The purpose of JOY International® is to be involved in, or help to coordinate, the rescue, restoration, reintegration, and prevention of the commercial sexual exploitation of children domestically and internationally.
Jeff says he began JOY International® because he believed if we would put Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last, that was the way to experience true JOY. Jesus – Others – YOU!
Why Barefoot?
On July 19th, 2010, Dr. Brodsky was at a garbage dump in Phnom Penh, Cambodia with his friend Rev. Jim Meyers.
"We were feeding children who lived in and around the dump. We were also looking for children who were at high risk of being taken by predators and sold into brothels. I noticed almost all the children were barefoot. When I went back to my hotel room, as I removed my shoes and socks, I could not get the picture of those barefoot children out of my mind. I began to wonder what it would be like to live barefoot every day. After a serious conversation with God, I felt strongly impressed to go barefoot for 1 year in solidarity with these children and the many others who were trafficked or at high risk. Living at 8,990' elevation in the mountains of Colorado, I knew it would be a challenge (especially during the cold winters), but I decided I would just be extremely careful as I knew I had to do this."
"On July 19th, 2011, my year was complete and I did it. No shoes, no socks for a full year. That morning when I went to put a pair of socks on (I was really excited), I just couldn't get them past my toes. It was as if an angel was pulling them and preventing me from putting them on. I cried out to God and said, "Lord, what do You want from me, I just went barefoot for a full year!" His response to me (in a still, small voice) was this; "Keep going. Those children are still out there."
"I've been barefoot ever since. I shared with my wife, family and friends (who thought I lost my mind), that if my going barefoot will motivate just 1 person per year to action in a way that helps me rescue even 1 more child a year, I would go barefoot the rest of my life."
"I have been truly astounded as people all over the world embrace what God has called me to do and joined in solidarity to spread awareness of this evil against innocent children and to help me raise the funds necessary for rescue operations."
As Jeff says, “This is without question THE most evil, heinous crime ever perpetrated against a child since the dawn of creation.”
There are hundreds of organizations who are bringing awareness to the plight of sexually exploited children, but there are just a handful that are devoted to raising funds for the actual rescue of children out of their nightmare life.
Again, as Jeff states, “Awareness is good, but awareness without action is apathy.”