So how are you beginning the new year?

Kathy Burr (Cherry Hills Community Church, Highlands Ranch, CO) and Sherry Irvin (Christ EPC, Houston, TX) are beginning 2012 by joining 46 international women to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa as participants in The Freedom Climb sponsored by Operation Mobilization. Funds generated by the climb will affect the lives of 10,000 women and children who have been victims of trafficking by supporting projects that break the cycles of poverty, shame, slavery and despair.

The climb is now underway as the climbers from around the world gathered in Nairobi earlier this week. On Wednesday, January 11, National Anti-Trafficking Awareness Day, they began the 4 ½ day climb to reach the summit. To return trip will take 1 ½ days. They have been training for months and are accompanied by professional guides.

The choice of this initiative isn’t just random. These women are physically making a statement. Mt. Kilimanjaro’s summit is Uhuru Peak. Uhuru is Swahili for freedom. As these women make this climb, they are symbolizing the huge climb to freedom that millions of enslaved women and children worldwide face daily.

Kathy and Sherry are showing the powerful and creative ways that are possible to engage in the fight against the evils of human trafficking. We are hearing more stories of how God is moving among women in the EPC to get involved. The Freedom Climbers remind us to never underestimate what we are capable of doing.

In February, EPC Women In Ministry will launch a new initiative to engage our women in the fight against trafficking through the “Set Free Project“. An essential aspect of the project is the educational resources to be used by leaders in encouraging and equipping women in our churches to become modern-day abolitionists of human trafficking in their place of ministry. These resources will be available in February 2012.