In The News

Arrests Made and Juveniles Recovered
In Cook County, jointly operated stings between the sheriff’s office and police in Maywood, Matteson and Lansing led to the arrests of 73 potential customers, known as johns. “The National Johns Suppression Initiative is designed to target and reduce the demand for purchased sex, which fuels a sex trafficking industry that perpetuates a cycle of violence, exploitation, mental illness and drug addiction for victims,” Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said in a statement. 
Full Article Here


New Laws in Illinois

Illinois Hospitals Require Nurses Trained to Treat Rape Victims

Sexual assault victims who enter an Illinois emergency room will soon be treated by a nurse trained to care for them.  Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation recently that will require hospitals to train enough medical providers in how to treat sexual assault patients that when a victim arrives, a trained provider is present within 90 minutes. Hospitals will have until January 1, 2022, to comply.

Availability Of Human Trafficking Resources
HB 4340 further expands the Human Trafficking Resource Center Notice Act of 2015 which requires the posting of information about the National Human Trafficking resource center at specific businesses and establishments known to be frequented by victims of trafficking or associated with human trafficking activities. The notice must now be posted to include massage parlors (one of the top human trafficking-related industries), certain large public events and gatherings, schools and tattoo and piercing parlors.
“Not only does this new law contain the best practices of states that have made great strides in reaching human trafficking victims and concerned citizens, but it makes Illinois a state leader in combating human trafficking. No other state requires posting at public events or schools.” Wheeler said. “By publicizing these notices and resources, victims will know they are not alone, and Illinoisans who see suspicious behavior will know what to do and have the potential to make a life-saving impact on someone.”

Just Courage Discussion Questions

Last month our group gathered to discuss Just Courage by Gary Haugen, founder and CEO of International Justice Mission (IJM), an international organization focused on human rights. Gary challenges us with the question of whether we want to be brave or safe and explains that we can't be both.  We were created to take part in God's great adventure of helping the poor and the marginalized, but we often let ignorance, despair, or fear keep us from embarking on this great adventure. Just Courage is an inspiring look at what we were called to do and an encouraging look at how we can step out of our comfort zone and embrace the journey.

These are the questions we chose for our discussion.

1.    How would you respond to John Stuarts Mill’s indictment of Christs, that “whenever conduct is concerned, they look round for Mr. A and B to direct them how far to go in obeying Christ”?

 

2.    The author recounts the story of spending a hiking trip in the gift shop while his Dad and brothers enjoyed the adventure up the mountain.  Have you ever found yourself “waiting in the gift shop” or calculating the limits of your obedience?  What did you discover?

 

3.    Have you found yourself asking “Now what?”  Have you had a desire to move to a place beyond safety, beyond your ability to control the outcome and beyond your own power to succeed?

 

4.    The author proposes 3 reasons for why we settle for less than the best God has to offer us: ignorance, despair, and fear.  Of these 3 which do you identify with most?  What do you think others identify with most?

 

5.    Have you experienced a voice of divine restlessness, sacred discontent, or a holy yearning for more?  The author says “This is the supernatural moment when the rescued enter into their divine destiny as rescuers.”  Briefly discuss the quote and what it means to you.

 

6.    The author says that “the struggle for justice in God’s world is a call to all his people and the work of justice is no less fundamental in Christ’s call to discipleship than evangelizing and caring for our neighbors.”  If “justice is not optional for Christians” what are some ways you can be involved in a ministry of justice right now or encourage others to be involved?

 

7.    Have you ever had the chance to help someone facing injustice?  Do you agree that “nothing offers greater potential for rescuing us from our prison of triviality and small fears like the heroic struggle against injustice in the world?

 

8.    What do you think compelled William Donaldina and Irena  (Chapter 7) to seek justice when others who undoubtedly knew about injustice didn’t act?  Do you believe that the average Christian can do something about injustice around the world?

 

9.    The author says that often times the lives of those we are helping is so very different from those we are helping and suggests finding a point of authentic human connection.  In what ways do you think this would help?

 

10. We often fear that our life isn’t significant apart from the quality and quantity of our things. According to Christ, significance is found in transforming people’s lives through love.  In what ways can you see your Christian activity being generated by fear?

 

11. Like the “rich ruler” in the Gospels texts, we all have a boundary of fear.  Jesus longs for us to see that boundary, to take his hand and step over it.  Can you identify your boundary of fear?

 

12. Jesus invites us to follow him in the demanding struggle for justice.  Our job is to seize the invitation and his job is to make it succeed.  What would it take for you to let Jesus be the deciding factor rather than your fear?

 

13. Do you want to be brave or safe?  The author says we simply can’t be both.  Read Isaiah 58 on page 40-41. What comfort or encouragement do you take from this scripture?

 

14. The world is a dark and hurting place, and the Creator of the universe has one plan to bring light to it – and through Christ, WE are that plan. Listen to “Do Something” by Mathew West and share your thoughts about stepping out in faith.

 

Do Something

Matthew West

I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now, thought
How’d we ever get so far down, and
How’s it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”

Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”
He said, “I did, yeah, I created you” (now listen)

If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something, yeah
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
Oh, it’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

I’m so tired of talking about
How we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”

Well, I don’t know about you
But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire
I don’t want a flame, I want a fire and
I wanna be the one who stands up and says
“I’m gonna do something”

 
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something,

yes it is, come on
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
Oh oh, it’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

 

We are the salt of the earth
We are a city on a hill
We’re never gonna change the world
By standing still
No, we won’t stand still
No, we won’t stand still
No, we won’t stand still
No

  
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now
It’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something
It’s time for us to do something
It’s time for us to do something

 

The Super Bowl and Human Trafficking

It's Super Bowl day once again and there is excitement in the air.  People are planning their parties and deciding which team they will be rooting for.  But what you may not know is how the Super Bowl can and does have an affect on human trafficking.

 

Large sporting events like the Super Bowl draw people from all over.  People with a lot of money... and traffickers follow money.  They will bring women to whatever city is hosting the Super Bowl with the sole intention of exploiting them. 

 

Super Bowl Player               vs.                    Trafficking victim

Excited                                                        Scared

Cheers from fans                                         Threats from her controller

Sense of pride                                             Sense of shame

Proud to put on his uniform                        Disgusted to put on her “uniform”

Keeps what he earns                                   Earnings taken by her pimp

Admired                                                      Disgraced

Relives the glory                                         Relives the horror

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott called the Super Bowl “the single largest human trafficking incident in the United States.”











"Arrests of pimps running underage sex rings are reported at the National Football League’s championship game almost every year, with girls being trafficking from as far away as Hawaii to hook up with clients via the Internet, hotels and strip clubs.

U.S. police arrested about 750 people in nationwide sex-trafficking sting operations ahead of last year’s Super Bowl" 

(Source: Reuters)

     

Here  a former sex trafficking victim shines light on dark underworld of Super Bowl

 

The good news in all of this is that awareness of this issue has increased.  Many organizations will travel to Super Bowl city to do outreach and try to identify and rescue victims.  Last month our group helped paint 10,000 bricks that have been taken to Super Bowl and placed all around the city. On the back of each brick is the trafficking hotline # where a victim can call for help or someone who sees trafficking can report it.  I heard that as of Thursday last week they have rescued 23 women.

 

 

 

So as you prepare to watch the big game, remember those who have a much different perspective. Those who may be there by force and are having to sell their bodies. Pray for them. Pray for their rescue and restoration.