Genesis
The beginning thought that has evolved into Rescue to Royalty started several years ago. I was re-connected with my Youth Pastor on Facebook.
“Pastor Von” was his name. In a way he was the antithesis of many pastors. He preached sacrifice and service and lived his life as an example. For some 50 years he served the poorest of the poor in and around Tijuana, Mexico. Feeding, clothing, loving thousands of kids and giving very basic sustenance to bridge the gap for this population.
He was the “Father Teresa” of sorts and surrogate father, grandfather and saint to so many of the forgotten.
He passed around age 86, just a few years ago, serving until the last few weeks of his journey here on earth.
He understood the idea of winning the right to be heard by his example. It was amazing to see a room full of kids listening to this old man teaching from the sayings of Jesus.
He served in some of the most dangerous Barrios filled with gangs and poverty and death, serving what he affectionately called “his people”. Such an irony that an old austere German man in temperament and stature would be called to serve those in the Latin culture.
The irony is that the “gangs” were filled with many whom he had washed and clothed and fed as kids. It was also these gangs who, in a sense protected Pastor Von. It was known among them that he always carries decent amount of cash to dispense among the people on his regular trips to the barrios in which they lived.
$5 to one family for vegetables to get them thru the week or maybe several hundred to pay the fee to recover the body of a loved one and provide for a simple funeral.
He had thousands of stories of his experiences and would say, humbly, that he had never been robbed or mugged.
His main focus was the fatherless young men and boys who lived in the slums.
However, it was a story he shared of a single mother, who had 3 kids and no income that sparked the initial idea for me. Apparently she had an arrangement with the corner market owner to visit him early in the morning to sexually service him for basic provisions.
I thought to myself:
That’s a sh@#*t way to live!
WHAT IF
The woman in Tijuana, Mexico, just minutes south of the border from San Diego, was provided a design and a kit of build a materials to put together some of the assembly types necklaces and bracelets?
WHAT IF
She could be connected to the designer, jewelry maker in San Diego?
This way the jewelry maker could expand her business cost effectively while the woman in Tijuana, Mexico could make a living and live with some dignity.
I talked this idea up, however as with many nonprofits who have done things the same way for decades, there was no resonance or interest.
So I put this idea on the shelf where it sat for a few years. It would come back to me occasionally but I didn’t seem to see a pathway forward.
Then I read about a documentary called, as I recall,
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
It was about a group of ex cia, navy seals and Army Rangers, who were frustrated with the corruption and collusion around the Sex slavery industry. They decided to work legislatively and conduct sting operations where they would act as customers and bust the perps/pimps and rescue, on the spot, the kids held in bondage and forced into prostitution.
Once the slaves were freed they would be taken to a safe house and
Rehab Home
where they are safe, protected, clothed, fed and loved back to health with counseling and a new life.
As part of their rehabilitation is to teach them
MARKETABLE SKILLS
In order to integrate them back into self sustainable life.
So another light bulb went on in my head with the thought of
WHAT IF
teaching them assembling beaded necklaces and bracelets and the like would create a marketable product and allow each of them of living with the dignity of work.
I pitched the idea to a few folks, they liked it but it sat in the idea state for another period of time.
This is where my thinking started to evolve and expand beyond my comfort zones!
Please bear with me as I digress. Much of my life has been invested in theology and understanding God, more specifically our Origins. I have a friend who I would discuss a wide range of questions and issues exploring some of these deep issues with for hours at a time.
What I realized more than ever is that there were distinctly different “Theos-thinking”. One I had been attracted to but conflicted about was what I call
KINGDOM THEOLOGY
The idea that we are to usher the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth TODAY AND NOW! This as opposed to merely sacrificing and suffering for hope of a reward in the next life.
The reason I was conflicted is that it seemed very self centered.
The idea that we are ROYALTY was always a difficult concept with our earthly examples.
However, the simple concept of enriching others was easy to understand.
The birthright of the family of God is wealth and prosperity in order to give and love all the more.
That is where the Royalty part comes in “Rescue-to-Royalty”
As I thought about the plight of the 20,000,000+ purported people who have been kidnapped, seduced, or sold by their parents (knowingly or unknowingly), it just felt like a raw deal!
This compared to parents who loved, provided, taught discipline, work ethic, financial wisdom and investing and growing wealth over time.
So I began to think about a Second chance with new parents of sorts in designing this venture. The idea that a trust fund to grow wealth with the hopes empowering each participant to feel secure and not fall back into any fear based decisions.
Even more,the idea that there will be a segment of these cottage industry networks who will be raised up to take the charge of advocacy against the scourge of human trafficking from whence they came.
Imagine in 10-15 years the potential of a new generation of leaders empowered and supported from these ranks.
I realize there are security concerns around the rescued slaves, and this thought needs to be well thought out, but imagine the healing power around the love and well wishes and support of a global community for one of these precious souls who are given a second chance.
Whereas before their kidnapping or seduction into the human trafficking world, this second chance allows each more opportunity to dream again and fulfill their dreams.
WHAT IF
this venture was instrumental in building this community with the first simple step of shifting some of its purchases toward these handmade necklaces and bracelets.
Imagine if just a few of the gifts the average person purchases each year was made from the Rescue-to-Royalty on-line store.
This is a very simple way to fight the INJUSTICE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND HUMAN SLAVERY.
For me, regardless of the language or tradition one comes from, the idea of a SECOND CHANCE at an empowered life is a worthy endeavor!
As I continued to meditate on this idea and how to make it exceptional, the idea that this population should elevate to a state of…
ROYALTY
This was where the domain name, “Rescue-to-Royalty, comes from.
So as a part of each sale a portion of the sale will be invested in a growth trust fund for those who make the decision to be involved in program, this venture. The objective is to build a foundation of wealth,over time, for each participant.
Plus, part of the effort will be to teach the beneficiary of the trust fund how money works and compounds.
So this is my story in how this idea has evolved as we move forward to attract partners and see this become a reality.
So rather than setting this up as a non profit, I’m seeing it as a “for benefit” entity. From the go we see our mission as a Road-to-Rescue.
That is our purpose.
EXPLORE CURRENT JEWELRY.
SHOP BY DESIGNER.
DONATE TO AN EDUCATION FUND.