Friday, September 19, 2014

Blair Corbett: Offering An Ark Of Hope

Everyone's Story welcomes a very special guest this week, Blair Corbett. His wish is that what you read here will NOT be everyone's story! A man of action behind the fight against the abuse of children, human trafficking, and bullying, Blair shares with us his motivation of what has inspired him to make this his lifelong cause. Blair also has a very passionate urging for writers who want to help. Both Blair and I look forward to hearing from you, especially if you have any questions or would like to offer a word of encouragement.




The Gift Writers Can Offer by Blair Corbett

People ask what led me to start a nonprofit ministry focused on helping young and old survivors of human trafficking and child abuse. The answers lie within the blessings of my wife’s and my difficult childhoods. Between the two of us we have childhood histories of arguably every form of child abuse, neglect, chronic illness, bullying and death of family members. It was the passion for stopping those trends burned into us as individuals by our childhood histories that would draw us together far too many years later.

Those painful moments in my life were enough for me to tell myself as a pre-teen boy that I would never forget the feelings I felt from the emotional pain these caused me even though mine were not as extreme as many. Even as a youth without positive help over the deepest issues, I sensed I could somehow turn it all around for good as long as I would remember how badly the aloneness and emptiness felt.

Courtesy Ark of Hope
As a boy it seemed life was stacked against me due to chronic bronchial asthma fed by a huge list of allergies. The after effects of being a skinny, non-athletic kids made me become the kid picked last for everything and the brunt of seemingly everyone’s ill-fated jokes. Bullying was the norm outside of home, while verbal and emotional abuse fed by parental alcohol abuse was the norm within. Siblings fended for themselves with their own coping mechanisms. So nobody noticed that an opportunist who could sense love starved kids had begun grooming for pre-teen sexual advances.

Although my wife and I never knew each other until our late forties, our childhoods were wrapped in similarities. Both of us were saddled with deaths of a parent at a very young age. In her case it led to extreme neglect and emotional abuse brought on by alcohol abuse by the surviving parent. By our teen years both of us were struggling to fight through our own messes brought on by others.

I realized what was lacking in my life due to the caring of a new step-father who stepped in during my early teens. For the first time I was slowly being encouraged and empowered by an adult male role model. He may have been far from perfect in the eyes of siblings but he is the first that taught me that I was worth being cared about in a truly healthy way. He died when I was eighteen.

Courtesy Ark of Hope
Once that pain ebbed, I chose to dedicate my life to what he did for me. Later a friend led me to faith as a Christian once I moved myself past being angry at God for allowing things to happen to me as a kid.

A burning compassion led me to reach out to possibly-abused young people before the pain of their circumstances caused them to end things all too early. I chose to turn my pain around by teaching myself how to recognize kids who also seemed to be suffering as I had been. I chose to help them find a true light of hope that could burn within them even if I was only in their lives for a short time as my step-dad had been.

I came to learn that there were also adults in pain that thought they could bury the pain of their abusive past. I also came to learn that this was all much too large for me alone. Fortunately my second wife shared my passion to help others before they allowed victimization to destroy their young lives.

As we help others through the rather cutting edge works of our small nonprofit we seek ways to spread the infection of compassion for those victimized as children to adults globally. Why are we all leaning on socialized systems of care when we all probably could interact with these people in some way every week of our lives? We cannot lean on an over-burdened government run system of care when those bent on using young people for their sadistic or sexual pleasure are lurking around every corner, and in arguably every chat room. And these abusers are beating us at every turn because there are too few adults who will step out, step in and try to reach victims even before they become one.

Courtesy Ark of Hope
As an aspiring author yearning to someday pen my many thoughts on the subject of victimized youth I challenge other authors. If you write fiction you have a great opportunity to reach minds that are yearning to escape in a healthy way; through a book. Does their escape always have to come at the hands of a young magician who can battle evil using spells? Does a sense of vindication have to come through stories that teach the message of an eye for an eye, no matter how appealing that may be for a victimized person?

I believe our stories can encourage victimized youth by means of every day person’s like myself. I believe we can empower average older youth and adults to step up and step in for that one person they recognize as being in need in a truly healthy way.

I know other survivors with their own histories of abuse as children are questioning whether they can use their past to change someone else’s future. You can! And let’s mobilize an army of compassion that can work towards beating the abuser to their next victim!

Earlier I spoke of the blessings of my difficult childhood. I have come to more than embrace it, but am thankful for it because without that I never would have become who I am today. I probably would have been the average guy seeking to control the corporate ladder that everyone else had to climb. But with remembering the feelings of the past, without holding on to the pain it caused, I have been able to become an overcomer that leads others to overcome themselves.

We need more stories like that. We need stories of survivors that step up for others without the story having to end up in vengeance, shed blood, or a life filled with over run sexual desire that never heals the survivor. Stories that empower the victim and inspire the older survivor in down to earth achievable ways can make such a difference without them feeling like they can’t do it because they don’t feel like they can be that super person they so often read about. I love to read stories like that!

Blair suggests watching these 2 videos. The first is a very powerful one on human traffickinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6W3tDdAkIE The second one is about Blair's Removing Chains Survivor Support Site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8AopdqHJSE

Blair's Ah-hahs To Tweet:
Does #ChildAbuse, #HumanTrafficking, & #Bullying turn you sour? See what Blair Corbett is doing. (Tweet This)

Everyone has a story: Blair Corbett shares “the blessings of my difficult childhood.” (Tweet This)

Check out Blair Corbett’s, of ArkOfHope @abusedkids, big request for writers. (Tweet This)

Author's Bio:
Blair Corbett uses his own negative childhood experiences and his faith to transform the lives of victimized children, as well as adults abused as children. His nonprofit, Ark of Hope for Children, is a faith-based human rights organization that provides support and increases awareness for survivors of child trafficking, all forms of child abuse and bullying.

Their live chat survivor support site called Removing Chains focuses on life transformation through impassioned listeners and connecting survivors with local professional support. Fifteen text chat rooms provide group or private support through volunteer Listeners, Mentors and other survivors. The focused chat rooms serve young and adult survivors of child abuse, rooms for female or male survivors, child trafficking, ritual and religious abuse and more.

Through Ark of Hope’s Harbourage Transitional Living Center of north central Florida they provide emergency short-term care for rescued victims of human trafficking. Also in the works on a national scale is their UnChained Project to bring localized support and awareness to child abuse, trafficking and bullying survivors in the communities where they live.

Blair was ordained in 2008 under the non-denominational umbrella of Faith Family Harvest International as a Pastoral missionary to abused children, not as a traditional teaching pastor. He has received a Bachelor of Christian Counseling degree from DaySpring Christian University; and an Honorary Doctorate of Ministry from Trinity Theological Seminary of South Florida. Blair and wife Verna have ten adult children, including five adopted from foster care, most of which are special needs. 


Places to connect with Blair:


36 comments:

  1. Wow! Great message. May God use this blog to increase awareness of your mission. Thank you for the work you are doing through Ark of Hope.

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    1. Lisa, thanks for your very kind words.

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    2. Thank you Lisa. From your lips to God's ears, to action by faithful Christians. :-) I am so grateful that Elaine allowed us this opportunity.

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  2. This is such a difficult subject to comprehend--not that I doubt the reality, just that there is such a prevalence. You've given me much to think about. Bless you for your work.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Pat. You're so right--it's difficult to absorb the horrible horizon of how many are forced to live on this planet, but reality is reality for a reason. I'm thankful there are blessed people like Blair that roll up their sleeves to do the hard work, and blessed people as yourself who feel the pangs for these innocent people to pray and to think twice about.

      Did you catch Blair's request to writers? He has me thinking, and re-thinking!!

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    2. Thank you Patricia. There is such a prevalence and a huge need indeed. One thing strikes me as I read something you said on your page "I truly believe God has a sense of humor". I recall now that God gave me a sense of humor through it all to find things to laugh and grow my own sense of humor as a young person to help me fight the internal pain. It truly worked. Perhaps that is the divine angle for you. Showing others how sense of humor and finding God in it all can indeed help us through whatever we face

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    3. I worked in the abstinence program with 5-12 grades and it was so sad to see some of the situations these children lived in.

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    4. Yeah it is sad... some of these kids lives. They find us online hoping to find an ear and talking out because they can remain relatively anonymous.

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  3. I've Stumbled upon a very nice blog on children rights. nice work.

    http://www.owenhabel.blogspot.com

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    1. Welcome, Owen, to Everyone's Story. It's exciting that you're from Kenya and came across my blog. I see that you're an advocate for children who live on the street. Bless you in your efforts.

      Hope to see you again.

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    2. Thank you Owen! In turn I have read through your blog as well. Bravo, I love your writing. On our Removing Chains survivor support chat site we have had a few come from Africa. It is indeed a shrinking world thanks to the internet. :-)

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  4. Blair, heartfelt thanks for being courageous and bold enough to be thankful for your rough childhood. With each passing day I too have come to accept my own bumpy and often tear-filled past to see that it has shaped me into the person I am. An "overcomer"! I like that!

    I don't think God ever meant for any of his precious children to have rough starts in life, or endure the interrupted horrors of human trafficking, but we're certainly meant to overcome it and to excel in His name.

    Blair, I give thanks to you today for being one who has the heart to help others out of those chains you've described.

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    1. Thank you Elaine for those kind words and for your own courage as a passion-filled overcomer! Thanks especially for the opportunity to be a guest blog author and for all you do through using your site to allow for exposure for others in addition to your own fine words and works.

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    2. You are so welcome, Blair. Your kind words will help to carry me through this new day.

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  5. Thank you, Blair, for all the work you do to help others who have been through abuse. I love your line, "And these abusers are beating us at every turn because there are too few adults who will step out, step in and try to reach victims even before they become one." We all need to speak up for those who can't speak for themselves.

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    1. Wanda, thanks for your visit. Aware that you're an advocate for those who suffer abuse, your words are powerful and encouraging.

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    2. Amen Wanda! We need a front line army. The time for abusers to have their way with our young people unhindered until after the fact is no longer good enough. Their numbers are multiplying but I pray they have awakened a sleeping giant within the many of us that feel enough is enough!
      God bless, Blair

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  6. Excellent post! I share the passion for delivering/restoring precious abused children everywhere and have written a series on that very topic (human trafficking of children) contained in three novels (Deliver Me From Evil, Special Delivery, The Deliverer). May we never forget or stop working/praying for these dear little ones!

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    1. So well said, Kathi. Bless you for writing on this topic.

      Thanks for visiting.

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    2. Excellent work Kathi! I so appreciate any boos that bring to light the reality of human trafficking and the pain it causes for its victims. It is so important that people get a glimpse of the reality. Sadly, it seems, so many think that once rescued a victim of child abuse or trafficking just "get's better" but the truth is most often so far from that. Thanks for your work!

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    3. Now, that's an eye-opener to me, Blair. Yet, I understand that any post-trauma victim needs help even when the "trauma" ends. Hands on work and prayer, for sure. I'm glad you have an on-line means for these children to communicate.

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    4. Yes Elaine, so many have found us online through our many social network sites that we knew we needed a safer place for them to meet. A place where they could separate even from their online identities where often times hardly anybody really knows of their inner turmoil.

      I was blessed to have an adult male survivor of extreme ritual abuse live with us at our transitional living shelter who shared my passion. Together we built the site and learned how to make it as safe as possible. He has since passed on due to a brain aneurysm brought on by extreme high blood pressure, brought on by years of severe abuse and mental damage. He is at rest and the work continues as now survivors from the far reaches of the globe find us and risk telling their stories often for the first time.

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    5. Blair, I had to read your last post several times and yet the scope and horror of what one person can do to another robs me of sensible words. Thank you for opening your home, heart, and caring arms to these people.

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  7. Blair: May God continue to bless your involvement in Ark of Hope. Watching all those victims' faces on the video was so touching. One that really resonated was of two little girls--perhaps sisters--standing together and holding hands. They seemed to be wondering what would happen to them next. I shudder to imagine.

    May each of us add the situation of human trafficking to our prayer lists.

    Thank your, Elaine, for hosting this wonderful blog site.

    Blessings,
    KB Schaller, Author

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    1. KB, I'm delighted to see you again... hoping to see what you would share with us. You've sweetly reminded me that I need to expand my prayers, and we all know the power of prayer. And the trusting that must follow.

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    2. Thank you KB Schaller. Yes many of the images captured in that video are so dramatic. I don't know where the video producer found them. Some are too shocking so I covered them with words but we felt the realistic images are so important for people to grasp the realities and thereby support the work of agencies like ours.

      Thank you, God has indeed blessed us. We need ongoing prayer for strength and resources.

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  8. Hi Elaine & Blair -

    I'm thankful the Lord is raising up people to speak out of these issues. A good friend of mine, Susan Panzica, co-founded Justice Network in New Jersey. I've sent her a link to this post.

    Blessings,
    Susan

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    1. Susan, so good to see you. Thanks for forwarding the link on Blair's segment to your friend.

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    2. Thank you so much Susan for your comment, your work and for passing the link to this article on to Susan Panzica.

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  9. Thanks Blair... this is a subject very close to my heart...having experienced childhood abuse as well as seeing family members suffer the same fate.

    As a writer/author I have been honored to help a number of abuse victims to write their stories/books. As they see how others can be helped by reading the stories more and more healing comes.. I appreciate all you are doing ...I agree with Elaine when she said, "I don't think God ever meant for any of his precious children to have rough starts in life, or endure the interrupted horrors of human trafficking, but we're certainly meant to overcome it and to excel in His name."

    With folks like you Blair, and your wife many more of us can find hope and be healed.

    God Bless, Wanda Winters-Gutierrez

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Wanda. And thanks for helping to make this world a better place.

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    2. Thank you so much Wanda,
      I agree with Elaine too. God never intended for of his children to face pain and suffering. Yet as they persevere my prayer is that through the work many of us are doing, such as you are with assisting victims in sharing their stories, that many will be motivated to fight and inspired to get help. Thank you for your work and God bless you!

      Blair

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  10. May God bless your work, Blair! You are truly doing His work. I share your enthusiasm for stories that empower and heal. Thank you for sharing, Elaine!

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    1. Kathy, I appreciate your visit today and encouragement to Blair, which in return encourages me!

      Enjoy ACFW this week.

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  11. It's been a very humbling week to host such a vital guest as Blair Corbett of Ark Of Hope For Children. Viewers from all over the world have stopped by; I can only pray and hope that the attention Blair needs to bring to society's eyes about these suffering victims comes to light.

    Blair, thank you for being such a great guest and from taking time from your busy schedule, both work wise and personal wise, to appear on Everyone's Story. You are the champion for many. I thank God for you.

    Blessings to all.

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