Thread Foundation Off and Running!

Thread Foundation Co-Founders, Misty and Rhonda

This past weekend, the Thread Foundation held a designer sample sale in support of putting a stop to modern day slavery.

The Thread Foundation grew from the dreams of two women formerly employed in the world of fashion-design. Misty Ulan and Rhonda Waller-Bautista (WOGA: LA member!) worked down the hall from each other. They would talk regularly about how great it would be to create something completely new together. (www.threadfoundation.com)

That dream is now reality. The Thread Foundation held its third event last weekend and will hold two more before the year ends. They have designer clothing (at greatly reduced rates), they have customers, they have cash registers ringing up sales. And they also have something that other sample sales do not: they are donating a portion of their profits to the Polaris Project (www.polarisproject.org). Polaris has been active in the fight against human trafficking since 2002 when two students from Brown University began to question what they could do to make a difference in the fight against slavery.

If you want to spend an inspiring hour or two - head down to the Garment District for the Thread Foundation's upcoming sample sale on December 7&8. Better yet, if you'd like to volunteer with them, they can use your help. Interested? Contact Rhonda at: rhonda@threadfoundation.com.

Wall Declaration as you enter Sample Sale

WOGA Brazil Conference Draws Almost 300 Women

Women at Recent WOGA Brazil Conference

Women from all over Brazil gathered for three days in Brasilia to consider the theme, "Praying for Genuine Revival". Workshop topics included: Inner Healing, Rejection and Self-Esteem in Christ, Intimacy with God during Day to Day Life and Social Action as a Reflection of Revival. This conference is held every two years for women from WOGA Brazil's network.

Nancy, whose husband had died suddenly of a heart attack just two months previous, found the conference to be a real encouragement. She felt her hope restored as she was able to connect with other recently widowed women who were being used by God in powerful ways.

Another emerging leader in attendance shared with Emily Voorhies, who attended from Women of Global Action's Colorado office, that she was amazed to discover that God wants to work through her even though she considers herself young and inexperienced.

As the women met over these three days and nights, other women had been assigned to pray for them 24/7. We look forward to great things from WOGA Brazil as these women return to their cities with a renewed sense of what is possible as God works through women.

WOGA: LA Workshop on Trafficking Prevention

Women at Workshop

"It's great to get information and be impacted by the hugeness of trafficking, yet be empowered at the same time to do something about it. Both of these things happened for me," said Julie Reid-Marks, Fuller student, after attending WOGA: LA's workshop on Trafficking Prevention.

The workshop was led by Bekah Cooke, formerly of the Salvation Army's Rescue Project and Charity Marquis, Director of NightLight USA (see www.nightlightbangkok.com).

They shared stories from their current work in LA and taught us how to:

*talk to business owners about trafficking,
*offer resources for where trafficking situations do exist,
*talk to potential and actual victims about their situation.

We also watched Ellen Bruno's documentary, Sacrifice, in which young Burmese girls trafficked into Thailand share their stories.

NightLight's beautiful jewelry was for sale at the event. This jewelry is made by women rescued from the bars in Bangkok's red light districts.


Now that we have been trained, we are welcome to participate in Bekah and Charity's weekly prevention outreaches. If you wish to join them but couldn't attend this workshop, email us and we'll let you know when and where their next training is. What a great way to make an impact on trafficking!

WOGA Korea Conference Draws 3500 Women

WOGA's recent conference in Seoul, Korea drew women from 70 different countries. The purpose was to invest in the lives of emerging women leaders in the areas of the world where Christ is least known.

Among those who spoke was the widow of one of the martyred pastors in Turkey. Her story was a good reminder of what it means to live for Christ in the face of persecution.

Helen Loong, WOGA Hong Kong's Director, brought a group of 40 women from Hong Kong to the conference. She told the story of how one among her group was touched by the wonderful Korean hospitality. One day it rained. A Korean woman took a towel to wipe the rain off of the coat of one of the women from Hong Kong. This woman began to cry and embraced the Korean woman. The woman from Hong Kong serves handicapped children. As one used to serving, she was deeply touched to be served in such a practical way.

Korean media offered two opportunities for Emily Voorhies, WOGA's Executive Director, to share about the work of WOGA. Instead of the two 15 minute slots she expected, each slot lasted a full hour!

Learn more about the conference at: www.wogakorea.org.