Do you know Logan Wolfram? She’s the incredible mastermind behind this year’s version of Allume, the social media conference being held in South Carolina. Logan does not play. (You know what I mean when I say that, right? I mean, she’s playful. She’s funny. She knows how to have a good time, but when it comes to getting something done, she does not miss a beat. She does not play.)
Last Wednesday, a UPS plane crashed in Alabama. Both the pilot and the co-pilot lost their lives. As you can imagine, people around the world began praying for the families of those pilots, and for officials at UPS, and for rescue workers, and anyone else who might be impacted by the crash. We continue to pray. A loss like that is devastating.
On Wednesday, sitting at my desk, looking out my window, I thought about Kristi Griem. I hadn’t heard about the crash, and I hadn’t thought about Kristi in a while. The last time I saw Kristi, we were at Allume. It was 2011, and Kristi and I were sitting at the same table for dinner. On Wednesday, there wasn’t any reason for me to think of Kristi. Except, of course, for the fact that God knows everything.
Kristi Griem works for an organization called Freeset. Have you heard of them?
Freeset USA represents Freeset Bags & Apparel, a fair trade business offering employment to women trapped in Kolkata’s sex trade. They make quality bags (jute and cotton) and 100% organic cotton t-shirts, but together our business is freedom.
We would like to see the 10,000 sex workers in Freeset’s neighborhood empowered with the positive choice to leave a profession they never chose in the first place.
On the UPS plane that crashed, there was $150,000 worth of Freeset merchandise, handmade by women hoping for something more than sex trafficking. Freeset had $75,000 worth of insurance, but they won’t recoup the potential revenue lost. And Freeset is an Allume partner.
But, aren’t we all partners? Aren’t we all — each one of us, and all of us together — connected and linked together and grafted in? Are we not our sisters’ keeper?
Enter Logan.
Logan sent a message to those of us who host conferences or retreats. Here’s part of what she said:
…we are endeavoring to keep this organization alive so that they can continue the life giving work they are doing with these rescued women in India.
I worked with my buddy Mike at Pure Charity, with Kristi Griem of Freeset, and we have set up a fundraising effort to keep Freeset going.
Would you all help?
The goal is $75,000. And you can help, too. We’re all in this together. And wouldn’t it be something to see God use us all — all together — to make a difference for these women India?
Yesterday, I logged on to the Pure Charity site and made my contribution. Shortly after that, the site crashed. Everyone logging on at once to help. Mike Rusch and the smart people at Pure Charity got the site fixed, because they’re good like that. And, they don’t play.
This is the Body of Christ. Building bridges instead of walls. Working together instead of in silos. Making a difference in the world, and glorifying God in the gathering of our resources, our energy, our love for people we may never meet. This is the Body of Christ, and we don’t play.
Join us? Give Hope.
And, hey! Will I see you at Allume in October?