You are invited to our 3rd Annual Benefit Concert followed by our first conference for starting restoration homes for rescued survivors of sex-trafficking.

Natalie Grant is hosting our 3rd Benefit concert at the Historical Belcourt Theater in Nashville TN on March 9, 2010 at 7:30 PM

It will be an incredible night featuring Tenth Avenue North, Brandon Heath, Britt Nicole, Phillip LaRue, and Audrey Assad go to www.belcourt.org to purchase tickets

Are you interested in learning more about the issue of human trafficking and sexual exploitation? Do you desire to be part of the process of hope for the countless number of individuals impacted by the sex trade? Have you felt called to be involved in shelter building for these individuals but over-whelmed by the amount of work required to make this a reality? Here is your opportunity to learn from experts in the field and network with other groups on this journey. This conference will help you to gain a historical perspective on the problem, attain skills which will enable you to move forward in starting your shelter including guidance on how to work with law enforcement, and provide you with tools to develop and assess quality within your restorative program. To download the registration form and get more information click here . The conference will be held in Nashville, TN on March 11, 2010.

It’s time to announce our 2010 Internship programs and we are thrilled to add two internship programs to Greece through the A21 Campaign. All information is on our website. If you are interested in spending 4 weeks or 4 months overseas with one of our shelter partners check out our internship program on our website.

As you are aware, sex trafficking is a huge issue in the United States, and its effects are devastating. Mercy Ministries knows this firsthand, as they already serve this population in their current facilities. Natalie Grant, The Home Foundation, and the Christian Trafficking Shelter Association (CTSA), are partnering with Mercy Ministries to restore lives of those affected by domestic sex trafficking. Mercy is committed to being very intentional about serving even more survivors of this horrific abuse.

I was driving to the airport this morning & saw a group of “workers” picking up trash on the side of the road. Each one was wearing an orange vest with these words emblazoned on the back:

“I AM A DRUNK DRIVER.”

Wow. Most hung their head low, hoping not to make any eye contact with the drivers passing by. There it was, in big capital letters for all the world to see.

Now listen, I’m not about to defend anyone who drinks and drives. They absolutely deserve to be punished by the law. Drinking & Driving has robbed many families of a mom, a dad, a spouse, a son, a daughter. Wearing an orange vest seems a little lenient if you ask me.

But, seeing their shame printed across their backs made me wonder what my vest would say. Can you imagine having to walk around with your sins being announced to the world? My secrets alone would be too many to even fit on one vest.

Many of us walk around wearing a similar vest. No, our mistakes and sins are not printed on the back, but the weight of our guilt hunches us over and we walk with a defeated posture. We avoid making eye contact and light & joy are missing from our face. We’re dressed in shame.

Today I’m shedding that vest. See, I have another vest and it’s just my size. This same vest fits anyone, regardless of who you are. The words emblazoned on the back say:

“I AM FORGIVEN.”

Let that vest show today. Wear your forgiveness. May grace and peace so permeate our own lives, that it can’t help but spill out to everyone around us. This vest is always in fashion, never out of style, and always the perfect fit.

“But those who depend on faith, not on deeds, and who believe in the God who declares the GUILTY TO BE INNOCENT, it is this faith that God takes in to account to put them right with Himself.” Romans 4:5

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

You. Are. Forgiven. Act like it.

With love AND freedom

Natalie

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Here’s the official music video for the song “Come Together Now” recorded here in Nashville to benefit those still hurting in Haiti. Visit ComeTogetherNow.com for details on how to help and where to get the song.

Gospel Music Channel Produces Special One-Hour Presentation of Official Music Video for Kirk Franklin’s “Are You Listening: A Love Song for Haiti”

Join GMC as Viewers Around the World Gather for This Historic Music Television Event Friday, Jan. 22 at 7 PM ET. GMC will encore the special on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 6 PM ET.

The response has been overwhelming for what Kirk Franklin has dubbed the gospel community’s answer to “We Are the World,” a song and music video titled “Are You Listening: A Love Song for Haiti,” with all proceeds to benefit those impacted by the earthquake. Watch the official music video.

View photos from the recording session. The gospel community swiftly responded to a plea from their friend and peer, with more than 150 participants joining the cause, including Yolanda Adams, Jeremy Camp, Shirley Caesar, Dorinda Clark Cole, Natalie Grant, Fred Hammond, Tamela & David Mann, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin, Bishop Paul S. Morton, J. Moss, Smokie Norful, Marvin Sapp, Karen Clark Sheard, Kiera “KiKi” Sheard, BeBe Winans, CeCe Winans and Marvin Winans along with other gospel artists featured in the choir including Shari Addison, Kathy Taylor Brown, John Gray, Bishop Darryl Hines, Stephen Hurd, Karima Kibble, Judith McAllister, Nicole C. Mullen, Jessica Reedy, The Neville Sisters, Troy Sneed, Micah Stampley, Melinda Watts and Brian
Courtney Wilson.

Franklin contacted Don Jackson, executive producer of The Stellar Awards, to request that GMC capture the historic recording event. The official music video world premieres in a special presentation on GMC Friday, Jan. 22 at 7 PM ET, immediately before GMC’s airing of the telethon “Hope For Haiti Now: A Global Benefit For Earthquake Relief” at 8 PM.

GMC’s one-hour special, hosted by Lisa Kimmey-Winans, will feature exclusive interview footage with Kirk Franklin from the recording session interspersed throughout multiple runs of the music video. GMC will encore the special on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 6 PM ET. The music video will then go into heavy rotation in all GMC music video blocks. GMC will also produce and premiere an exclusive “A Love Song for Haiti: The Making of ‘Are You Listening’” behind-the-scenes special in February.

You’re invited to be in the studio audience for the appearance of Natalie Grant on the LIFE Today show with James Robison, Tuesday, February 2 at 7 p.m. Tickets are free, but you must reserve your seat. To do that, email audience@loi.org. The studios are located at 1801 West Euless Boulevard, Euless, Texas 76040