Homeless Man on Book Cover Leads to Reuniting of Family

An Unexpected Christmas Hero finds his way home

SUN CITY, Calif., Dec. 4, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- It is a story made for Christmas, family, reunions, and miracles. It started with a homeless man, a family that missed him, and a book cover.

Bestselling author, Kathi Macias finished her manuscript for Unexpected Christmas Hero (New Hope Publishers) and handed it over to her editor. Meanwhile, photographer and designer Michael Lê was assigned the task of finding a homeless man who fit the physical representation of Macias' character. Lê and wife Christine were in Ashville, North Carolina last Christmas when they stopped their car and asked a homeless man by the name of Willard Parker if he would be willing to pose for some pictures.

Parker agreed. He also began to reveal glimpses into his own sad story. He lost his house. He lost touch with his daughters and grandchildren. He said his life had not turned out the way he'd hoped. Now destitute, he was walking the streets and looking for the next place to find a hot meal and a bed. He told Lê, how he longed to see his daughters but had no idea where they were or how that could happen.

When Macias heard the story, she prayed the cover would help reunite father and family. Unexpected Christmas Hero released in mid-October and fell into the hands of a woman who knew Willard's 26-year-old daughter, Amber. The mother of his 2 and 5-year-old grandchildren, Amber went online and found the cover of the book. It was indeed her dad. She wept. But where was he? How could she find him? Where does one find a homeless person who keeps moving from town to town?

Driving near Ashville North Carolina Willard's estranged wife unexpectedly spotted him walking down the sidewalk and picked him up. Willard has acute leukemia and not in good health but kept talking about getting the family back together. He says, "When I had my picture taken for the book cover, all I wanted was for it to help me get back with my family. It worked, and I'm really grateful."

Amber is equally as excited. "I'm so happy. I can't wait to be together again," she says. "You never know how long you have on this earth and all he [my dad] wants is his family together." In spite of the reunion by phone with daughters Amber and Rebecca (Willard is now in Toledo, Ohio), both are eager to see their dad and bring this unexpected Christmas miracle to fruition.

To help reunite a family this Christmas go to: gogetfunding.com/project/reunite-a-family

To see more about Kathi Macias -- kathimacias.com

To schedule an interview with Kathi Macias contact Don Otis -- interviews@veritasincorporated.com

Christian Newswire

Free for Life International is Offering a New Innovative Tool in the Fight Against Sex Trafficking

Contact: Colette Bercu, C.E.O., Free for Life International, 800-335-8835
FRANKLIN, Tenn., Dec. 4, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Free for Life International is pleased to offer their multilingual phrasebook, an anti-trafficking tool consisting of questions to ask a suspected victim in 47 different languages. This is now available to service providers throughout the world who may want to use it to identify a trafficking victim in the high-risk immigrant and refugee community. This material is a part of a larger Free for Life project called the Emergency Multilingual Phrasebook for Healthcare Providers, a project focused on the medical community.

This Multilingual phrasebook offers 12 questions that a social service provider, law enforcement officer, non-profit organization, or medical provider might use to determine if an individual is a victim of human trafficking. This tool is primarily focused on identifying victims within a population group where English is not the primary language spoken. With questions available in 47 languages, an interested individual can print or download this set of questions in their native language along with a set of questions in the language of the suspected potential victim. This will facilitate the communication between these 2 individuals who may otherwise be unable to effectively communicate. With languages from Albanian to Welsh, Hungarian to Kurdish, including many African and Asian languages, Free for Life believes that this tool can actually bring about the rescue of individuals who are trapped in sex slavery. The material can be printed directly from the webpage in an attractive and easy to read format, and is offered free of charge.

Colette Bercu, CEO & Founder of Free for Life and co-author of this material states; "We would encourage anyone who has a need or an interest in this material to go ahead and use it freely, and to share it with your colleagues or co-workers."

To use this material go to: www.freeforlifeintl.org/get-involved/multilingual-phrase-book

Free for Life International is a 501©3 non-profit organization that has been involved in the fight against sex slavery since 2006. Their mission is to provide financial, emotional, and spiritual support to individuals and organizations globally in the fight against sex slavery. The primary focus of their work is on shelter support, border interception stations, scholarships, and sustainable programs. In addition to their work here in the United States, they have been working in Romania, India, Nepal, and Nicaragua during these past six years.

Gen XXX: Teens Addicted in a World Awash in Porn

When it comes to pornography, no one is immune. It affects men and women of all ages.

Today, teenagers are bombarded with these images like never before through the Internet. They're growing up in a world awash in X-rated material.

It's a $97 billion business every year, making more than top tech companies Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, eBay, Google, and Yahoo combined.

Roughly 12 percent of the world's websites, 4.2 million of them, offer the illicit material. About 2.5 billion pornographic emails whiz through cyberspace everyday--a whopping 8 percent of all the world's daily emails.

Possibly most astounding of all, 67 percent of men and 49 percent of women now say porn is acceptable.

The Porn Generation

As for young people, the average age they first see it is now 11 years old. Ninety percent of those 8 to 16 years old say they've viewed it online.

Many are now becoming addicted. It's an addiction that could ruin their future lives.

Former addict C.J. Hitz, from Colorado Springs, Colo., was first exposed to porn magazines at age 8, and it led to years of addiction to pornography.

"Our society is just saturated with it," Hitz, author of Forgiveness Formula, told CBN News. "Today's young generation receives more temptation per second than any other generation in the history of mankind."

Every second, 28,258 people are looking at X-rated material online. Every second, people are spending $3,075 on such material.

"Before, pornography was like this dirty, secretive, dark subculture," Aubrey Terry, with the Human Trafficking Task Force in Southern Colorado, said.

She blames the Internet for much of the present X-rated epidemic.

"Now it's accessible to everyone. Now it's everyday life," she said.

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Faith Organizations to Display 'Live Nativity Scene' with Animals in Front of the United States Supreme Court and the United States Capitol Building

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- The display is part of "The Nativity Project" which is a nationwide campaign to share the message of Christmas and also to confront the erosion and hostility toward public expressions of faith especially during the Christmas Season.

The Nativity Scene, sponsored by Faith and Action and The Christian Defense Coalition, will be held on Wednesday, December 5, at 10:30 A.M.

The groups will meet at 109 2nd Street NE (right behind the Supreme Court) at 10:30 A.M., for a news conference to discuss religious freedom and "The Nativity Project."

There will then be a processional with the live animals and actors, in front of the Supreme Court and past the U.S. Capitol Building which will end back at 109 2nd Street.

The "Live Nativity Scene" expects to be on the public sidewalk in front of the Supreme Court around 11:00 A.M.

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, states,

"Sadly, we are seeing an erosion and hostility toward public expressions of faith in the public square. This is especially true during the Christmas season.

"'The Nativity Project' is a reminder that our Constitution provides freedom 'of' religion not freedom 'from' religion. By encouraging people of good will to publicly display Nativity Scenes all across America, we are not only supporting religious liberty and First Amendment freedoms but we are loudly proclaiming the powerful message of Christmas.

"That timeless message needs to be heard now more than ever: 'Peace on earth and goodwill toward man.'

"Our hope and prayer is that many will secure permits, as we did in front of the Supreme Court, to display nativity scenes in front of public buildings all across our nation and also to place them on the lawns of their homes.

"Simply stated, if we are granted a permit to display a Nativity Scene in front of the United States Supreme Court, then every person out to be able to display one in their own community."

Rev. Rob Schenck, President of Faith and Action, adds,

"The traditional creche, portraying Mary, Joseph and the Christ Child, along with angels, shepherds, Wise Men and animals, remind us of what Christmas is all about.

"The fact that we have been granted a permit to hold this 'Live Nativity Scene' in front of the Supreme Court ensures the right for every American to set up these public displays in communities all across America.

"We like to refer to this effort as keeping Christ Mass in the nation's Capital and throughout the nation."

For more information or interviews call:

Rev. Patrick Mahoney at 540.538. 4741

Rev. Rob Schenck at 703.447.7686

Christian Newswire