Rain became sleet. The wind challenged the limits of our umbrellas. I waited for the bus with my son on a freezing December morning… in a dress.

Bless you, Creator of fleece-lined leggings.

Why was I wearing such inappropriate clothing? I’ll tell you.

Last year, a friend of mine wore a dress every day in December and posted the cutest pictures on Instagram. It was “Dressember.” I admired her courage to wear such drafty clothing during one of the coldest months of the year. The month came and went and I forgot about her fashion challenge.

Then an acquaintance on Twitter posted something about Dressember and sex trafficking awareness at the end of November. That’s what Dressember is for? I let the idea simmer. Maybe I’ll participate.

December 1 came. I forgot. But while I was getting dressed on December 3 and contemplating living advent on purpose, the challenge bounced around in my mind something like this:

Could I wear dresses every day for the rest of the month?

Ugh. That would get old.

It’s a lot worse to be a sex slave.

If they live like that, I can wear dresses for a month.

I put on my first dress, snapchatted my sisters, posted a pic on social media, and began to research what I was really doing.

 

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Dressember began by a lone woman who decided she wanted to make a difference. Appalled by the reality of sexual slavery, she wore a dress every day of December to raise awareness of this modern day tragedy.

The next year her friends joined. The next, friends of friends. It continued to snowball until in 2013 “Dressember” turned into an international campaign.

IN ITS FIRST YEAR OF FUNDRAISING, DRESSEMBER HAD 1,233 REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS IN 32 COUNTRIES ACROSS 6 CONTINENTS WHO COLLECTIVELY RAISED OVER $165,000 USD. 100% OF THE FUNDS RAISED IN 2013 WENT DIRECTLY TO INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION. IN 2014, PARTICIPATION DOUBLED, AND THE FUNDS RAISED NEARLY TRIPLED, AT OVER $465,000 RAISED. Dressember.org

By wearing dresses, we are standing in unity with women who have been abused and held captive because of their femininity. By posting photos on social media, we are “the voice for those who don’t have a voice.” (Blythe Hill, founder of Dressember) 

Dressember: We are “the voice for those who don’t have a voice.” (Blythe Hill, founder of Dressember)
By joining in the campaign, we are corporately making a difference in the systemic problem which affects every major city in the world.

Lord have mercy.

Please pray. The Bible says the money denied an underpaid servant cries out against the slave driver (James 5:1-6); how much more does God hear our prayers for those who are suffering?

Each morning as I get dressed and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror I say a simple prayer: God be with them. I believe it makes a difference. He knows the woman who needs our prayers. He sees. He works. He rescues.

He uses you.

I initially joined Dressember thinking I would only advocate. I would not give. I would not ask for money. After all, December is an expensive month for all of us. But as I have gotten dressed each morning, intentionally wearing dresses that at times are impractical, uncomfortable, and cold, I think of her. The woman locked in a room. Raped. Alone.

Please give. I have a humble goal: $100. I’ve put a dent in the goal with my own donation. Would you consider giving $5? You can give here.

We can make a difference. You can make a difference. One woman at a time.

Dressember 2015 from Dressember on Vimeo.