Conference will help you fight injustice

Do you wonder how youcan make a difference in combating poverty, oppression and injustice?

• According to the Urban Ministry Center, there are approximately 7,000 homeless people living in Mecklenburg County, with more than 800 chronically homeless people in Charlotte.

• The U.S. Department of Justice cites federally funded investigations into more than 1,000 incidents of child sex trafficking in the United States since 2008.

• Several estimates place the number of genocide victims in South Sudan at upwards of 300,000 people.

Do these numbers overwhelm you?

Local, national and international justice leaders will come together Jan. 11-12 for the Ignite Justice Conference to be held at Forest Hill Church on Park Road. Their goal is to rally the community around such issues as poverty, orphan care, human trafficking, homelessness, genocide, racial reconciliation and more.

“Often times, people want to do something but they aren’t sure which organizations are reputable and doing effective work,” said Michele Dudley, Ignite Justice Conference coordinator.

The idea for the conference was sparked by a conversation between Dudley and Dr. Celestin Musekura, president and founder of African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries (ALARM) about how they often talk with people who are concerned about injustice and want to help, but just don’t know how to get started.

Dudley organized volunteers and brought together a forum of local churches and more than 30 local and international ministries and nonprofit organizations that are working to end injustices.

The conference will include multiple speakers, breakout sessions and opportunities to partner with participating organizations.

The event’s emcee will be Derwin Gray, pastor of Transformation Church and former football player with the Colts and Panthers.

Dudley, a member of Forest Hill Church, works for Fashion and Compassion, a nonprofit organization that connects caring consumers with artisans who are widows, survivors of sex trafficking or refugees, in order to assist them with economic empowerment.

“The Gospel calls believers to fight injustice in Jesus’ name,” said Dudley. “We want to help other people come together to make a difference in the lives of the vulnerable and the voiceless in Charlotte and around the world.”