Jackson Free Press

With the help of the community, The Journey Ministries Coordinator Shaunti Dennis is raising money for church members to take a mission trip to Tanzania, Africa, this summer. The goal of the mission is to help young girls who are victims of human and sex trafficking.

Dennis, along with her husband Ronnie Dennis and seven church members, will travel to the village of Moshi June 28 to work with the organization Courage to Be You. The program provides stable housing, education services and counseling for minors ages 11 to 17 who are victims of sex trafficking.

Dennis says the church members, who have been fundraising for months, still need about $5,000 to fund the trip. She encourages community members to attend a benefit concert for the trip tomorrow at the Commons at Eudora Welty's Birthplace. The concert features live music by the Strange Pilgrims and a performance by Front Porch Dance Company.

"The cause is important," Dennis says. "Human and sex trafficking is becoming much more prevalent, especially with the recent uprisings. There are a lot of displaced children in Africa and local programs, and we need to be out there supporting people who are out there to help children."

During the two-week trip, members will plant a community garden in the village, host Bible studies and make renovations to Courage to Be You's facilities.

Dennis, 36, is a California native who moved to Jackson from New York City where she met her husband in 2005. He is the worship leader at The Journey. The couple lives in Fondren with their two children, Dylan, 3, and Carter, 1.

The Tanzania benefit concert is tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the Commons at Eudora Welty's Birthplace (719 N. Congress St.). Admission is $7.