Why them?
Location
In a snap shot of our globe, there are simply some spots where human life is more marginalized, frail, and at at risk.
It’s not always where you think it will be. Yes, war zones are super vulnerable places … and we partner with teams in these places. But sex trafficking is happening in your neighborhood. It’s how covered up it is, and our need to talk about it, address it and overcome it that will change this.
Without intervention, a shattered community can mean devastation for generations to come. This destruction is a tactic of the enemy; the intervention is a natural response of Emmanuel, Christ with us.
on site
Being there is the key. Empowering the local people for the work of ministry locally is a given. The transformation that can take place when a local church teams up to bring biblical solutions to crisis situations is so worth investing in. Anchored and life-giving, they become a beacon of hope for their whole community.
Ask us questions. Your kids are worth protecting.
Women
When there is a war, the family is the first casualty. Often the men are killed, or drawn away to battle, and the fortunate women are forced to shoulder responsibility for the community. More frequently, women and girls become victims of rape or human trafficking.
War is not the only platform. As modern society hones its penchant to become more like Sodom, we find western schools, high end communities, and clubs meant to honor the best minds being perverted and sucking young women into commercial sex acts.
When women are forced to provide for their family it is often counter cultural. This means that most of them have no previous skills or knowledge to earn an income, make important family decisions, know how to travel, or even read and write.
When women are further traumatized by human trafficking or rape they first need to be located. Then enough trust must be built before they can even consider healing. Once the concept of Hope is instilled, there is often no stopping them; joy breaks in, and the energy to rebuild their lives comes in like a wave.
vulnerable
Equipping these women to start over, find their footing, get keys to begin to pursue their dreams, choose what they want their future to look like, and be empowered to take action is crucial. Women are pillars in their communities.
Children
Children are the future. They are also the most vulnerable. They have become the primary target of traffickers. While some are enslaved to work, most are being exploited through commercial sex acts.
Most children don’t know they are trafficked. Groomers lead them to believe they choose this. The most vulnerable are those in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems, and those who have been separated from family and are being used by gangs in cross border incidences.
DOMESTIC
The USA is #1 in the world for sex trafficking
More than 500,000 children a year go missing in the US alone
More than 50% of victims are between the ages of 12 and 15; although the age is dropping rapidly
25% of child pornography is created by a neighbor or family member
Over 500,000 online sexual predators are active each day
Over 80% of child sex crimes begins on social media
As of 2021, there are 252,000 websites containing images or videos of children being sexually abused
Boys are now almost as trafficked as girls.
GLOBAL
27% of human trafficking victims are children
Human trafficking is a $150 billion-a-year criminal enterprise business worldwide
Source: Polaris Project
SOLUTIONS
PREVENTION is the best solution. If every church in America came around and supported at least one loving foster-to-adopt family, children would be protected. If churches actively supported marriages, offered help to those being tempted by porn, and screened/monitored all applicants to work with kids carefully, the church would be actively preventing sex trafficking. Keep in mind that commercial sex and porn capture and kill children … and that this will terminate when there is no demand for either. Ending this demand is possible in Christ.
INTERVENTION at the local level is best. Support a local ministry; volunteer with the local police dept; become a Guardian ad litem; KNOW what is happening and get involved. As a church decide that this doesn’t happen on your turf. Empower the congregation to stand in the gap. There are enough churches to change this. If you need help with this, reach out.
healing
If given a chance, children want to be kids. When they experience people going out of their way to help meet their needs, they respond to hope. If those who touch their lives are consistent and genuinely loving, the children can come out strong and empowered to rebuild their lives.