The past couple of the months has been a very busy season for the ZOE USA office.  We have had the privilege of being an exhibitor at several amazing conferences throughout California.  During these conferences, we are always so blessed to meet so many wonderful and caring people who have the heart to combat human trafficking as well as organizations doing great things around the world.  It is a very refreshing and uplifting time to see so many coming together to make a difference in our world!

Catalyst West Coast 2012 : Be Present!

The Catalyst West Conference brings together over 3,000 church leaders to hear from a group of dynamic speakers and learn how to impact the next generation of leaders.

Two of our ZOE staff members had the opportunity to share about ZOE at a booth among other organizations that were very inspiring. We spoke with many pastors and other church leaders who were exploring ways their church could address God’s heart for justice through human trafficking. Several of the people we talked with were already familiar with the problem of human trafficking and some shared that they suspected trafficking in their hometowns.

Mike and Carol Hart, the founders of ZOE, attended the conference and were completely blessed by their time there. The two of them could not stay away from the ZOE booth and enjoyed talking with other attendees and seeing old friends.

Those who stopped by the booth were given free giveaways including child trafficking awareness bracelets and other information about ZOE and human trafficking. What a blessing it was to share with others at Catalyst West!

Michael Hart and Marji Sharing at the ZOE Booth

Orphan Summit 2012 : A Beautiful Response

“Responsive Love:  To act upon God’s call to care for orphans is not merely a matter of duty or reaction to need.  It is first a response to Gospel: the loving Father who sought us, adopted us, and invites us to live as His sons and daughters (1 John 4:19; Ephesians 1:15; Galatians 4:6).”

Marji and Melinda at our ZOE Booth

Responsive Love, as defined above, is one of seven core principals of the Christian Alliance for Orphans.  ZOE team members were privileged to see this principle lived out at the Alliance’s recent Orphan Summit conference in Lake Forrest, California.  The gathering of over three-thousand people who actively reflect God’s heart toward orphans and other vulnerable children was a truly inspiring experience.

During the two-day conference, we were able to hear from subject matter experts including our own Carol Hart.  We also spoke with many passionate individuals who visited the ZOE booth to learn more about ZOE’s ministry to orphans in danger and children rescued from human trafficking.

These caring men and women also shared with us about their own experiences.  Many have welcomed orphans into their families and church communities.  Some have spread awareness and advocated for children in need.  All of the people we spoke with expressed the joy they experience as they extend God’s love to children who are truly precious in His sight.

Michael Hart, Co-founder of ZOE Leading Prayer Time

Carol Hart, Co-founder of ZOE Sharing about Human Trafficking