{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"The News Journal","provider_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net","title":"Local church changing lives, one Christmas tree at a time &ndash; The News Journal","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"5WxfGcqnfL\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/local-church-changing-lives-one-christmas-tree-time\/\">Local church changing lives, one Christmas tree at a time<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/local-church-changing-lives-one-christmas-tree-time\/embed\/#?secret=5WxfGcqnfL\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Local church changing lives, one Christmas tree at a time&#8221; &#8212; The News Journal\" data-secret=\"5WxfGcqnfL\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Mike-and-Barrineau-with-tree-4x.jpg","thumbnail_width":480,"thumbnail_height":371,"description":"They are calling it a \u201cpurchase with a purpose.\u201d The simple act of buying a Christmas tree is an annual tradition for many families. But this year, it can also save a life. New Hope Ministries Church of God, in Corbin, is partnering with the \u201cBuy a Tree, Change a Life\u201d charity to help fund efforts in Southeast Asia to combat the human trafficking of children. The church has 200 trees for sale. A portion of the sale of each tree helps fund People for Care and Learning, a non-governmental organization that promotes sustainable farming methods and English as a second language in the region. \u201cThe story really started when a few of us went to Southeast Asia in 2014 to build 10 homes for displaced families,\u201d says Mike Addison, senior minister at New Hope. \u201cWhen we got there, what we say resonate with us. It\u2019s the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.\u201d Through People for Care and Learning, New Hope, along with many other churches, helps to fund orphanages in Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Thailand that gives safe haven to children rescued from human trafficking. Many of those children are sold into forced labor or the sex trade. \u201cIt\u2019s not just until they are 12 or 18-years-old either,\u201d Addison said. \u201cIt\u2019s for a lifetime. We send them to elementary and high school, but we also help them go to college. We try to give the poor a working chance, that\u2019s how we look at it.\u201d New Hope is currently selling Christmas trees near Campbell Motors on U.S. 25E just outside of Corbin. Trees are available for purchase from noon to 8:00 p.m. daily. Last year was the first year the church participated in the \u201cBuy a Tree, Change a Life\u201d program. It raised $10,000 and was one of just 20 sites nationwide taking part. This year, the number of sites has more than doubled. Addison said New Hope has set a goal of $15,000. \u201cWe are going to blow that out of the water,\u201d Addison said confidently. \u201cI have faith that we will do that.\u201d All told, \u201cBuy a Tree, Change a Life\u201d raised $283,000 last year. This year, the goal is $1 million. \u201cWe have missionaries on the ground saving the children. They are literally saving their lives,\u201d Addison said. \u201cHuman trafficking just overtook guns as the second largest black market in the world, and nobody has an answer for it. It\u2019s sad. It\u2019s an epidemic.\u201d \u201cOne tree at a time, one child at a time, we are trying to make a difference.\u201d Addison said some of the money raised through the program would also be used to help with needs in the Corbin Independent School System. He said it is important for churches to focus on local problems, and ones further away from home. \u201cI\u2019ve been to 14 countries, and I have found in my own walk with Jesus that if I can reach people on the other side of the world, I\u2019ll have no problem reaching people across the street.\u201d He also noted that what people consider \u201cpoverty\u201d in the United States often pales in comparison to other areas of the world. In Southeast Asia, the average family lives on 24 cents a day. \u201cDoing this helps people and it provides us with an avenue to share Jesus in practical ways,\u201d Addison said. \u201cPeople are going to be buying Christmas trees this year, and if you do, you know what you spend on one of these trees is going for a good cause \u2026 to help children globally and locally.\u201d"}