Late last week I received several emotional emails from desperate family members trying to get help for their relative. I get a dozen emails like this a day. People are hurting, but these took me by surprise. More than that though, they caused me to have to really check myself.
The emails were from the family of Laura Silsby. She was arrested two months ago in Haiti for child trafficking. Her entire team has been released. She remains. The details I learned from her family are rough and it doesn’t look good.
They honestly believe that she’s innocent of the charges. Naive. Overzealous. Misinformed. Unorganized. Clueless, but not a child trafficker.
They asked me if I would help her in any way. Of course, they want me to help get her released, but they just want any help I can provide at all. I was not sure if they knew the divine irony of their request, but it really shook me up.
I hate slavery. I hate it historically. I hate it right now. Fighting against it is a passion of mine and of Courageous Church. Asking me to help assist someone charged with human trafficking is borderline immoral and my gut answer was to either ignore the family or just tell them “no – I’m not interested.”
Then I heard a small voice in my spirit that asked,
“Remember when you were friendless? Did you forget how that felt now that you have so many friends? Is Jesus not a friend to the friendless? Do you love Jesus or do you love your reputation? Will you follow where I lead you or do you just want Me to follow you?”
When you are a Christian, a follower of the Jesus that ruined his name on earth standing up for outcasts, you cannot worship your reputation.
My goal for Laura Silsby and for Haiti is for justice to be done. Correctly. Humanely. Safely. Quickly. I will also help be a pastoral presence for her family in any way I can. She is a mother, a daughter, a sister and her family is hurting. Guilty or otherwise.
Reputation be damned.
{ 6 comments }
Been there. My revelation of this, my checking point, happened in an apple tree as I wrestled with something I had been asked to do. The question from the Lord was similar, "Where do you get your identity from?" A very humbling experience. I am glad you were willing to listen and examine.
A friend posted this comment on my agonized post last night. It bolstered the situation in truth.
"Lyla Lindquist has left a new comment on your post "Post Script to Love":
Had to go get the book so I can quote it right. Here's what Bonhoeffer had to say about mercy:
"If any man falls into disgrace, the merciful will sacrifice their own honour to shield him, and take his shame upon themselves. They will be found . . . careless of the shame they incur thereby. In order that they may be merciful they cast away the most priceless treasure of human life, their personal dignity and honour. For the only honour and dignity they know is their Lord's own mercy, to which alone they owe their very lives."
Seems to me that if we stop short of risking our own dignity and credibility, then what we extend doesn't quite make it all the way to grace and mercy. Folks may never know what really happened over there. But mercy and grace don't depend on that. Jesus knew our hearts, the black therein, and chose us in His mercy anyway. It's kind of the point of grace, isn't it?
This post of yours makes me weep Shaun. For you to publicly declare it. You and Mike Foster, you live the real Good News. I curtsy.
I'm sure you could say the same thing about Catholic Priests who are accused of molesting children. They have families. Please! Laura Silsby knew exactly what she was doing & she deserves everything coming her way. I wonder what would be happening to a Laura Silsby who perhaps didn't look like a the nice White Sunday School Teacher? I'm for the innocent children in all of this. I am not fooled by Ms. Silsby or the fact that she carries a bible around.
Pastor Shaun, I’ll be praying for you. As the Word says, we are to do good whenever it is within our power to do so. God knows our thoughts before they come into our minds, and He’ll dismantle any plan that is not of Him as you move forward with doing good unto Him.
I understand Kim. Not sure if you know me, but I stand for kids and I stand against human trafficking. Not in theory, but practice. My only hope here is that justice is done and I mean that just how it sounds.
The children have all been returned to their homes and now this case should proceed. I assure you that Laura being white and carrying a bible has little influence on me.
As a pastor, I feel for the families of criminals on a regular basis. They are victims too.
Thanks for your thoughts.
No Pastor King, I don't know you, but know of you & the good things you are doing/have done. Those comments were not directed at you. Just general comments to the issue.