A Blog by Jason Salamun

This week, I announced that from here on out, Project Church is giving away half our budget to end human trafficking & sex slavery globally, serve the poor locally, and help start churches who share our DNA.

I’ve been told this is a crazy thing for a new church to do.

After all, we have so many needs ourselves.

“Why not wait until you’re more established?” some may ask.

But you know…we’ll always have needs.

If we were ever going to make a bold move like this, we wanted to do it while the cement was still wet in our new church plant.

And as our influence grows, so will our impact.

My prayer is that sowing this seed of generosity into the fertile soil of our baby church today will produce much fruit tomorrow.

Our mission is clear: Love God. Love People. Live Free.

In light of this, we have committed to focus on three actions of social justice:

1. Being good news to the poor
In particular, in our local community.

We have a relationship with an elementary school that’s located in the heart of the most impoverished area of our city.  Our hope is to utilize this common ground to reach out to the students, families, and staff of this school and be good news to them in creative and loving ways.

2. Freedom for the enslaved
Freedom comes in many forms. So does slavery. We are committed to helping people live free in many ways however, one particular cause has broken our hearts and captured our imagination: human trafficking and sex slavery.  With two children sold every minute with an estimated 27 million souls crying out for freedom, we must do something!

Our church is going to partner with Love146.org. Their vision is the abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation. Nothing less.

That’s a fight worth fighting!

To work to that end, they provide aftercare for the children who have been trapped in this horrific industry as well as prevention programs to bring awareness to the issue.

3. Joining God in advancing the gospel
We believe the most effective way to do this is through starting fresh expressions of gospel-driven churches.

The gospel of grace found in Jesus is the greatest news to ever hit humanity.  Our love for him compels us to love others and join together in communities of faith to become more like Jesus.

There’s no greater cause than the gospel.

Giving half our offering away is a huge leap of faith for our church and we’re trusting that God will provide for all of our needs. Following him is one grand adventure and something tells me we’re just getting started.

In sharing this, please know this is not just a “Jason Salamun” thing, it is a “Project Church” thing.  I’m so thankful to be a part of a community who are willing to make bold moves for the Kingdom.

Please be in prayer for us.  We would greatly appreciate it.

If you are interested in investing in what Project Church is doing, click here to give securely via PayPal.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m undertaking a new challenge to lose weight for 6 life-giving causes.

It’s called ThisMustChange.org

One of the causes that has captured my heart is Love146.org.

Their vision is clear and bold: The abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation. Nothing less.

When you consider 2 children are sold every minute into human trafficking and sex slavery…

That 27 million people are enslaved around the world…

And that it’s not just an “over there” issue but is happening in the U.S. as well…

It’s enough to make you cry angry tears.

Slavery is a prison of injustice.

We can do something, and something is better than nothing.

Watch this staggering video and then visit thismustchange.org and discover how you can help.

Thank you.

All around us are shattered hearts, broken lives, and fractured stories.

Clearly, this world is not as it should be.

Have you ever felt like there was more you could do?

Me too.

As a human being, I want to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves.

As a recovering hypocrite, my aim is to decrease the gap between what I believe and how I live my life.

As a communicator of the gospel of grace, my desire is to follow the example of Jesus and not just proclaim good news but also be good news.

During a recent teaching at my church we came across Matthew 25:35-40 where Jesus talks about the least of these.

How when we feed the hungry, give a drink to the thirsty, take in a stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit those behind bars, we’re essentially doing it for Jesus.

Or as my 7-year-old daughter puts it, “When we give people a hug, we give God a hug.”

How right she is.

I reflected on that passage, looked at myself, and thought, “There’s gotta be more I can do.”

I looked at myself even more and thought, “I’m fat and need to get in shape.”

So I started thinking through this idea:

What if I set a goal to lose weight and get in shape in the next 3 months, and during that time, encouraged others to donate a dollar for every pound I lose directly to a cause relating to Hunger, Water, Shelter, Clothing, Sickness, and the Enslaved?

So this is my mere attempt to be what I believe.

I know we can’t change every story but together, we can help make some better.

And some is better than none.

Will you join me?

Visit thismustchange.org to discover more.

Add your name to the list and spread the word.

This effort begins August 17 and runs through November 16.

It’s never too late to get on board!

Frankly, it can’t happen without your help.

Let’s do this!

Grace and Peace,

jason salamun
Project Church