Expecting a place of refuge and peace, I went to bible study on Sunday night. After spending a few hours with the little two year old kids at church, I needed to remember the beauty of relationships with others your own age. Weariness was already pressed on my heart. The worship stirred, the bitter grape juice enthused an inexpressible thanks, but the message… how the message moved. Christine Caine brought the word of God with such passion and in such a real way that night. Knowing anyone can read this and many who are not of age to grasp the entirety of this issue, I will use discretion and only hit the surface with how it has affected me and leave a link at the bottom where more information is available. But I truly feel like I must share this. The truth must be made known. Throughout my lifetime, the Lord has shown me how human trafficking was still present and very much happening now in many instances, such as the Passion Conference, my best friend’s first hand concerns while in Thailand, and movies such as Taken. Over the last few months, He’s been stitching and stretching my heart whenever the issue arises. I’ve been praying for my heart to break as his does and, as always, He never ceases to fulfill his promises. For years I’ve known I’m meant to work in the lives of girls and show them the hope and love I’ve experienced through God’s amazing mercy and grace. That night solidified my purpose.
The statistics, the numbers, the stories - everything moved me. I’ve been compassionate and sympathetic to many of the issues in this world. But that night I became sick to my stomach, wept uncontrollably, and wrestled in my sleep as my heart broke for these girls all over the world trapped and kidnapped then sold into slavery. Not only treated as slaves, but so emotionally and physically tormented. How, Savior, is there such injustice? Who are these men who could do such things? Not until that night did I realize I’m called to make a difference in the lives of these lost children of God. Somehow. Some way. To give you an idea of the reality, every 47 seconds another person is sold into slavery. Human lives are the largest smuggling business in the entire world, in front of drugs and the usual things that come to mind. Only 1-2 percent gets saved out of human trafficking. And the worst of it… 1 in every 100,000 Europeans involved are convicted. I wish I could put into words exactly the passion and burden I feel for them. It’s been a day and a half and I feel like only now can I write these words down. How I admire those who wrote the Psalms for expressing their emotions so vividly and vulnerably. But these thoughts need to be shared. Everyone needs to know that in the 21st century, slavery STILL exists! What these poor children and young men and women are being forced to do is something I cannot begin to explain fully but encourage you to take time and see what is happening around you. Awareness is the first step. Action is the next. My new mission is to save lives out of slavery and the horrible conditions they are in. We’ve been called to bring justice. And justice must be served.
Here are some ways YOU can make a difference. Go to thea21campain (dot) org
