Apr 03 2007
LOCAL WRITER URGES PRAYER FOR ABUSED WOMEN, KIDS
By LAURA TESTER Advocate staff
A Red Deer writer is encouraging people to pray for millions of mistreated women and children around the world. Andrew Kooman said there is at least one thing people can do here to put a stop to gender-based injustice.
“I believe there’s power in prayer and that it will lead to action and change,” said Kooman, 27. Kooman got involved in 30 Days of Prayer for the Voiceless, a booklet that researches 30 issues, including slavery, female genital mutilation and starvation.
Each issue has a photo, a creative story, as well as suggested points of prayer and action. Kooman met Paul and Suzi Childers — the brains behind the booklet — in Kona, Hawaii, in 2003.“They are really interested in issues of social justice,” Kooman said. The couple asked if Kooman would contribute. He wrote 14 out of the 30 short stories. One tells the story of poor parents who sell their 11-year-old girl to an Indian brothel so she can earn the family money. Each story is based on thorough research.
Kooman said he was startled to learn what many women and children face each day of their lives. For example, an estimated 10 million children are engaged in some facet of sex trade. Each year, at least one million children, mostly girls, become prostitutes.
Kooman said people can make a difference, just like William Wilberforce. The British politician was successful in getting a bill passed in 1807 to abolish the slave trade. “He believed it was possible and no one else really did,” Kooman said.
Kooman hopes to sell 1,000 copies out of 100,000 being distributed worldwide. They are being translated into five languages. “If 100,000 people were to pray for five minutes a day for 30 days, that would equal 28.5 years worth of prayer towards the issues.”
Profits from his sales will go to Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre, as well as Save Africa Now, which is building an orphanage in Tanzania. Proceeds will also benefit PhotogenX, which created the book.
Copies are available at Chapters and Scott’s Parable Christian Stores. They run about $5. They are also available through Kooman’s website, www.raisetheirvoice.wordpress.com
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Contact Laura Tester at ltester@reddeeradvocate.com
© Copyright 2007 Red Deer Advocate
