This month’s guest blog is written by Sherilyn Sweeney. Sherilyn & her husband Darren are dear friends of ours, and they have been making an incredible impact through HOPE61. It’s an honor to support them, and to bring this message of awareness and prevention to our attention.
“Capturing Hope” by Sherilyn Sweeney
Some of my first memories of Sunday school are of bringing coins and letters to send to our World Vision Sponsor child. I would wait excitedly for my class to receive a new picture or drawing from our child and I remember thinking how amazing it was that I was personally saving him from starvation. And, can you believe it, only 25 cents would send this very same child to school! Inevitably, my excitement would wane after Christmas, perhaps to be ignited briefly around Easter, only to be extinguished entirely by June. This cycle repeated itself many times over the years. In middle school I was passionate about helping kids in orphanages get Christmas presents; in high school, it was child abuse and woman’s rights.
The first time I heard the term, “human trafficking,” I have to admit I had no idea what it meant. I had heard about prostitution of course, but I thought those women had loose morals and chose their “profession.” I became passionate about this “new” evil, read several books and internet articles, and posted slightly enraged and woefully informed opinion pieces online. The more I learned, the more overwhelming it became. How in the world had everything gotten this bad?! What am I supposed to do about these things anyway? I am not equipped, nor in a position, to rescue anyone. As it turns out, the majority of people who learn about the extent of human trafficking feel this way. They may not even have a word for what they are seeing.
Human trafficking, or modern-day slavery, is a crime that forcefully exploits men, women and children for profit. This can include forced labor, child soldiering, prostitution and other kinds of sexual exploitation, organ removal, and child marriage. Human trafficking takes place in every country in the world. Not just in Cambodia. Not just in Thailand. That shocked me. It is estimated that internationally there are 40 million people in slavery today. Assessing the full scope of human trafficking is difficult because the majority of cases go undetected. Human trafficking earns global profits of roughly $150 billion a year. The money generated alone creates an insidious monster that has built modern cities, grown companies and supported wealthy economies around the world at the expense of the literal lives, bodies and souls of people.
Although every country is impacted to some degree by human trafficking, there are demographics that make certain populations more vulnerable. One of the main factors is being female. Roughly 75% of human trafficking victims are women and girls. In some countries, having female children is costly to the family because of social norms and customs, therefore parents will sell their daughters in hopes of getting some income. Woman globally have fewer rights, less access to education and healthcare, and are at higher risk of being the victim of sexual and physical violence. Other risk factors include poverty, lack of education, economic instability, war, young age, homelessness, disability or being orphaned.
In the world of human trafficking relief, there are three main branches of focus: Rescue, Rehabilitation and Prevention. Multitudes of individuals, law enforcement agencies, and organizations have taken up the fight against selling human beings for profit and work tirelessly at seeing this goal accomplished. The purpose of many of these groups is to rescue and rehabilitate those who have been rescued or escaped from traffickers. They work to provide victims with therapy, jobs, legal advice and perhaps even resources to return to their country or state of origin. Rescue and rehabilitation are very important elements in the fight against human trafficking and must continue to be funded to provide hope for those who have been sold into slavery. Unfortunately, the fact is that less than 1% of victims of human trafficking are rescued. This is the bleak truth of this evil.
The other branch in the fight against human trafficking is prevention. This somewhat tedious, less glamorous and sometimes misunderstood work is vital. Who doesn’t want to hear tales of little girls being saved by big strong men in the middle of the night? I know that those stories are more interesting to me! However, the daily, quiet, steadfast and sacrificial work of people in their own communities, using their resources, gifts, and talents to help identify, educate, and empower the people who are vulnerable to trafficking are really the heroes who rescue people every day. The ultimate goal is that prevention strategies, rescue and rehabilitation will be used together to provide for those who are vulnerable to trafficking.
The Body of Christ is positioned in a very unique way around the world to incite change and bring hope to those who are victims (current and potential) of trafficking. What other institution has the ability to speak into the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of people? Without Christ, the world is a very dark place. It is a place of pain, sadness and exploitation. Sin has devastated the people that God loves. This devastation plays itself out in any number of ways. We have all been hurt and broken by sin, haven’t we? For those who are vulnerable to being trafficked, the church can offer very practical, loving and life-giving solutions and help.
Scripture is filled with images of redemption. Between its pages we are told of a holy God who created the entire world and everything in it. This same God grieved over the brokenness that sin brought to His creation and He forged a plan to save the people He loved. Sometimes I try to imagine the world Jesus entered into: a dirty, loud, stinky stable. Woman were treated with disdain. Religious leaders manipulated and took advantage. National leaders exploited, raped, stole from, over-taxed and sold into slavery the people they were supposed to protect. Perhaps many of us in middle class America have never experienced this type of environment, but the fact is that a large majority of people still live in such conditions, even in the United States. We are not immune to brokenness. People everywhere are desperate, oppressed, and in need of hope. Ultimately, only Jesus Christ can give this hope.
In Isaiah 61, we read: “The Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…” What a calling! As the Body of Christ, this is our purpose.
My husband, Darren, and I serve with a human trafficking prevention ministry called HOPE61. HOPE61 provides trafficking prevention trainings for pastors, leaders and individuals around the globe to help them combat trafficking in their communities. The heart of our ministry is founded on Isaiah 61 – “to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners.” Jesus Christ is the good news and His salvation brings freedom to people of all nations. The goal is that the information provided in each training will be a catalyst for churches around the world to evangelize and disciple those who are the most vulnerable in their communities. Through HOPE61, churches are learning how to provide practical assistance, while pooling their own resources and building relationships. These relationships create opportunities for people to learn about Jesus as the Gospel is being lived out and shared!
You only have to google human trafficking to learn about the impact this evil is having on our world. Children are being exploited, women mistreated, and men lied to. I would encourage you to educate yourself and see where you can use your talents, time and resources to help the most vulnerable. Through the equipping of the Holy Spirit, we can together have a great influence in protecting people who are created in the image of God to love and serve Him.
Resources:
My Race to Run 