Ministry Opportunities Abound

Today marks my third week in Georgia. The Lord has moved quickly, providing an abundance of ministry opportunities.  I am thrilled to be here.  As I was having my prayer time this morning, I thanked God for satisfying some of the deepest longings of my heart. 

Being involved in the Asian community is such a joy to me.  I have been attending a Korean church each Sunday afternoon.  My favorite part is the music.  The worship is simple and sweet, and the harmonies are beautiful.  I hope to be able to sing a song in Korean one day. The church has been supportive, especially during my housing search. The pastor and his wife have invited me to their home for a Korean meal, so I am looking forward to that! 

The Japanese community has also been a special blessing.  I first attended the Japanese church two Sundays ago.  The sermon was spoken in Japanese but displayed in English on the large screen, so I was able to follow along. While I was there, I learned about a conversational English class and asked if I could attend.  That meeting was the highlight of my week, to be sure! The class began with an assignment to discuss five different characteristics of our hometown. At my table were girls from Myanmar, Pakistan, and Japan.  I was delighted as our conversation quickly shifted from heritage to religion.  The four of us spoke gently and openly about our beliefs.  The class leader and I answered some of the student’s questions and were able to present the gospel simply and clearly. It was the most beautiful thing that I had been a part of in a long time! It still warms my heart.  The One I serve loves us so much that He died for us and gave us the great pleasure of sharing that with others.  I was so blessed. I am eager to attend the next class.

Tonight, I will be attending a campus ministry at Georgia State University.  I anticipate a wonderful time getting to know students, encouraging them in their faith, or walking alongside them, as they may be introduced to Christianity for the first time.  We will enjoy a meal together and then a time of worship.

So, you might be wondering, “Why all this talk about Asian ministry?” Where did this come from, and what does that have to do with FlyMissions—which has an obvious tie to aviation ministry?  Since I was young, I have had a special love for the Asian community.  When I first learned of trafficking, it was brought to my attention that trafficking was rampant in Asia.  My heart was instantly gripped with concern, and over the years, that concern has grown into a passion.  As I continued my aviation studies, God showed me how to use aviation to help victims, and my vision remains the same. I want to use aviation to bring victims to safe homes where they will hear about Christ, and be transformed by Him.  My goal in working with the Asian population (Japanese and Korean, for now) is to find out how to help those in the Asian community who are victims of trafficking. 

That is where the investigation piece comes in.  I am working part-time as a private investigator to learn the techniques of surveillance and investigation.  I plan to use those skills to combat trafficking in the neighborhoods around me.

As you can see, I am very busy.  I would be thrilled and honored if you would like to continue partnering with me through prayers and, if possible, finances. The harvest, indeed, is plenteous (Matt 9:37). The link below will lead you to my new giving page where you can learn more about the work that I will be doing. https://give.globalservicenetwork.org/50921004

For those wondering about my housing situation, God provided an opportunity to live with a woman from church for six months while I seek permanent housing. This solution is a great blessing and answer to prayer. It will allow my finances and work to stabilize while I continue to develop the ministry here. Praise the Lord!

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. I look forward to sharing more soon.

Many blessings to you and yours,

Liz 🙂

Here For A Reason (Georgia Living, Part 2)

Ministry in Georgia has begun.  I have been seeking numerous ways to become involved in the Asian community.  My heart’s desire is to learn more about the trafficking within their community to see how it can be stopped.  Sunday, I attended a Korean church. I was blessed by their worship and hospitality and was invited to return.  This Sunday, I plan to attend a Japanese church. While other ethnic groups are represented near me, I may focus on these two populations for now.  I have been to both Korea and Japan, so it is an easy connecting point. 

I was able to make another vital connection this past week.  As I was looking for housing, I spoke with a lady at one of the local community service organizations.  In her attempt to help me with housing, she explained that I should stay away from a specific extended-stay motel because trafficking was prevalent there.  I explained to her what my mission was, and she was grateful.  I look forward to connecting with other professionals as well, such as the sheriff’s office and police station. The need is great, and I believe that God brought me here to help rescue those enslaved and introduce them to the Savior. 

So, while the housing may be uncertain, the need to be here is sure.  While I long to do this work full-time, I know that I need training first. My time working on private investigation cases will provide the experience and extra income that I need.  In the meantime, I will attempt to make the most of every opportunity. The harvest truly is plenteous!

Catch-22 (Georgia Living- Part 1)

In case you have not heard, let me tell you, the housing market is crazy. Around the area of Cumming, GA, there are very few housing options. Even the two boarding houses I called were full!

This past week, I found out that the job I was supposed to start on Monday would not allow me to begin until I secured a permanent address. On the other hand, I could not apply to a low-income apartment until I had proof of income in Georgia.  It was a Catch-22.

I had been searching for a one-bedroom apartment.  I would take a studio or a room for rent, but nothing presented itself.  I explored everything from Apartments.com to Craigslist (with extreme caution) and everything in-between.  As of yesterday, I only found one vacant one-bedroom apartment and it was $1,400 per month.  The cost was so much more than I wanted to pay, but I did not see any other options.  I decided to call them today. Within one day, it was leased out. The next best thing they had was going to be $1,538 per month. Wow! In addition, the receptionist just received word that the rental prices were going to increase by $100 by Monday.  Man! I felt like time was of the essence!  I continued to hunt, scratch, and claw, trusting that God would point me to the right place. 

I started exploring the areas south of Cumming, increasing my radius.  I knew that the Asian populations I have a heart for reside primarily in that region, but I had initially checked that area off my list because the rent was so expensive.  Well, now push had come to shove, and I needed something, so I tried again.

I found one! It was $1460 per month and included a fitness center, which was a nice bonus that I had been secretly praying for. I figured if the rent was going to be that much, I might as well ask God for a place to work out. 

I was nervous about applying since my income on paper looks very shaky.  I have a job that I cannot start yet, I have income with Harvest, which ends on October 11th, and verbal commitments to transfer funds to Global Service Network, but I will not receive the link to that giving portal until Monday.  I was also concerned because the application was $250.  But, I felt led to apply, so I hesitantly hit the “submit” button.  I prayed that, even if I was declined, I might have an opportunity to speak to someone and explain my situation.

Thirty minutes later, I received a phone call.  My application was, in fact, denied, but the receptionist wanted clarification regarding my income.  I nervously explained my situation, realizing full well that a secular person might not understand churches and individuals providing for my needs.  By the end of the conversation, I was fighting back the tears.  She and I worked together to figure out the best-case scenario and increased my income accordingly.  As of right now, the application is pending, and I should find out the results on Monday. I am thankful that God heard my prayer and allowed someone to listen to my situation. 

Prepared for This

Just like God prepared David for the battle with Goliath, I believe God has prepared me for this time. Since I was 5 years old, I had a special affection for the Asian community. Now, 35 years later, God has provided a way for me to minister in their communities to fight trafficking.

In the neighboring communities where I reside, one city has an Asian population of 12.67%, while another boasts of 25.4%. Just six months ago, the nation learned of a shooting that took place at several locations in Atlanta including massage parlors and spas where it is suspected that trafficking was taking place. The suspect claimed to have a “sex addiction” and seemingly blamed these women for his vice. My heart is to reach deep into the heart of these suffering communities and bring the light of Jesus to hurting hearts. https://www.npr.org/2021/07/27/1021144933/georgia-man-pleading-guilty-to-4-of-8-atlanta-area-spa-killings

Please pray with me as I seek tangible ways to get involved in the lives of those with a different culture, language, and skin color than my own. Please petition the Lord that I may find in-roads that could only be made possible through His hand.

— Blessings —

Georgia Peaches

Well, I don’t know much about Georgia peaches, but I suppose I will have time to learn because I have made plans to relocate to Cumming, GA, one hour NE of Atlanta.

While all the details haven’t yet been made clear, I sense the Lord moving me and feel very good about making the transition. Several opportunities have been presented and time, and the Lord’s leading, will make certain the path that I take.

The first opportunity, which led me to the area was a job with a private investigator agency. It would not involve human trafficking or missing children cases but would teach me the skills needed to work in the field of investigation. I had the privilege of spending one week with the agency at their Florida location and really enjoyed my time with them.

The second opportunity, which I would hope to do simultaneously, is to volunteer with the local sheriff’s office in the same city, as a reserve deputy. Two factors quickly surface when I think of why joining law enforcement appeals to me. First, I would like to be trained, not only for self-defense purposes but also to learn the basics of law and it’s enforcement. As a private investigator I desire to work closely with officers. I hope I could build a repour with the department which I can use to help victims in the future.

Another opportunity also presented itself yesterday, which merges the two options mentioned. I spoke with a gentleman who operates the Human Trafficking Response Team, which he hopes will become a 501c3. It is a network of private detectives who work with law enforcement to stop trafficking. This is ideally what I would like to do but I do not have many details yet. I am hoping to meet with the gentleman who operates this non-profit to discuss more of what this opportunity might look like if I were to volunteer with their organization.

All in all, things seem to be coming together, although the view is a little hazy right now. I have given my notice at Harvest Aviation in preparation for the move, and my last day will be Friday, September 3rd. I know the Lord will bring all the pieces together in His time.

So, what does this mean for those of you have give financially? Well, I have a huge praise! I submitted an application with Global Service Network and was accepted. GSN is an umbrella organization that supports individuals that desire to serve the Lord but do not have the capacity or desire to become their own 501c3. After a ministry proposal and a letter of recommendation from the director of Harvest Aviation, I was accepted! Partnering with this network will allow donors to continue assisting with my living expenses or even participate in sponsoring a trafficking case.

For those interested in donating finances to this new mission, I plan to provide further ministry details within the next couple of weeks. This will include a breakdown of ministry duties, how funds will be allocated, the use of time spent, and steps on how to contribute. I can also be contacted through email at lizperr@gmail.com where I can answer any specific questions you might have.

Well, here we go! Let the adventure begin…or continue! As I relocate, I face many exciting opportunities but following closely behind are the challenges that ensue. The cost of housing is almost double of what it was in Florida and apartments are difficult to come by. My employment will also be unsteady for the first few months as I develop in the private investigation trade. I know the Lord will continue provide both the opportunities and resources I need, so I will rest in that. Thank you for taking the time to read how the Lord is working in my life. I am looking forward to all that God has planned in this next chapter of my life.