LAKE GENEVA, WI (July 30, 2010) – A recent walk sponsored by Covenant Harbor Bible Camp and Conference Center to raise funds for Break the Chains proved to be an educational outreach as well as a way to raise funds.

Participants could walk the 26 miles around the lake or choose from various shorter routes. Participants ranged from teenagers to at least one senior adult who completed the entire circuit.

Signs erected along the path gave information about human trafficking, and at least one passerby asked how she could participate in a future walk. Others slowed to read the information, says Ann Richards, president of Women Ministries of the Central Conference.

Brenda Myers-Paul, a former prostitute from an early age, shared her story. She is now an intervention specialist with the Chicago Police Department as well as co-founder of The Dream Catcher Foundation in Chicago.

Myers-Paul said a great need exists for recovery shelters for girls ages 10-17. Establishing such a shelter in California is the focus of the Department of Women Ministries Break the Chains project.

Myers-Paul told the walk participants that while she was a prostitute, she prayed God would send her an angel who would rescue her. They came in the form of a doctor and then women who assisted at a shelter who showed her love and acceptance.

Participants paid $50 each to walk and collected sponsorships. Cherith Anderson, assistant director of adult education at Covenant Harbor, organized the walk and said the total of funds raised has not yet been determined.

Family Prays God Will Continue To Redeem Accident

REDWOOD CITY, CA – Michael “Slim” Wilton, former director of middle school ministries at Peninsula Covenant Church, believes God will redeem the accident that has left him paralyzed below the waist and hopes his own response will inspire others, says friend Evan Kolding. Kolding has kept a running journal on the CaringBridge website.

Wilton broke his neck on July 10 when he made one last dive with friends into a pond near the cabin they were staying at for one night in Twain Harte. The accident crushed his C-7 vertebrae. After being treated at different hospitals, Wilton is receiving in-patient rehab.

Friends report that at least one visitor has had his life transformed while visiting Wilton and his wife, Sheena. Kolding writes, “An older gentleman who knew Slim when he was just three or four years old came to visit Slim today.”

The man had not seen Wilton in 23 years, but had heard what happened and wanted to visit. Another member of Peninsula Covenant Church accompanied the man to the elevator after the visit. They began talking about God and the pain in the man’s own life.

“Before the man got on the elevator, he had accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior! This man, who hadn’t seen Slim in maybe 23 years, came to encourage Slim and left as the one who had walked out with new life!”

Still the road ahead is difficult, filled with emotional and physical hard times as well as those that are encouraging. An office administrator at the church noted that several church members had suffered unusual tragedies. The recent preaching series had focused on Philippians, with one of the emphases being on joy. “We thought it might be more light-hearted,” she said. So often, however, joy must be found amid the most difficult of times. And that is not easy.

Wilton had left the church in the past year for another job, but had made a huge impact on the congregation during his ministry. The church has set up a fund to help the Wiltons, who also are now looking for a home that is handicap accessible.