Sex Slaves: Parlor Games

Have you seen the MSNBC Series Sex Slaves?  The documentary is narrated by Natalie Morales and takes viewers to the front lines of law enforcement's fight to stop human trafficking.  Each episode features a different city or aspect of human trafficking.

 

Recently, I watched Sex Slaves: Parlor Games which focused on San Francisco and highlights the debt and sexual servitude found in massage parlors.  San Francisco is home to some 300 massage parlors and spas.  While a few may be legit, others are just a façade for prostitution and forced labor.

The show follows San Francisco's human trafficking task force which has closed 116 spas in recent years that were operating as brothels.  The spas are checked again the online ads where illegal spas advertise.  The task force visits the spas to give regular inspections from the health department and look for those operating or working without a massage permit.
 

I found this episode to be very informative.  Here, in Chicago and it's surrounding suburbs there are well over 300 of these spas.  Here are some of the highlights that give us a view into this type of activity. 

 

Questions to ask the women working there:

Are you happy working here?

What kind of massage do you do?

Is anyone forcing you to work here?

Do they ask you to do things you don’t want to?

Are you free to come and go?

Is someone feeding you?

Did they loan you any money that has to be paid back?

 

Why don’t the women just leave?

“You can see in their eyes that they want to get out, but they don’t know how.” 
They can be reluctant because they’ve been told police are corrupt and they will be deported. Sometimes they owe someone a lot of money and this is the only way they can pay it back and that compels them to stay. It can be that their family back home has been threatened so they stay out of fear of retaliation.   Often times they work so they can send money back home to support their family.  One woman stated, “I carry my whole family in Thailand.”  They feel obligated to stay.

 

Red Flags for trafficking:

Signs of living there at the spa often signals that they are housing illegal immigrants.

Cramped living quarters cluttered with food and clothing.
Improper attire can be a sign that more than a massage is being offered.

Owners have possession of their passports and all legal papers.

The women feel pressured to increase business by “any means necessary”

 

Problems:

A spa will get shut down, but then just pop up somewhere else in the name of a family member trying to skirt the law.  Many are now calling themselves "relaxation spas" to avoid the regulations that go with massage parlors.  The women are told by the owner not to bring their massage ID because they “don’t do massage.”  Then when the spa is inspected, the women get cited for not having a massage license.  The woman gets fined, but she has no money so she is forced to continue working in order to pay her fine.  When one of the workers receiving citations on the show was asked to sign the report she calls someone with a male voice to get the ok. Clearly, there is someone else in charge. 

Unfortunately, the rules of this game favor the business at the expense of the women who do the work.

Often, the women are licensed by the city, but the business itself is not.  The business must be licensed or apply for a license exemption and have a health permit.

 

Common responses:

The woman will say "I just started yesterday."

The owner pleads ignorance and blames the workers

The manager on duty says that her sister (or other family member) is the owner and she’s on vacation in Las Vegas.  Most likely they are just working at another spa in the network. 

 

They stated in the show that they need to find just one who is willing to cooperate.  Once someone comes forward you have more power to prosecute. 

 

This highlights the great need out there for spa outreach.  The work can be difficult.  Most of the women do not speak English so communication with them is hard. We can be the hands and feet of Christ by going into the darkest of places and shining God's light.  By building a relationship with the women maybe just one will come forward. 

 

You can read more about this series at MSNBC Documentaries.

Changing Terminology - She Is Not A Prostitute

Labels.  They can stick with us. 

 

As parents we are told not to label our children. If a child hears you call him something repeatedly he begins to own that name. If my child hears me introduce him as my "wild one" over and over to my friends he may finally say to himself, “Well, I guess that’s who I am” and proceed to act that way because I have already defined him that way.  If we call someone a loser over and over they will begin to feel as though they have no potential and begin to act like a loser.

Labels.  They shape how we see ourselves, how we see others and how others see us.

I was speaking with a friend one day and she told me she never refers to someone as a drug addict, but rather a person who has a drug problem.  Calling them a drug addict defines them and says that is all they will ever be.  Saying someone has a drug problem allows for the potential of change.  It says that person can overcome what they are struggling with.  It says they are more than their circumstances or what is happening to them.

 

Labels.  They matter in the world of human trafficking too.

 

We need to stop referring to the victims as prostitutes, but rather as prostituted women.   It's a matter of defining who she is verses what is being done to her.  Service providers and law enforcement are beginning to change their terminology and society needs to change it as well.  These women have been manipulated and coerced into what they are doing and should not be defined by what someone else is forcing upon them.  Referring to them as a prostitute robs them of their dignity and leaves no room for their story.  A story of abuse.  A story of hurt.   Referring to them as a prostituted woman says I see you.  I care about your story.  And your story doesn't end here.  A change in the terminology will help us all to see her as God sees her.

 

Labels.  God's labels are the only one's that count.

 

In our outreach efforts, our goal is to let these women know that God loves them.  That they have worth and value.  We are reaching out them in a place of vulnerability.  They are living in a world that tells them they are worthless, a failure, unlovable, inadequate. Something in their life has caused them not to see themselves as valuable.  

 

Our desire is to replace those lies and tell them how God sees them.  Proverbs 31:10 gives us a picture of their worth in the Father's eyes.

 

"She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls."

God is our creator.  He is the one who defines us. And he defines us as loved, precious and redeemed.

 

Local Event: Human Trafficking Awareness Concert

We Need Your Light Concert & Drama Presentation

Willow Creek Church

67 East Algonquin Road

South Barrington, IL 

December 10th

7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
In the Chapel

Willow vocal and drama artists come together to shine their creative light on raising awareness and understanding on the plight of trafficked adult women.  Join us for an intimate concert and dramatic portrayal of the emotional cost of a life of prostitution. 

Attenders will have the opportunity to purchase artist cds and dvds after the performance.  All proceeds benefit local organizations working toward the abolition of human trafficking.

 

For more information on the We Need Your Light Project you can visit them Here

What Does the Bible Teach About Human Trafficking?

While researching some bible verses for an upcoming prayer night for Human Trafficking I came across this.  I thought it was really good so I wanted to share.

Question: "What does the Bible teach about human trafficking?"

Answer: Simply put, human trafficking is a modern term for slavery. Anytime a person is held in a forced labor situation, regardless of the reason, it is defined as human trafficking.

The United Nations defines human trafficking as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.”

Experts have noted that human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal activity in the world and one of the most lucrative. Overall, the International Labor Organization estimated the human trafficking industry at over $31 billion per year in 2005. Some estimate that as many as 29 million people exist in slavery worldwide, more than twice the number of slaves transported during the entire Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

The problem is clearly large and growing. What does the Bible teach about human trafficking? This question cannot adequately be answered without a clear understanding of God’s value of human life. The Bible records that, when God created humans, He created them in His image (Genesis 1:26). Every life is of great value, and God loves all individuals.

As a result, God teaches love for our neighbor (Matthew 19:19) as well as love for those in need (Luke 10:25-37). Jesus was the one who taught the Golden Rule: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). Further, Proverbs 31:8-9 teaches us to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” These principles certainly all apply to those hurt through the illegal practice of human trafficking.

How can people today practice these biblical principles of helping those in the bondage of slavery?



First, we must pray for those in bondage. As James 5:16 notes, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Human trafficking is a clear need that requires God’s power for any adequate change to occur.

Second, we must speak out on behalf of those in need (Proverbs 31:8-9). Those in our schools, businesses, churches, and community often are unaware of the problem of human trafficking and how to help. Perhaps God is calling you to be one of the people who would speak out and help provide justice to those without a voice in this area.






Third, we must act to help those in bondage. These actions can involve a variety of means, ranging from volunteering in an anti-trafficking organization to financial giving to teaching about the topic where you live. A growing number of organizations have emerged in recent years that provide new opportunities for Christians to serve in this area. International Justice Mission (www.ijm.org) provides many international opportunities, while others, such at Mercy Movement (www.mercymovement.com) concentrate on addressing the issue in the United States.


One additional way to provide practical assistance is through supporting fair trade and survivor-made products. Fair trade products include items sold by those who adhere to practices that remove any unfair labor practices, especially slavery. Coffee, teas, chocolate, and fresh flowers are common products that offer fair trade alternatives to help keep slavery out of the supply chain.

The retail chain Ten Thousand Gifts is an example of this practice applied to an entire store, while the Christian organization Worldcrafts (www.worldcrafts.org) offers the opportunity to buy international gifts from artisans who have escaped slave situations and other poverty-related conditions.

In summary, human trafficking is a gross indignity against men, women, and children who have been created in God’s image. As followers of Christ, we have a responsibility to pray, to speak out against human trafficking and modern slavery, and to live in ways that help create change in the lives of those impacted by this tragic crime.

(Source)

Shop With Purpose!

With Christmas just around the corner most of us will be doing lots of shopping for our friends and family.   Why not shop for something that goes beyond just the gift itself?  There are many organizations and shops whose proceeds go towards helping those in need.  I wanted to highlight some of my favorites that help women and children who have been or are at risk of being trafficked.

 

 

WAR Chest Boutique is an arm of Women at Risk International.  Traffic victims are given shelter and care in one of their 5 safe houses and trained with a skill to help them go forward in life.  The items are sold online at their website or one of 3 store front locations in Naperville, IL;  Wyoming;  and Michigan.  The website allows you to shop by the country where the product was made. During the month of December a portion of proceeds will benefit New Name when you mention New Name at checkout.  New Name is a ministry in Chicago that reaches out to women in the sex industry   This beautiful journal sells for $10

The A21 Campaign  is a non-profit organization who believes that together, we can end human trafficking in the 21st century.  They seek to abolish injustice through prevention, protection,  prosecution and partnership.  A21 has administration offices, field offices and restoration facilities in ten different countries.  This classic "because" band sells for just $5 and is a great conversation starter.  When someone asks you about the bracelet you have an opportunity to tell them that slavery still exists. 

 

 

Hearts For Hearts Dolls are an alternative to the popular American Girl Dolls and a great opportunity to teach your child about those less fortunate. The Hearts For Hearts Girls mission is to empower girls to become agents of change in their communities, their countries, and around the world. We want to change the world one heart at a time, and you can be a part of that dream! There are ten multi-cultural Hearts For Hearts Girls dolls and each of them has an important story to tell about life in her country.  They are inspired by stories of real girls who are strong, smart, courageous, and determined to rise above challenging circumstances.  When you buy a doll, Hearts For Hearts Girls donates part of the purchase price through our charitable partner, World Vision, to programs that support girls in that country. Whether it’s malaria nets in Africa, ducks in India, education in Mexico or food supplies in the US, these programs help children to thrive and succeed.   The dolls are considerably less than American Girls dolls and sell for just  $27.99

 

IJM (International Justice Mission) is a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. When you shop their Gift Catalog you can give directly to a specific mission of IJM.  Choose from things like fund a sex trafficking rescue operation or help a widow start a small business.

Consider purchasing something from their catalog as a family.   

 

For the person who has everything how about Donating to a Cause in their name?  There are many great organizations out there.  I recently highlighted a few of my favorites in yesterday's post. These organization are doing amazing work to help victims of human trafficking.

Or simply shop from a Fair Trade retailer.  Fair Trade retailers adhere to standards such as those banning child and slave labor and guaranteeing a safe workplace.

Happy Shopping...

Giving Tuesday December 2nd

We are entering in to a season that gives us Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  Two days that have us tracking the sales flyers and online deals in hopes to find the best deal.  Black Friday deals have been arriving earlier and earlier each year are now available on Thursday.  It's a season that has us focused on shopping and buying and what can we GET.

Have you heard about Giving Tuesday? It's the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and it's a global day dedicated to giving back and celebrating generosity. It's a time to help us refocus our holiday season and to support a cause you believe in.  It's a day to focus on what we can GIVE rather than what we can GET.

Giving Tuesday is a chance to take part in a day of action and to give hope to those who need it most.

There is no shortage of organizations to choose from and it can be overwhelming to determine where you'd like your money to go.

Want to show you support the fight against sexual exploitation?

Here are a few of my favorite choices:

Refuge For Women Chicago is a twelve-month holistic journey for women who wish to leave the sex industry. There is no charge to ...guests (women and their children) as they live and work together as a family towards healing. During their time at The Refuge, women will develop and work on a "Life Plan" - focusing on physical and emotional health, spiritual growth, education, and life skills necessary for a stable and productive life. As women complete their time with us, they will have the opportunity to serve other women in the industry through ministry internships, or may choose to pursue resources towards further education and stable employment. Why I like them:  They are opening a home in the Chicago area in 2015.  Open beds for women to heal are desperately needed in our city.

 

Shared Hope International strives to prevent the conditions that foster sex trafficking, restore victims of sex slavery, and bring justice to vulnerable women and children. We envision a world passionately opposed to sex trafficking and a committed community restoring survivors to lives of purpose, value and choice – one life at a time.  Why I like them:  Every year their Protected Innocence Challenge grades states on how they are doing legislatively to combat human trafficking.  Shared Hope also has The Defenders - an initiative that challenges men to  honor, and respect to women as well as pledge not to purchase or participate in pornography, prostitution or any form of the commercial sex industry.

 

Polaris Project: From working with government leaders to protect victims’ rights, to building partnerships with the world’s leading technology corporations, we spark long-term change that focuses communities on identifying, reporting and eliminating trafficking networks. Our comprehensive model puts victims at the center of all that we do -- helping survivors restore their freedom, preventing more victims, and gathering the data to pursue traffickers wherever they operate. Why I like them:  Polaris operates the National Human Trafficking hotline # where those in need of help can call or anonymous tips can be reported.  Polaris also tracks current legislation and is a great resource for those who want to contact government officials to make a difference. 

Lessons From a Rope

Lesson 1:  Pass on a Blessing

 

I recently read a children's book called The Bright Yellow Rope.  It was such a simple story, but it really had a wonderful message. 

 

In the story, Sylvester finds a bright yellow rope.  He then gives to a boy whose goat has come unhitched from his wagon, who in turn gives it to the next person who needs it.  Each person to receive the rope repeats this phrase when he passes it on to the next person:

 

"Hi there, friend.  You sure have trouble. I'll help you quick as a bubble. Take my rope. Yes, you can keep it.  Pass it on when others need it."

 

Each friend passes the rope along to the next person in need.  Until it eventually comes back to Sylvester at just the time when he needs it. 

 

"I'm so glad.  Glad that I gave it.  It came back because I gave it,"  says Sylvester.

 

What a powerful message! 

Sylvester sees a friend in need. 

He offers what he has. 

The blessings multiply. 

He in return is blessed. 

 

If we hold too tightly to the things God gives, then our fists are closed and unable to accept the next thing God wants to give us.  If we share, then our hands are open and ready to receive.

 

Lesson 2: Stay connected to the one who love us.

 

I recently heard that when a heavy storm was predicted in the Old West , that the homesteaders would do many things do prepare for the upcoming storm.  One of them was to string a rope from their barn to their house so they could find their way home.  Remember the Little House on the Prairie episode where the children were caught in a blizzard on the way home from school?  The snow was so coming down so heavy and fast the children could not see their way home. These homesteaders would connect their barn to the house and use it to guide their way home.

 

As Christians we too are finding our way home.  We must be careful what we are connected to for that is the path we will follow.  We must stay connected to the one who love us. The one who guides us.  The one who directs our steps.

How do we stay connected to God?  Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us that as we seek Him and acknowledge Him, He promises do direct our paths.

If we seek Him and allow Him to direct our path, our hearts will be aligned with His and we will follow His plan for our lives rather than the path the world seeks for us to follow.

Local Event: Refuge for Women Launch Night October 24th

 

Save the Date!

 

 

 

When a woman wishes to leave the sex industry she needs a safe place to heal. 

Unfortunately, there is a shortage of available beds for these women across the United States. 

Refuge For Women is a 12 month after care program for women where they live and work

together as a family towards healing. Refuge For Women currently has homes in Kentucky and are planning to open a home in the Chicago area in 2015.

Visit and "like" them on Facebook Here

Book Review: Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

This has to be one of my all time favorite books.  The first time I read it was many years ago before I ever became interested in human trafficking. 

The second time I was able to read it from a different perspective and to see how it parallels modern day slavery.  I loved it then and I love it now. 

One woman in our discussion group said she reads this book once a year.  That's how good this book is!

Michael gives us a powerful picture of the unconditional, unfailing, pursuing love that our heavenly father has for us.  Angel gives us a beautiful picture of the transformative power of His redemptive grace.  

Book Description:  California’s gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep.  

Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside.   

Then she meets Michael Hosea, a man who seeks his Father’s heart in everything. Michael obeys God’s call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel’s every bitter expectation, until despite her resistance, her frozen heart begins to thaw.    

But with her unexpected softening comes overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband’s pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does…the One who will never let her go. 

A powerful retelling of the story of Gomer and Hosea, Redeeming Love is a life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love.

Redeeming Love is set in 1850, but the story that happens to Angel could easily be placed in modern times and still be true to what happens today.

From the beginning, Angels father was absent in her life.  She longed for him to see her, to be loved by him and was deeply hurt when he paid her no attention. 

Angel was sold as a child into prostitution by a family member, her Uncle Rab.  Although, in this story, it appears her Uncle Rab did not know what he was selling her into. 

Angel was able to escape, but found herself wandering the streets with no place to go. She was cold and hungry and feeling like freedom was only a dream.

When she was offered the best clothing, food and lodging available she accepted because she had no other options.  She would work for the Duchess and turn over 80% of her earnings in exchange for the protection of bodily harm. 

She would later learn that her portion of the earnings would be kept under lock and key and doled out only as the Duchess saw fit.  She would be beaten and threatened when unable to work.

By them time Michael enters her life she has become hardened, bitter, empty and unfeeling.  He offers her a way out, but she doesn't believe one exists.  She refuses his offer over and over.
She feels she is unworthy so she continually rejects him.  She feels there is only one thing she is good at, but it's not what Michael wants from her.

(p50) "What did it matter?  She had nothing left.  She didn't care.  At eighteen, she was tired of living and resigned to the fact that nothing would ever change.  She wondered why she had even been born. For this, she supposed.  And the only way to leave it was to kill herself."

(p65) "What I do is what I am"

But Michael relentlessly pursues her. Even when she breaks his heart and returns to her old life he does not give up on her.  He continues to pursue her with unconditional love.  He is always there waiting for her with open arms, expecting nothing in return. 

"You're a bird who's been in a cage all your life, and suddenly all the walls are gone, and you're in the wide open.  You're so afraid you're looking for any way back into the cage again."

 

We slowly begin to see Michael break down the walls that Angel has built over the years.  Brick by painful brick, his love begins to soften her heart and we begin to see her transformation. 

 

And through this transformation Angel falls in love with Michael, but God is not done with her transformation yet.  She softened and fell in love with Michael, but he became her God.  She finally had the love she had been longing for since she was a little girl, but she still needed to know the love of her Heavenly Father.  

So Angel leaves Michael one more time.  It will be three years for God to complete his good work in her and bring her back to Michael.  During this time we see Angel begin to live with passion and purpose and place her trust in God.  When she and Michael reunite, Angel's heart has been healed and restored by God's Redeeming Love. 

Book Review of "The White Umbrella"

This week we had a book discussion of The White Umbrella: Walking with Survivors of Sex Trafficking by Mary Frances Bowley.  The White Umbrella tells stories of survivors as well as those who came alongside to help them to recovery. It describes the pain and the strength of these young women and those who held the "white umbrella" of protection and purity over them on the road to restoration.  Rather than discussion questions we read quotes from the book and had great discussion around them.  These are the quotes we used which I feel really captured the essence of the pain these precious women feel and how we can best "stand close under our umbrella" and walk alongside them.  This book is a must read for anyone working with survivors.

 

Beginning Statement:

“As long as we are convinced that “somebody like me” can’t really do anything to turn the tide, we can continue to exist in our self-made bubbles of comfort and ignore God’s beating heart.

~ Louie Giglio (from the foreword)

 

1. “Some of these kids are runaways and some are abandoned. Many others come from good homes. They are the victims of cruel and clever predators who know just what to offer – the appearances of friendship, a listening ear, the promise of love or money or a new life. (p 15)

2. An umbrella is a common item, usually left forgotten in the back of a closet until needed. But when nature delivers a downpour or hailstorm, an umbrella makes a difference – a buffer that protects us from the harsh elements falling from the sky. An umbrellas often does something else as well – it brings those who suffer together. When y0u share one with someone, you have to stand close, side by side.” (p 17)

3. “Outside of my home, I lived a normal life. I made good grades, played sports, and had a few close friends. But on the inside, I felt dirty and worthless. I felt like I needed to hide. Sometimes I wanted to die. If anyone had paid attention, they might have noticed how the light in my face had been extinguished.” ~ Survivor (p22)

4. “When God’s people come together to fight this good fight against the exploitation of innocence, the weight of oppression is exchanged for the weight of glory. The time has come to let our children be little girls once again. The time for freedom is now.” (p37)

5. Providing a picture of God… “When these girls realize that you've weathered storms of your own and that God made something beautiful through it, a light clicks on in their heads.  When you can accept them for who they are despite what they’ve done, just like God accepts you in spite of what you’ve done, it gives them a picture of who God is, and a picture of what their life could look like through His transformative grace.” (p 47)

6. “They were expected to earn $1,000 per night for their pimps, meaning they would be violated eight to ten times each evening. The average age of the girls lured into the Atlanta sex trade is twelve.”

7. “The common thread among the girls we hoped to serve was childhood sexual abuse. One out of every four girls is sexually abused before the age of eighteen. And these are only the reported cases. The numbers, staggering as they are, are probably higher than we think. This means one out of every four women at the grocery store, at the bank, at the mall, in the pew at church, and everywhere in “normal” life have had this traumatic experience.  Emotionally, girls are arrested in their development and make choices based on the age at the time of the abuse.” (p 51 & 61)

8. “On the outside, she lived a normal life, but on the inside, her self-worth had slowly decayed into a hollow cavity. For years, she blended in at school and even in church, as her pain passed undetected and unnoticed. For years, not a single friend, mentor or confidante was able to read the signs nor realize that the abuse that began at such a young age had warped Alisha’s understanding of what is normal. “ (p 63)

9. “Remember, abuse is not always a choice. Girls who are survivors of sex trafficking are branded on the streets as prostitutes, sometimes quite literally as their pimp burns his mark on their neck or ankles. But they did not choose this work, and it is doubly tragic when these young women are branded once again by stigma and shame when they walk into the wider community, and even the church.” (p 69)

10. “Jesus Christ came to set the captives free, and Christians have the amazing and humbling opportunity to be His hands and feet in this redemptive rescue. Much like the four men in the Bible who dug through the roof to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus, we must do whatever it takes to help victims of abuse through the journey of healing. (p 71-72)

11. “No matter how awful her situation, she operates in the “security” of what she knows. It’s difficult for her to give that up for the unknown. She needs a motivating reason to help her let go of the familiar and take those first steps toward healing. She may revert to “crawling” because she doesn’t yet have the confidence in her ability to walk. Whether she is crawling, walking or falling after taking a few steps, our role is to keep standing by her and supporting her at whatever stage she is in.” (p 74-75)

12. “It’s difficult for many of our girls to pray for themselves in the midst of restoration from horrific circumstances. What each one needs most is a warrior to pray for her, someone to carry her to the throne when she is too weak to carry herself.”

13. “They had been pimped out every night and often beaten. Our girls didn’t play sports after school; they worked the streets after school. Our girls didn’t attend football games on Friday nights; they went to the nearest hotel with their pimp to endure unwanted sex with men.”

14. “Change, even good change, is difficult. Each girl responds differently to the opportunity. Ultimately, it is God who brings permanent change. Our task is to seek His will even as we hold out our arms to these young women learning to walk again, encouraging them to take one more wobbly step forward. (p 79)

15. “We have observed that the most volatile time for a young woman who has been sexually exploited is often just after she leaves that life. When she finally exits this life of manipulative abuse and gains perspective through distance, she often comes face-to-face with a conclusion that is too horrific to digest. Often our well-intentioned but inappropriate message is received as, “That was a horrible life. Now we can start over…from scratch.” What we intend as a positive message may have the reverse effect and overwhelm her. (p 82-83)

16. “When people rally together to support a good cause, it shouts a second message to the community at large, that people can work unselfishly together if our eyes are on God and on those in need, rather than on our own advancement. I believe this is the way God meant for us to work. When we allow God to lead, what a refreshing message is communicated.” (p 154)

17. “I feel hopeless. I am the one left broken and defeated. I don’t have the emotional energy to tackle the obstacles. I know I want something different for my life, but everything seems so out of my reach.” ~ Survivor (p 176)

18. “When others tell one of these precious women that she’s a failure and she begins to believe it herself, this is the critical moment when we need to step in. We must proclaim that we believe in her and in our God, who is able to do beyond what we can imagine. And we believe in God’s strength enough to support her with our words, time, and resources, asking nothing of her in return. If we as a community of faith will not demonstrate true belief in the power of God to restore her, who will? We must believe for her…and in her” (p 180)

 Ending Statement:

“Together, we can be and will be a force for good, a sea of freedom fighters blanketing the world with the blinding light of His great love. Mary Frances has paved the way for us to raise our voice for freedom and liberty for all. There is a place for you in this fight”

~ Louie Giglio (from the foreword)

Human Trafficking Freedom Coalition of Northern Illinois

I've been a little quiet on the blog lately because there have been so many exciting things happening.  I am so excited to share one of them with you today.

There is a newly formed coalition in the Chicago area to combat human trafficking! 

The Human Trafficking Freedom Coalition of Northern Illinois is a victim centered, non-denominational, nonsectarian organization with a national perspective and local focus. 

 

Their mission is to combat all forms of human trafficking (Labor and Sex trafficking and the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children-CSEC) by advancing the following four provisions:

 

Awareness/Training 

Prevention

Intervention.

Victim Services

 

Please "like" them on Facebook! 

 

Their meetings are open to the public so if you are interested in getting involved and making a difference please mark your calendars for their next meeting:

August 27th at 3:00pm. 

The offices of Administer Justice

1750 Grandstand Place

Elgin, IL

 

Groups like this are so important in the fight against human trafficking.  We need communities to link arms and stand together.  People from different backgrounds, denominations and political groups united in a common goal - the eradication of modern day slavery.

 

 

Other groups active in the Chicago area that you might be interested in:

 

The Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force

 

The West Chicagoland Anti-Trafficking Coalition

Use What You Have

This video has been circling the web for a few weeks now and it is truly inspiring. You usually see it with the title:

 

"What Would You Do If Someone Offered To Sell You A Baby For Fifty Bucks?

This Guy Took Pictures."

 

 

The guy is Tanner Wendell Stewert, a photographer from Seattle. 
In 2012, while in Bulgaria volunteering for the The A21 Campaign he began taking pictures of a baby that had captured his attention.  A conversation ensued and the man holding that baby offered to let Tanner buy his baby for a mere $50. 

That conversation is what led Tanner to start the Shoot The Skies project.  The goal was a 2013 daily photo project that would be turned into a book with every bit of money donated to or raised by this project to be given in its entirety to A21, and to fighting the war on trafficking.

A while back I attended a conference on human trafficking.  The goal was to bring together people from all types of organizations and stand united in the fight against trafficking.

They shared with us a verse that you probably wouldn't normally relate to this subject.
It was Judges 3:31 which reads:

After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines

with an oxgoad. He too delivered Israel.

An oxgoad was an instrument used for driving the oxen.  It would have been eight feet long and pointed with a strong sharp iron head at one end.  It was the only thing he had.  So with no other weapon, Shamgar was able to stand strong and defeat 6oo enemy men in battle.  Shamgar used what he had and relied upon the Lord to sustain him.

In the same way, Tanner used what he had.  A talent.  A talent given by God and now being used to give back to God. 

So often we think we have to do something big for it to matter.  We become paralyzed by the thought that this is such a huge problem.  Instead, we should plan to:

1. Use what you have.  Time, Talent or Treasure
2. Start where you are.  Be bold and take that first step.  You will gain momentum from there.
3. Do what you can.  You can't do it all.  But when we link arms and stand together we create change.
4. Ask yourself "What is one thing I could do as an individual?"

To purchase Tanner's book please visit Shoot The Skies

Would You Risk?

Here is another post inspired by our weekend service at church.  We heard different stories from the gospel of people who took a risk and the huge impact it had on those around them. 

Many times when you hear people speak on the subject of human trafficking you hear the warning not to get caught up in the numbers.  Tell the story not the stats they will say.

That is because these statistics are more than just numbers.  They represent real people.  Each and every one of them has a face and a name.  They have a story.  Each and every one of them matters to God.  Their story matters to God.

We can hear the statistics and become frozen with hopelessness.  We are unable to act because we can't possibly see how we could make a difference.

But let's focus on the numbers for just a minute.

The current estimates are that there are 30 million people in the world living in slavery.  The number is staggering.  It's hard to comprehend.  To give you an idea of just how many people we are talking about...

The largest NFL stadium is the FedExField. Home of the Washington Redskins.  Official seating capacity of 85,000. 

This stadium would have to sell out every night for 352 nights to reach 30,000,000 in attendance.  That's each and every night for almost an entire year. 

For me, that really puts the issue into perspective.

30 Million. 

The number is overwhelming. 

 BUT...

There are 2.2 Billion Christians in the world who can do something to save them.   The job is risky, but there are lives at stake.  People who are living in darkness.  Who have no hope. 

30 Million. The harvest is plentiful, but the risk takers are few.  People who need to know the meaning of freedom.  People who need to know the love and hope of Jesus Christ. 

Would you risk that God might use you?

Action Alert: Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act

Please Ask Senator Leahy to Consider the  

Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act!

  

The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA) (S. 1738) provides funding and protections for victims of human trafficking here in the United States. It is the ONLY comprehensive legislation that provides funding for critical services victims need to heal and training for law enforcement so that they can better respond to victims and identify and prosecute traffickers.

 

We Need Your Help

On Friday May 30, please join national advocacy groups in calling Senator Patrick Leahy's (D-VT) office to let him know that you want him to put JVTA on the calendar for the Judiciary Committee. The House has already passed JVTA, so now we need Senator Leahy, as the Chair of the Judiciary Committee, to take up the legislation in the Senate if we want it to actually become law!  

 

Call (202) 224-4242 and ask to speak with Emily Livingston.

 

Use the talking points below to guide your discussion:

• I am an advocate calling to ask Senator Leahy to put the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (S.1738) on the calendar so that it can be considered by the Judiciary Committee.
• JVTA is the ONLY comprehensive human trafficking legislation that provides funding and resources so that child victims of trafficking can receive critical services they need to heal.
• JVTA promotes interagency collaboration, which allows for law enforcement, child advocacy centers, social service agencies, healthcare providers, legal services programs, courts, and housing agencies to provide safety for child victims.
• JVTA clarifies existing laws, making it clear that those that abuse and buy children for sex must be held accountable for the harm they cause by law enforcement and prosecutors.
• Just last week, the House passed the JVTA unanimously on a 409-0 vote. We hope that the Senate can show similar support for our domestic victims of trafficking.

Background on Justice for Victims Trafficking Act

JVTA was originally introduced November 19, 2013 by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Marco Rubio (R-FL), the bill now has 20 bipartisan co-sponsors (13 R - 7D)!  The House passed an amended version of the bill by unanimous consent on May 20, 2014, but it has to be taken up in the Senate if we want this important legislation to become law.

 

The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA) addresses domestic sex trafficking in four critical ways:

1. Creates a fund for domestic victims of trafficking using fines for certain enumerated crimes.
2. Corrects administrative barrier within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) denying U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) access to services and support available to foreign victims of trafficking.
3. Encourages cross-system collaboration between law enforcement, child welfare systems, juvenile justice officials, courts, and victim service organizations (and where applicable tribal authorities).
4. Reduces demand for sex trafficking by calling on law enforcement and prosecutors to investigate and prosecute buyers, not just pimps/exploiters. 

(Source)