Rahab Refuge 2021 Blessings

Photo by Liza Summer on Pexels.com

A little over 18 months ago, the Lord started prompting and nudging me to start a safe house for survivors of sexual exploitation and human sex trafficking.  I was daunted (still am) with the task and selfishly struggled not wanting to take on this assignment.  However, thank God, I surrendered and yielded to the Lords’ will.  “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come”John 16:13.  Learning this concept of trusting God early in my Christian walk built faith and made my life deeply meaningful.  The Lord used my husband to confirm His will and direction; His plan slowly started to unfold along the way.  Part of that plan was, though difficult, that the Lord summoned my husband, Jeff, home to glory quickly and unexpectedly at an early age (we had lots of great plans?)  God knew exactly what he was doing as His plans and ways are always higher than our finite minds can comprehend.  As the end of the year approaches, it’s time to look back and be thankful for the blessings bestowed upon us during our first year of ministry at Rahab Refuge Ministries.  “Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people” 1 Chronicles 16:8.  Here are just a few:  

  1. IRS approved our 501c (3) federal tax exemption status.
  2. NY State approved our state tax exemption status.
  3. NY State Charities Bureau approved our Corporate Franchise tax exemption status.
  4. Wellspring Living monthly mentor-ship established.
  5. God gave (and continues to give) wisdom, discernment, and unity on our Board.
  6. Policies, procedures and manuals created and adopted.
  7. Over ten presentations at local churches.
  8. God provided a good pool of volunteers.
  9. Business volunteer provided to manage our website.
  10. Website Blog created.
  11. New Logo created with the help of website manager.
  12. Volunteer Liaison Manager established and provided.
  13. Four individual monthly donors established; four new monthly pledges pending.
  14. Nine business donors provided goods or services; food, shirts, shirt decals, advertising, prizes.
  15. Donation of 32 foot RV, carpentry services, materials, supplies, parts and tires for RV repair.
  16. Donation of head board, end tables, filing cabinets, bookcase, table and chairs, wiring, smoker gas grill, storage containers, projector, screen, and rolling cart.
  17. Successful 1st annual Refuge Run/Freedom Walk fundraiser.
  18. Positive media received from first run/walk fundraiser leading to additional outreach and donors.
  19. YTD monetary donations in excess of $20,000.
  20. Assisted survivor in NY with counseling and housing referrals.
  21. Assisted teen survivor with referrals for counseling.
  22. A man’s salvation via my business cards left on our donor box at local hardware store.
  23. Partnership forged with faith based organization.
  24. Memorandum of Agreement created with faith based safe house in Chicago.
  25. Amazon Smile account created (donations from your purchases/no cost to you).

During this Christmas season, I am so grateful for each one of you because we share in the great love of God; you and I can develop meaningful relationships when we exemplify His great love to others.  Family friends recently donated a bunch of change they saved thru the year (they also place our donor boxes at their and other businesses).  It yielded a nice donation that I know God will multiply.  Maybe you have change you can spare that God will multiply for Rahab Refuge Ministries.  From now thru December 31, 2021 when you give to Rahab Refuge Ministries a $5,000 dollar matching grant will double your donation.   Let me encourage you to be faithful where ever the Lord has placed you “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:1-2.

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Giving Tuesday

Hello Dear Friends,

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday which is a worldwide charity movement that releases the power of people and organizations to change their communities.  Non-profit corporations, like Rahab Refuge Ministries, cannot operate without caring people who want to give to organizations that can effect change and influence the lives of others.

Your Giving Tuesday gift is more than just a donation as it will be a mechanism for real change in the lives of mothers and children who have been victimized.  ALL donations will go directly to our “House of Hope” fund which will be used to create the first long-term residential recovery program in the Oneida/Madison County, New York vicinity for adult sex trafficking victims and their children. 

Photo by William Fortunato on Pexels.com

When you donate on Giving Tuesday your gift will be doubled ($5,000 total match) for the day.  Please donate on Tuesday and double your impact right here in CNY.

House of Hope

Support us with Smile

Christmas shopping? We are now on Amazon Smile!

If you shop on Amazon you can choose us as your non-profit and we will receive a donation every time you shop at no cost to you.

How does it work?

  • Visit Amazon Smile to set up Rahab Refuge Ministries as your charity to receive a portion of the proceeds each time you place an Amazon order.
  • After selecting Rahab Refuge Ministries, Amazon will send you a confirmation email stating that Amazon will donate 0.5% the price of eligible purchases made through the Amazon Smile website.
  • Bookmark smile.amazon.com in your internet browser for each time you shop!
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/85-3291167

Thank you for supporting Rahab Refuge Ministries!

Rahab Refuge Ministries, Inc. is a Faith Based 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt Non-Profit Corporation.

Our Olive Tree Logo

I would like to extend a Happy Thanksgiving to each of our subscribers, supporters, and sponsors.  Recently, Rahab Refuge Ministries updated and created our new logo, thanks to Ben Oxenford from https://congius.org/, with a muted olive tree behind our ministry name.  Let me share with you why we decided on the olive tree for our new logo.  The olive tree is an extremely slow-growing plant which requires years of patient labor to reach full fruitfulness. The outer fleshy part of the fruit is what yields the valuable product of olive oil and is considered good for your health.  The olive tree is mentioned frequently in the Bible and implies numerous symbolic representations in the word of God.  I will only mention a couple of meanings that idyllically represent Rahab Refuge Ministries.

The olive tree and olive branch have been symbols of peace and reconciliation ever since the account of Noah’s flood. When the dove brought Noah “a plucked olive leaf in its beak,” the olive branch represented new life sprouting on the earth (Genesis 8:11). The olive tree was alive and growing and conveyed God’s new beginning for humanity, peace and reconciliation. When survivors, and their child, partake in our future residential program it is a new beginning for their life, for reconciliation, and hope.  

The slow and substantial growth of the olive tree implies formation and peace.  Having the wonderful opportunity to walk thru the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives in March 2018, with my husband Jeff, we observed some of the oldest olive trees in the world still growing today.  It was so peaceful in the garden and we recognize that true peace only comes down from the “Father of lights” (James 1:17).  We can only receive this when we are engrafted into the family of God upon salvation (James 1:21).  As we seek to help women who have been exploited, we know that the love and compassion of Jesus Christ is essential to their complete healing and ultimate reconciliation. 

The flowering olive tree is a symbol of beauty and abundance in the Bible. The tree’s fruitfulness and ability to thrive suggests the model of a righteous person (Psalm 52:8; Hosea 14:6), whose children are described as “vigorous young olive trees” (Psalm 128:3). Rahab Refuge Ministries will impart to every women and child that they are beautiful, God loves them and that they are wonderfully and fearfully made by the hand of our Creator; in Him they can thrive, find victory, and have a fruitful future for themselves and their child.   

Right Under Our Noses

A salon in a popular plaza in Manlius got raided by police on Monday, October 25, 2021. Manlius police raided the Cherry Blossom Spa on West Seneca Street who offered more than massages. While appearing to be a legitimate business, according to police, their investigation uncovered signs of human trafficking. Two women appeared to be residing in the salon and were arrested. A quick search of the New York State Dept. of State records revealed two separate corporations exist at this same location as follows: CHERRY BLOSSOM SPA LI INC. and CHERRY BLOSSOM SPA CHENG INC. which were incorporated in 2018 and 2019, respectively. As for whether the owner of the spa will be charged, Manlius Police say that’s part of the investigation with State Police and the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. Let’s pray they do and the women arrested will be offered the help they need to escape this sex trafficking business. It is difficult to convince the victims, unfortunately who were arrested, to give up their traffickers due to force and intimidation. Once “House of Hope” is established, Rahab Refuge Ministries plans to partner with local police departments and task forces in order to bridge the gap to freedom and safety. Pray for these women that they can break the chain, have courage to turn their traffickers in, and get the help they need. https://www.localsyr.com/news/local-news/cherry-blossom-spa-in-manlius-raided-for-human-trafficking-on-monday/

Let’s Run

ATTENTION: All Rahab Refuge Runners and Freedom Walkers MUST enter Haselton-Wright Park off Chestnut St. for our event on Saturday, 10-16-21.  A sign will be on Chestnut St. at the entrance.  Overflow parking will be across the street (turn left off Chestnut onto Perimeter Rd then left into the parking lot, go to end of the lot to park, then walk across the street).  See second P and H at the top of the map for our location P and overflow parking H.  https://rahabrefugeministries.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/mohawk-river-trail.pdf   

Tomorrow, Saturday, October 16, 2021 is our first fundraising event for Rahab Refuge Ministries, Inc. All proceeds from donors and sponsors from the Refuge Run & Freedom Walk will go towards establishing our “House of Hope.”  The safe house will provide comprehensive residential services based on our mission, vision, our core values, and a holistic recovery process. The “House of Hope” will be a safe environment where each woman and child will be equipped with the skills necessary to re-enter society by being nurtured emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually with love and compassion. 

Rahab Refuge Ministries’ mission is to minister to victims of exploitation and sex trafficking with a compassionate residential program that restores and equips survivors for life while actively educating and involving our community.  Our vision is to bring reconciliation to thousands of survivors in America. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Pressing On for the Prize

Dear Family, Friends, Volunteers, Supporters and Sponsors, 

Many of you are aware of the passing of my husband, Jeffery Carpenter, who was the Senior Pastor at Friendship Baptist Church.  He was many things to us like husband, father, stepfather, sibling, Pastor, friend and the original contributing advisor to Rahab Refuge Ministries.  By his counsel and guidance Rahab Refuge Ministries was birthed.  He fully supported the ministry and saw God’s guiding hand on it.  Some have asked me if I planned to continue the work of the ministry.  The answer is a resounding “yes.”  What is the work God gave us to do? – To start a residential safe house program for survivors of exploitation and human sex trafficking, and their children, whereby they may come to know Christ.  The 12 -18 month faith based residential program will meet survivor’s needs physically, mentally and spiritually.  I choose to base my work on the mighty hand of God! Caleb chose to obey God also when he decided to follow Him wholly with the mission God gave him.  The people of Israel decided to look at their own ability and feared.   God does not intend for us to live in our memories and in the past but labor toward the work He has given us here on earth.  I cherish my memories and I am grieving along with so many others.  However, I am choosing to obey God wholly and serve Him to fulfill the mission He has given me.  This should be done with every ounce of our being as we live out these last days until the Lord returns or calls us home.

When the safe house opens, we have the opportunity to share the love of Christ to at least eight people in two generations for an entire year or more.   This is what I intend to do with your love, support, prayers and God’s mighty sustaining hand of strength, direction and omnipotence.  I leave you with my favorite Bible verses, as well as my loving husband’s in Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” 

With this said, and by God’s grace, please participate in our 1st fundraiser to support “House of Hope” on October 16, 2021 at 10am at Haselton Wright Park, off Chestnut St., in Rome, NY.  This event is a 5k Refuge Run & 1.5 mile Freedom Walk.  There is a registration fee of $25 per participant. 

Each adult participant will either run or walk and acquire at least 3 sponsors @ $25 each.  Children (17 & under) can also enter this family event and can raise any amount of funds in sponsorships.  Prizes will be awarded for the 1st place finisher in the 5K Refuge Run and the 1st place finisher in the 1.5 mile Freedom Walk.  Prizes will also be awarded to one adult participant and one (17 & under) participant raising the most amount of funds in sponsorship.  Each registered participant will receive a free T-Shirt, water, and individual wrapped snacks.  We look forward to a great 1st annual fund raising event and hope to see you there.  Please reach out to Bethany@rahabrefugeministries.com or Christine@rahabrefugeministries.com with questions.  

Latest News

Rahab Refuge Ministries (RRMI) has recently had multiple opportunities to present our mission to several local churches. We are grateful to the welcoming pastors and congregations of Friendship Baptist Church (Rome), Christian Church of Charleston (Sprakers), Seneca Bible Baptist Church (Seneca Falls), Crosspoint Church (Whitesboro), Living Faith Bible Church (Sauquoit), and Heritage Baptist Church (Canastota). Please consider hosting a RRMI presentation at your local church by contacting Christine@rahabrefugeministries.com.

RRMI has been actively recruiting volunteers and donations for upcoming events. We would like to thank the Oneida Wal-Mart for graciously donating over 580 white t-shirts for our first annual 5k Refuge Run/2k Freedom Walk! We are also grateful for receiving gently-used furniture to place in our future “House of Hope” and a 32-foot camper donated by Friendship Baptist Church families and a projector, screen, and stand donated by Seneca Bible Baptist Church.
NEWS
DONATIONS
Pray for Rahab Refuge Ministries specific requests:
– Secure locations to host our first 5k Refuge Run/2K Freedom Walk and Golf Tournament fundraisers;
– Local Churches to develop a passion to support RRMI on a monthly basis;
– Location for our “House of Hope” and future RRMI Offices and Store Front;
– Raise community support to establish our 1st years budget.
PRAYER REQUESTS
August 23, 2021 is an International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. While many associate this day with a solemn memory of slavery during previous centuries, we cannot ignore the men, women, and children who are enslaved by their captors in a modern-day labor and sex trafficking crisis. Please considering financially supporting Rahab Refuge Ministries as we seek to restore, reconcile, and equip trafficked survivors for life.  
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
The NYS Inter-agency Task Force on Human Trafficking Annual Report statistics for 2019 reveal:  65% of all confirmed victims of trafficking cases in NY were sex trafficking victims; 77% involved adults above the age of 18 and 85% of confirmed victims in NY were female survivors.
NEW YORK STATE FIGURES

Chris Carpenter

We would all like to think that human trafficking is not happening near us; sadly, this is far from the truth. As difficult of a topic as this is, we need to inform our selves as much as possible, especially those of us who have children. Ask yourself, “what can I do to help change the landscape of this ever pressing crisis?” Get involved and help change one life at a time by investing in Rahab Refuge Ministries, Inc.s’ first safe house in Central New York. For you parents of teens, please consider educating yourself on the following New York State resource site: https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/human-trafficking/resources-caregivers.php

Here are just a couple links to some recent incidents in our area:

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2020/03/01/forty-dollar-sex-act-leads-to-prostitution-bust

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2018/11/08/sex-trafficking-growing-in-syracuse

Here is a heart breaking article from a mother whose daughter went off to college and four months later disappeared into the sex trafficking world:

https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/mission/protect/trafficking/end/mothers-story-%E2%80%94-what-parents-need-know-about-trafficking