The Slave Trade and the Slave Trade

Last night I watched "Amazing Grace", the movie. There are such similarities between the black slave trade and modern day slavery of human trafficking. William Wilberforce came to realize early in his fight for abolishment that he could both serve God and be a political activist. He was mocked by his peers and not respected or listened to in so many instances. But, slaves on the other side of the sea, had heard there were those fighting for their freedom. Wow. These slaves knew they had a voice where it could be heard. For so many of them, it meant there was hope. I want to be that voice on the other side of the city, on the other side of the country, on the other side of the world. I hope it doesn't stay there either...I want to be a help and a heart in the rescue and healing of women and girls.

Sunday Best

Today I put on my grey turtleneck and my black leggings and layered a couple of things on top-a denim skirt and a grey shirt. I thought my 2 pieces wouldn't be great for church. At the same time, it was already nice to change up my outfit. Sigh.

I don't wash my clothes everytime I wear them. Of course, yesterday...first day I wore this outfit, I dropped some food on it. Enough that I would ususally throw it in the laundry. I was too tired last night to wash it so on it went to church this morning. Tomorrow I will wash it. I felt a little dirty wearing it today knowing I wasn't as clean as maybe I would usually be for church. Sigh.

I think about these two things. Having a bit of change and being clean. Two things that women and girls being trafficked do not get to have day after day. It is more of the same horrid, awful circumstances and feeling dirty all the more as time goes on. Sigh. My heart breaks for these women. My heart breaks for all of us who cannot escape the imprisonment of the heart.

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe." (Proverbs 18:10). I love this Proverb sandwiched between verses about slackers and rich men. Suffering women who need a strong tower are neither slackers nor rich men. They are hurting and and can run into a safe Savior who is not just waiting for them, but chastening them every minute of every day. Helping them to run to Him and not be hopeless; that is the goal, that is the need, that is what our voice can do for them.

Sex Trafficking All Around

Today begins a mere one week of wearing the same outfit in hopes of helping myself understand the lack of choice women, girls and even boys have throughout our world, country and even Ohio where sex trafficking is running rampant. Not only sex trafficking but horrible, unfathomable attrocities that are being done to women all over the world because they are not valued highly enough to have a voice. I want to be that voice. I want to stand in and do what I am certain I would be crying out for if I was in their position. I do not stand because I want to be a good Christian, however. I stand because Jesus would stand if this were during His time on earth. He would set free those caught in places that are being held captive because that is why He came. In Luke 4, He STANDS UP and says..."THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him."

A friend of mine wore the same dress for 6 months and was not only changed hereself, but was able to bring awareness nationally to human trafficking. I am reading a book called "Half the Sky" by a married couple named Nicolas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. It has really been an eye opener for me. As a result of reading it, one of my favorite authors, Carolyn Custis James wrote "Half the Church" talking about how women can have a voice for women. God is up to something in the area of social justice. I am not wanting to jump on a bandwagon, but I am wanting to join God with where He is working and I want to impact wommen in ways that are outiside of comfortable Christianity.

There are so many other human atrocities are done to women everyday
o Aborting female babies
o Leaving female children to die
o Forced labor
o Girls malnourished while boys are well fed
o Girls named names meaning “Rejected” or “Unwanted”

Some startling statistics...

Toledo, OH is the 3rd largest source of human trafficking in the U.S.

All over the world...Taiwan, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Haiti, China, Congo…everywhere…

Between 14, 500 and 17,500 trafficked into the U.S. Annually
Between 600,000 and 800,000 women and children trafficked between countries throughout the world annually.
3rd largest grossing crime industry (32 billion dollars with a total of 27 million enslaved today).

Some harsh realities...

Victims are forced into a "debt slavery" situation by coercion, deception, fraud, intimidation, isolation, threat, physical force, debt bondage or even force-feeding with drugs of abuse to control their victims. Once they are addicted to drugs it is difficult for them to leave the brothel because they cannot get drugs to feed their addiction. As well, many girls end up having children who are then possessed by the brothel and the girls don’t want to leave their children behind. The intention of the pimps is the children provide services as well.

So here I sit with my grey turtleneck and black leggings that I will be wearing until next Saturday wondering what God wants to speak to me this week. I am curious what He has for me and for the women at my church as we journey though this together.

May women be set free...