Get His Voice Heard

Zach Hunter is 15 years old. In the past year or so, he has helped raise over $200,000, including donating over $20,000 of his own money from speaking and book royalties. Yes, book royalties. His passion at 15 years old: to free slaves, and end modern day slavery. His story is amazing, and his book royalties come from his book, "Be The Change." This is a teen with vision, passion, and a heart that beats with Christ's for the broken and hurting, and he's willing to do what it takes, not just bemoan the fact that slavery happens. He has his own web site, and is the student spokesman for "The Amazing Change," a campaign inspired by the movie, "Amazing Grace." He was at the YS NYWC event that Shari and I went to in October, and was fairly well spoken (though he couldn't sit still - it was funny to watch the interviewers discomfort in a "I feel sorry for her" sort of way). He has spoken all over the world, and been on several news shows, some multiple times. He's an amazing young man, and God is using him because he has a heart fully committed to God's call, yet he's still a fifteen year old kid.

There are many things I could say about Zach. Marko posted this morning about him, and Zach's mother commented on that post. I would encourage you to go read it, but here's the quote that caught my eye:
"...he knows he’s just a regular kid and a very unlikely choice for God to use as He has been. But, he also said he wondered if the youth workers really understand that there are some radical world changers right in their own youth groups just waiting for someone to breathe life into their dreams. Don’t you wonder what significant life altering, world changing ideas are sitting in the very back of the youth group room?"
As a youth pastor, that, too, was challenging, and I vaguely remember him saying something like that at the conference, but it carried more weight for me in print. It made me think of a few teens in my group that I think have the passion, energy, and willingness to do what it takes, even go against the flow of "comfortable church life," to make a change in their world, or in the world.

So, after all, that, the reason I'm writing (yeah, I'm as good as Pastor Doug for getting on rabbit trails) is to encourage you to help get Zach's message out there. As you can read in Marko's post, Zach's been nominated by CNN for hero of the year in the youth category. They're looking for people to vote between now and Nov. 12. The winner will not only get to proclaim their message again through CNN's interview in December, but they'll also receive a cash prize, which Zach will donate towards aftercare and education for rescued slaves. So, go here to vote for Zach, and help this Godly young man get the word out even more about ending modern slavery. It took William Wilberforce years (I think 20, but don't quote me on that - I don't want to take the time to look it up) before he saw slavery abolished in England, but he had to start somewhere. Zach (and other organizations) have started - let's help them keep the fight going. Go here to cast your vote. BTW - As Marko says, Zach's raised many more thousands of dollars than just the $20,000 mentioned by CNN. That's just what he's personally raised out of his own pocket.