do so.

I played 30 minutes this game, and even though I might have overdone it, my coaches trusted me and supported me, just as my family did, who was there in the stands to watch me battle this recovery my way and finish and play hard for my team.”

“IT WAS LIKE GOING FROM BEING A BABY TO AN ADULT IN A MATTER OF A MONTH — LEARNING HOW TO DO A LOT OF THINGS ALL OVER AGAIN, AND BEING SO DEPENDENT ON OTHER PEOPLE.”

Wooley agrees that Brown’s break-out game after her recovery was the battle against conference rival Reinhardt, which the Skyhawks won, 65-60. “She contributed 10 points, four rebounds and two steals in a winning effort,” he says.

The Skyhawks went 21-9 during what was an exciting senior season for Brown.

She points to the Reinhardt game, the Skyhawks’ defeat of West Georgia in an away game and the senior recognition game at the end of the season as her personal highlights. In May, Brown graduated with a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting.

“The only regret that I may have is, I wish we had Raven for four years, but we made the most of our time together and we trust God’s plan,” Wooley says.

“The rewarding part is that she’ll have a degree in one hand and will be prepared for life in the next.”

In late August, Brown will begin an accounting internship at Porsche’s corporate offices in south Atlanta. She says Point has more than prepared her for whatever her life will hold: “Point has helped me in tremendous ways to prepare for life after college. Our coaching staff have taught us so many life lessons through basketball and how to deal and manage with people in the real world.

The school has put their business majors into internships, which force them to learn about how the real world will actually be, and they have made this a real life lesson for us to get us prepared.”

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Building the Ki

courtesy of casas por cristo

14 | POINT M AGAZINE

ALUMNI AROUND THE WORLD

Families on Mission The Texas-based Laffan family, pictured above, includes Jason, Amy, and their three boys, Jonas, Kash and Titus.

The Dockery family, pictured below, is based in Guatemala and includes Pete, Abby, and their five children, Eden, Charlotte, Ezra, Samuel and Solomon.

in a prosperous country like the United States, it’s all too easy to forget to be grateful when we have our basic needs met: plentiful food, clean drinking water, a roof over our heads. But for alumni Jason Laffan ’01 and Pete Dockery ’01, the need for housing for families living in extreme poverty is front and center, every day.

Laffan and Dockery both work with Casas por Cristo, a ministry that builds homes for families in Mexico, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, as a means of showing them the love of Christ.

“We serve through the building process, and we serve the local church through providing for the families they select,” says Laffan, who serves as director of operations for the ministry, headquartered in El Paso, Texas. “Since the Bell family started Casas por Cristo in 1993, we have partnered with the local churches in Mexico, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic to build over 5,400 homes. All of these homes are provided primarily by the churches in the United States.

These churches raise the funds to cover the materials and travel expenses. Then, they come on a week-long trip with us to construct the house and give the free gift to the family.”

“Casas por Cristo’s ultimate purpose is to bring families into relationship with local pastors to come to know the Lord and grow deeper in their faith as part of a community of believers,” says Dockery, who serves as field director for Guatemala. He adds that Casas por Cristo meets families’ physical needs in order to then have an opportunity to meet their spiritual needs.

Both Dockery and Laffan were introduced to Casas por Cristo while they were students at Point, then called Atlanta Christian College. Laffan joined his home church on a mission trip to build with Casas during his sophomore year, and right away was hooked on the idea of being able to serve others in such a tangible way.

“I found out about the Casas internship

courtesy of the laffan and dockery families and casas por cristo

For Christians living

Prayer Meeting Volunteers pray with a family for whom they built a house in Ciudad AcuĂąa, Mexico.

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Love in Action Churches and other volunteer teams from English-speaking countries travel to Mexico, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic with Casas por Cristo to spend time building houses for families “that need to be reminded that Jesus loves them,” as the Casas website puts it. At right, Pete Dockery ’01 helps welcome a Guatemalan family to their new home.

18 | POINT MAGAZINE

courtesy of casas por cristo

ALUMNI AROUND THE WORLD

program and spent the next three summers in Juárez, Mexico,” he explains. “I also volunteered to lead Casas mission trips during school breaks, every chance I could. When I first started, I did not know any Spanish, which made communication difficult.

The act of serving others translated across the language barrier and taught me that I could be effective just by giving my time and energy.”

Dockery’s first Casas experience was an internship in summer 1999, between his sophomore and junior years. He, too, loved the idea of being able to serve others in a unique way.

“Having only served on two previous short-term mission trips, I really felt led to Casas because of the dual nature of the ministry,” he says. “I loved serving God by using my hands to provide physically for families. I also received great satisfaction working with local pastors to share the love of Christ. Over time, I have realized that Casas is a blessing to so many people: the people we serve, the local pastors and their churches, and the North American Christians

partnering to accomplish our purpose as a ministry.

I find great satisfaction leading people to the point of realizing the importance of using our lives as a tool to share the love of Christ, wherever we are.”

Every missionary at Casas, Laffan explains, has a dual role: administrative responsibilities, as well as joining teams in building houses for at least part of the year.

“Every week is a different and unique opportunity to serve. Some weeks we are busy building homes for families, with the help of North American churches.

This is a tremendous opportunity to build relationships between ourselves, pastors and our communities,” Dockery adds. “Other weeks are spent in a more administrative setting, purchasing materials and other jobs to prepare for the next busy season.

Other weeks are spent visiting with families that have received or will be receiving homes through local churches alongside our ministry partners.”

Regardless of what the day’s responsibilities might hold, Laffan says, “seeing God in the people and circumstances around me is the best part of my job.”

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To learn more about Casas por Cristo and how you can get involved, visit casasporcristo.org.

20 | POINT M AGAZINE

“Many times I have seen people who have planned to come on just one trip, but during the week, their entire world and perspective are turned upside down. They return home, and they are never the same. They come on more trips, they are more involved in their church, and they have a new passion for Christ. When people’s lives are changed, it makes the work really easy to do.”

Dockery adds that for his family, which includes his wife Abby Harbin Dockery (’00) and their five children, life in Guatemala has been a wonderful experience. “I love living and serving with the people of Guatemala because of the humble and grateful attitudes and their willingness to sacrifice everything to take care of their families,” he says. “My family enjoys the simplicity of life and the high value of relationships with the families and pastors we serve with here.”

Dockery says life in Guatemala surprises visitors, explaining, “The comment I hear the most from our North American partners is how the food isn’t ‘spicy.’ I think there is a funny assumption that every country from Mexico south has hot and spicy food.”

Like most missionaries, the Dockerys and Laffans must raise support to do their important work. “One surprising truth I have realized over the years is that the people who you think are likely to give the most usually give the least, while the people who you expect to give the least turn out to be the most generous givers,” says Laffan. “I believe this is another moment where I see God show up because He is using His people as He desires.”

Both Dockery and Laffan say that their college experiences prepared them well for where God was leading them, both academically and through the

personal relationships they made. For example, Laffan and Dockery agreed to choose an internship together that first summer, a friendship and experience which has now impacted the last 20 years of their lives and ministry. He also met his wife, Amy Harbin Laffan (’99-’01), while a student. “Having a like-minded spouse who supports and encourages me has prepared and sustained my ministry at Casas,” he says.

“The biblical studies classes taught me lessons that I still carry today,” he adds. “I may not know everything about Scripture, but I do know how to study it and apply it in the proper context. This has helped me stay grounded in Christ and take each day one day at a time.”

“Point University was instrumental in preparing me for my life on the mission field, sometimes in ways that were not obvious until much later,” Dockery reflects. “I think it is of utmost importance to understand the Word of God and the invaluable lessons from the teachings of Jesus. But the most important lesson I feel like I learned from my time at Point was how diverse and beautiful God’s kingdom is. I had the privilege of meeting people from all backgrounds while at Point. Over the years I have served with many different churches and many different people. I believe that God’s love for all of mankind is exactly why Jesus came to die. I am thankful for the opportunity to help people see their worth and value in the Lord’s eyes.”

Alumni and friends of Point can help support the Laffan and Dockery families, as well as the Casas por Cristo mission, in three key ways. “First, come on a trip to build and serve with us. This is the most tangible way to get involved, and we have opportunities to build homes every week of the year,” Laffan explains.

“We rely on the partnerships of North American churches desiring to come serve with us for a week at time to provide the labor and funds for the homes we give as gifts from their local pastors,” Dockery adds. “We are always looking for more ministry partners so more families can receive the gift of a safe, dry home, but most importantly, the knowledge that God loves them.”

Laffan says the second way alumni and friends can help is through giving. “We cannot be in the field without the generous support of God’s people,” he says.

And third, he asks alumni and friends to pray: “Being in the mission field is not something that the enemy supports. It is only through God’s people praying that we can overcome and continue working to expand God’s Kingdom.”

courtesy of casas por cristo

ALUMNI AROUND THE WORLD

Family Affair The children of Casas missionaries, like Ezra Dockery in this photo, are often eager to get in on the building process.

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In Our Own Backyard

BY SARAH HUXFORD

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carlos guzman ‘18

Point professor Dr. Kristie RobertsLewis explains how you can help fight human trafficking here in Georgia

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100,000.

Statistics vary, but most experts agree that at least this number of children are affected by domestic minor sex trafficking in the United States each year. Some estimates reach as high as 300,000.

Domestic minor sex trafficking is defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 as “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act.” For victims 18 and under, there is no such thing as consent; any commercial sex act involving a child is considered sex trafficking.

According to the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments, risk factors associated with child trafficking include “lack of personal safety, isolation, emotional distress, homelessness, poverty, family dysfunction, substance abuse, mental illness, learning disabilities, developmental delay, childhood sexual abuse, promotion of sexual exploitation by family members or peers, and lack of social support.” Many organizations point out that trafficking doesn’t necessarily require travel — a child can be trafficked sexually without ever leaving his or her home.

And while human trafficking, or modern-day slavery, is an issue around the globe, it’s impossible to ignore what’s happening in our own backyards.

Atlanta is a major hub for sex traffickers, in part because it is home to the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson International. According to Street Grace, a faith-based organization, headquartered in Atlanta, that is committed to fighting sex trafficking, traffickers in Atlanta make an average of $33,000 per week. Between 200 and 350 teenage girls are sold online in Georgia each month. According to the FBI, the average age a child is first sold for sex is between 12 and 14.

When Dr. Kristie Roberts-Lewis, professor of public administration and coordinator of Point’s new master of public administration program, first became aware of these heartbreaking statistics, she was stunned.

In 2010, Roberts-Lewis was pursuing a master of divinity at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, with a concentration in women and theology. “As I began to study issues impacting women across the globe, I was shocked to learn of the pervasiveness of sex trafficking, both in Atlanta and the state of Georgia,” she says. “While enrolled in a course for my concentration, the professor invited a guest speaker from the Interfaith Children’s Movement, Pamela Perkins, who shared the impact of sex trafficking on women, girls and boys in the city of Atlanta.”

As she listened to the facts, learning about young girls engaged in street

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prostitution and children being sold on Craigslist, Roberts-Lewis was overcome with emotion.

“I wept for most of the presentation, as I had no idea that sex trafficking had become so pervasive in Atlanta,” she recalls.

“At the conclusion of the presentation, Ms. Perkins discussed ways in which pastors, leaders and citizens could get involved, and I felt led to become a part of the solution.” ∫ Roberts-Lewis applied for and was accepted to a fellowship Dr. Robertsin the Black Women in the Church and Society program at the Lewis Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. The men“Appropriate and responsive services are equally as critical, tor assigned to her during the program was a coordinator with Interfaith Children’s Movement, defined on its website as “a and this includes a coordinated managed care system of services grassroots, interfaith advocacy movement that is dedicated to between law enforcement, social service agencies and nonprofit improving the well-being of all children in the state of Georgia.” agencies to meet the emotional, psychological, physical and As part of the fellowship, Roberts-Lewis was charged with developmental needs of girls,” she says. “The reality is that very creating a program to raise awareness about sex trafficking and few success stories exist, as most victims at first do not view characteristics of at-risk girls. themselves as victims, and as a result, do not seek help.”

Since then, Roberts-Lewis’s faith has compelled her to stay The second thing Christians can do, says Roberts-Lewis, is involved in this issue. She has served extensively as a volunvolunteer with organizations that are fighting sex trafficking. teer for Wellspring Living, another Atlanta-based organiza“We can offer our time, talent and treasure to organizations tion committed to fighting sex trafficking. Roberts-Lewis has that provide services to victims of sex trafficking,” she says. most recently served as a life skills coach and facilitator for “We can volunteer with these organizations in developing and Wellspring’s girls’ residential program; a facilitator for the facilitating programming for girls in life skills, career readiMonarch Program, a weekly Bible study for teen girls; and a ness, support groups, sporting and recreational activities, and facilitator for the Empowered Living Academy, a life-skills and college preparation, to name a few. Your expertise is needed to mentorship program for women who are survivors of sexual help to improve the short and long-term outcomes for victims abuse and trafficking and have been affected by poverty. of sex trafficking.” (See sidebar.)

Roberts-Lewis realizes it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by a “Citizens and community leaders can assist by developing problem as big as this one. But she believes Christians have an and hosting informational seminars to increase awareness on obligation to do whatever they can to combat the sex trafthe pervasiveness of childhood sexual exploitation in the U.S., ficking industry. First, and most importantly, she says, God’s and specifically, in the state of Georgia, highlighting the aforepeople need to speak up. mentioned risk factors,” Roberts-Lewis adds.

“We can contact local, state and congressional represenThird, she says, “We must help to facilitate a paradigm shift tatives in an effort to implement tougher public policies that on issues of sex trafficking, recognizing that we all can lend will deter pimps and recruiters from exploiting young girls,” a hand. New cultural norms must be embraced to help aid in Roberts-Lewis adds. “Moreover, we can advocate for a more eradicating sex trafficking.” Roberts-Lewis cites a U.S. Departcomprehensive, coordinated system of care with a vast array ment of State report which advocates “rejecting long-held noof social services to aid in their rehabilitation, such as safe tions such as ‘boys will be boys’ and sending the clear message housing, medical care, intensive counseling, court advocacy, that buying sex is wrong.” mentorship, educational assistance and job training.”

While it might be tempting to dismiss this issue as one that only affects other people, Roberts-Lewis says society must change its thinking: “Most people would be surprised to know “THE REALITY IS THAT VERY FEW SUCCESS STORIES that victims of sex trafficking can be any girl or boy deemed EXIST, AS MOST VICTIMS AT FIRST DO NOT VIEW at risk; come from all racial/ethnic groups, socioeconomic THEMSELVES AS VICTIMS, AND AS A RESULT, DO backgrounds and from all spectrums of society; and are often trafficked by someone they trust — a family member, a friend, a NOT SEEK HELP.” —Dr. Kristie Roberts-Lewis partner or a supervisor at work.”

24 | POINT M AGAZINE

carlos guzman ’19

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One recent Point graduate, Payton Linder ’17, and his family are taking this mission to heart. Linder, a biblical studies and preaching ministry major, had been serving as associate pastor of a local church, but felt that God was calling him out of the pulpit and into another form of ministry. His wife, India, an elementary school teacher who was also heavily involved in their church, felt a similar calling.

“We felt that God was calling us to do more outside of the walls of the church,” Linder says. “He revealed to me through a dream how we could help. This was followed by spiritual counseling, prayer and studying Scripture. We had known about sex trafficking, but after researching it intensively, we were so overwhelmed and knew that our passion had been changed.”

The Linders were especially disturbed to learn that, according to the Human Rights Project for Girls, 60 percent of the children recovered from sex trafficking by the FBI in more than 70 cities were from foster care or group homes. According to Ark of Hope, nearly two-thirds of underage girls who are rescued from sex trafficking and put into foster care end up back in the world of sex trafficking.

“Those statistics opened our eyes and hearts as to where and how we could help,” Linder says. “Our vision is to open up a ranch, hopefully in west Georgia, but ultimately, wherever God provides the land. We will partner with different short-term rehab programs in the state and provide a different option for the girls who would normally be processed to foster care. We want to provide a home for the girls. Whether they are 6 or 16 years old when we receive them, we will be providing them a forever home.”

Linder continues, “At the ranch, we will provide a wide range of services, such as home schooling, counseling, PTSD therapy, therapy involving animals, life skills training, spiritual investment, et cetera. The vision is to receive these girls who are victims of the world and turn them into warriors for Christ.”

In order to prepare for this journey, this summer, Linder, his wife, India, and their two young children have moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he is beginning a master’s degree in ministry through Point’s partnership with the residency program at Christ’s Church of the Valley. The following year, India plans to participate in the residency program. While in the residency, both will be volunteering and working with organizations that fight sex trafficking in Phoenix.

Linder says he recognizes not everyone can take the step his family is taking, but encourages Christians to get involved in any way they can, pointing out that there are volunteer organizations all over the country that can use both time and donations. “These are God’s children crying out for help, and it’s the Church’s responsibility to respond,” he says. “Pray, research it, get involved and give!”

How You Can Help ∫1 ∫2 ∫3

SPEAK UP. Contact your elected

officials and ask what legislation they are introducing to fight human trafficking in your area.

GIVE. You can help by volunteering with

or donating to organizations working to end sex trafficking and by praying for those on the front lines of this problem.

LEARN. Many Americans know very

little about this issue. Educating ourselves allows Christians and churches to be better equipped to help victims of trafficking.

Want to get involved in the Atlanta area?

Check out these organizations: WELLSPRING LIVING wellspringliving.org

INTERFAITH CHILDREN’S MOVEMENT interfaithchildrensmovement.org

STREET GRACE streetgrace.org

YOUTH SPARK youth-spark.org

Want to support the Linder family and their ranch for recovering victims? Check out: THE LINDER FAMILY thelinderenquirer.com

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