Yesterday it was announced publicly so I’m now free to share here.

I’m starting a new job.

Starting June 1st, I will be the Director of Programs for the Araminta Freedom Initiative. The organization’s mission is to “awaken, equip, and mobilize” the Church and community to end Human Trafficking in the Baltimore area. Specifically they are focused on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking – boys and girls under the age of 18, from the U.S., who are being sold in the U.S. for sexual purposes.

As the Director of Programs, I will be “responsible for overall program development and implementation.” Right now there are six teams going:

The Aftercare Team – works with survivors or boys/girls coming out of the life.
The Training Team – certifies new Araminta volunteers by holding routine training sessions. Currently there are close to 300 certified volunteers.
The Education Team – provides training on the issue and how to help end Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking for community groups and professionals all over the state.
The Church Engagement Team – empowers churches to join in the mission.
Prayer Team – Suffocates the problem with prayer.
The Systemic Economic Deterrence Team (SED Team for short) – creates economic barriers that will make the trade of children for sex incredibly difficult.

This summer we are also going to be working on a Demand Team that will look to stem demand and a Social Media Team (which has already begun) that will help us get our mission out to the world.

I have a partner. Her name is Kara. She is the Director of Volunteer Operations. She’s in charge of the training, tracking, and managing all the volunteers. She oversees the Aftercare Team and the Training Team. She’s awesome and I’m really excited about working with her. Kara and I work under an amazing Executive Director named Alicia – also awesome, also excited about working with her.  The final member of the team is a great Administrative Guru (I’m not sure of her official title). Her name is also Alicia, but it’s pronounced differently, which has already totally thrown me for a loop. I will never keep it straight. Thus I have nicknamed her AC.  The team is amazing and I’m honored to be a member of it.

There are two things about the job that intimidate me:

1) For the past two years these teams have been primarily volunteer led. These volunteer leaders have done an amazing job. What they’ve accomplished in two years is beyond impressive – it’s down right spectacular. They are fantastic people. I’m excited to come alongside them. I’m going to do my best not to slow them down.

2) Before hiring me, the Director of Programs spot was filled on a part-time bases by my friend Mark. Like the volunteer leaders, what Mark has done in a part-time role is astounding. I’ve already given up on trying to fill his shoes.

Valley hired me five years ago to help them through a season of transition. My first day on the job I printed off a small sign that read “Finish it by November of 2014.”  I hung the sign in a place in my office where only I would notice it. (Of course Chad, the new Head Pastor at Valley, noticed it right away because he notices everything.) Every time I left my office I touched it to remind myself that I had a mission to accomplish.

This weekend I’ve been debating what to put on the new sign. “End It By ???”  I believe without a doubt that Araminta is going to bring an end to Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking in the Baltimore area.

Oh, we’re going to end it.

My only question is, how long will it take us?