Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/1512588
10 | WheelsOfGrace.com | #70 It was a hot, muggy April 2016 and we were setting up in Leesburg, Florida for the annual Leesburg Bike Fest event, which at the time brought around 200,000 motorcyclists to Central Florida for a crazy three-day festival. Bikers Against Trafficking had been newly formed and we all were intent on building awareness and helping those who were being trafficked get out. We set up in front of the library and we didn't have a lot, but we had our enthusiasm and somewhere in the midst of the festival this lady and her husband stopped by. They were from a large church and told us about their anti-trafficking ministry and how they had tried to start several small houses a few years back because of people from the church but how it had all fallen apart. We listened and then this lady told us that they felt as though God was telling them to help us buy a house. We were jacked, as you can imagine. Our dream of a house for adults who had been trafficked…it was going to come true. We were floating on clouds. But then it fell into disarray. The church lost its pastor, the staff person who talked with us was let go and we were left pondering "what was that about God?" Jump forward almost seven and a half years and guess what? That same group approached us again and by the end of September 2023 we will be closing on our first adult home in Volusia County. We will be able to house adults and if they have kids, the kids can come as well. The house is on a little bit of property, and we can do some adjustments and eventually be able to provide for close to 20 individuals. We are establishing phases to the project, but we are in awe as to what God has done and is doing in the life of BAT. From just a few small ideas BAT has grown and as a result…we are able to impact thousands. If ever there was a case of how God could multiply the fishes and the loaves this is it. We also are moving forward with our partnerships in Tennessee and Virginia and should be able to provide for some individuals up there as well. We also are in the midst of starting new BAT Chapters in Texas, Wisconsin, Iowa, and South Carolina and in Iowa we now have access to a housing area where we can also help place thrivers who need a place to heal and thrive. Wow, wow, and wow! Our God is amazing in every way. We are talking to people in California, Washington State, Arizona, New Mexico, Minnesota, and a few other areas as well. BUT…as we ponder all that God is doing it is with a sense of humility as we know that NONE of this is possible without God's blessing. BAT only exists because of God's favor and what we have been able to accomplish is only possible with God's supernatural guidance. BAT does not exist because of any of us, it exists because God is up to something. He just chose to work through warped individuals like you and me. When we close on the house, we are going to need some volunteers to help us do some additional work on the house. We will need to raise additional funds to continue to do the house and pay it off (we are actually buying a house) and we will need some assistance from those who have building, electrical, mechanical, mowing, painting, carpet laying, and drywall to name a few. We will also need people who can mentor those who have come out of the life, some to help individuals get to jobs, help them find jobs, to bolster skills, to teach sewing and/or other skills. LOTS to do and we will start to build the list of volunteers. All the volunteers will have to go through a background check and some training, but we are so excited to see God's plan to continue to unfold. The house is called "Healing Place." A place of hope, healing, and renewal. Please keep us in your prayers…lift up our faith filled board members (Huck, Momma Bear, Flip, Professor, Tex, Nonna, Rainey and Doc) and continue to utilize our sponsors who help us so much (the list is on our website). Of course, we continue to provide our house in Marion County and help with two others and seven apartments and help provide hope, healing, and renewal for over 300 who have been impacted by human trafficking and who all have been or are in the foster care system. I cannot say enough about our incredible partnership with the Alan Madden Foundation and with each of our Chapters who are fighting to make a difference in the United States and Canada and our partners in the Ukraine and Netherlands. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! We are now praying for a person to live in the house and to help us out. They will be employed by one of our partners, Family4Today, which provides counseling for BAT and is led by Doc and Rainey. If you feel led to give you can go on the website and give via the donate button, you can go on the healingplace.space website and give through that link or you can mail a check to: 1349 S. International Parkway, Suite 2421, Lake Mary, FL 32746. We are humbly His, Bikers Against Trafficking!!! TOGETHER we really can make a difference! Bikers Against Trafficking Late Summer 2023 Update 10 | WheelsOfGrace.com | #70 Bikers Against Trafficking Late Summer 2023 Update