In the past few weeks, I have had numerous people contact me asking about Human Trafficking. The word is getting out that slavery still exists. Women and children are exploited sexually and physically. Men are forced into indentured servitude while their families live under the threat of violence. Those in poverty are exploited, violated and oppressed as if life was not already extremely difficult. Images are shown on TV and we are horrified. As well we should be. We consider justice issues and we know that God wants us to address the wrongs, but how? What do we do? How do we get started? The purpose of this short article is just that. It is a “how to get started” when addressing the issue of trafficking. I hope you find the following suggestions helpful. I invite you if you are reading this on our website or on my facebook notes, to please offer whatever suggestions you may have, so that others might glean from your experience.
Step 1: Offer your church or your group an intro to slavery seminar. This can be done via the web. CBF field personnel are able to use skype or other online tools to offer these live at no cost to you. It only requires an internet connection, a computer, and a sound system. To request a webinar from the Internationals Cluster on trafficking go to
http://www.cbfinternationals.org/GetInvolved/RequestaWebinar/tabid/7320/language/en-US/Default.aspx A two or three part series would be a good idea. For example: week 1: What is trafficking? Week 2: What does the Bible say? Week 3: What about trafficking in my area?
Step 2: Prayer is always the beginning point when trying to ascertain what God is asking of you. There are several ways to lead your group in praying through this issue.
c. If you would like to pray collectively through this or any other prayer guide related to slavery, but realize you may have difficulty gathering people together, I suggest using the idea of prayer conference call. I have used this way of gathering people for prayer for years. Several services are free. The one I use is
http://www.freeconference.com . If you would like help from a member of our cluster in pulling something like this together then email
info@cbfinternationals.org.
f. Finally, Dr. Tomi Grover of TraffickStop is in the process of putting together a devotional book and prayer guide on the issue of trafficking. As soon as that is available you will find a link to it under the prayer resources tab at
www.cbfinternationals.org
Step 3: Too often we address trafficking in our adult groups tragically ignoring the youth. This is not the time to shy away from addressing difficult subjects. Youth are on the front lines in more than one way. They are vulnerable to becoming victims and sometimes they are able to identify victims and/or potential victims in ways adults are not able. Call in someone from your police department to visit with your youth about how traffickers use the internet as well as how to identify victims. Parents should have their own course in order to help their children not fall prey to traffickers.
Step 4: Begin to educate your congregation.
c. Have a dramatization or monologue in which the story of someone trafficked is told. Tell the story of a man who in an effort to provide for his family is labor trafficked. Or tell the story of a teenager on the internet who is lured into a trafficking situation. Or perhaps the story of a mother and father in abject poverty in a third world country who sell their teenage daughter. The possibilities are endless.
d. Human Trafficking Awareness day was January 11, 2011. For next year’s awareness day, plan a time of emphasis for your church with the sermon and Sunday School hour addressing the issues. Another day to hold special emphasis is March 8th, International Women’s Day.
e. There are fun and interesting ways to educate different groups.
· Host a coffee hour on Sunday morning before the Sunday School hour serving only fair trade coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Simply google to see which brands are fair trade products i.e. Green Mountain coffee, for example. Have pamphlets around explaining why purchasing fair trade is important and how it helps diminish slavery.
· Or have a jewelry party selling things made helping others that have come out of slavery. NightLightBangkok is just one organization that can help you with this.
http://www.nightlightbangkok.com/jewelry This would be particularly effective as you approach the Christmas giving season. There are many coops that you can become involved in that will help in the same way with a variety of products.
· On twitter @cbfintlscluster follow @GlobalConcertUS. They have tweeted a long list of ideas. Check them out!
Step 5: Get involved.
b. Find a local rescue shelter for victims of trafficking. There are not nearly enough, so you may have to go to a nearby city. Call and find out ways that you can help.
c. Host a trafficking seminar for your area.
d. During major events, such as the Super Bowl for example, volunteer to be present at the event and pass out trafficking awareness brochures.
By Nell Green
Feb. 2011