Not Here?

Do you feel like really bad things mostly happen somewhere else?

If you’re like me, you’re pretty sure human trafficking and sexual slavery are “over there” problems. That kind of stuff can’t possibly happen in a civilized society, right?

300,000 children can’t possibly be trafficked for commercial sex every year in the United States.

Human trafficking can’t really be a $9.5 billion annual business for organized crime in the United States.

Children can’t possibly be sold for sex on the Internet in the United States. That simply cannot be real, not in America, not in our cities and neighborhoods—can it?

Yes, it can.

That’s why there are places like Sarah’s Home, a Christian long-term safe home for underage girls who have been rescued from the forced commercial sex trade. Sarah’s Home isn’t in a third-world country—it’s not “over there.” It’s located on the Colorado front range, one of a handful of local projects supported by U COUNT Campaign.

Now we know, so what should we do?

We should change the world. We should each do what we can, where we are, with what we have.

In a month, ten of us are riding bikes from Wyoming to New Mexico on Front Range FREEDOM Tour. You could join our support team or support us financially. Email for information.

You could subscribe to the blog and spread the word.

Forward the emails when they’re useful. Get your network of friends, family, and colleagues engaged. Include a personal note and offer the opportunity to support your ride. And don’t worry about being a pest! The Internet’s jammed with cat videos and corny jokes—you’re providing a message of hope and freedom.

Sharing is caring. If you’re on Facebook, “Share” (not “Like”) important links. Better yet, share with a few words about why it matters.

Talk to others. Send smoke signals. Print the article and post it somewhere—maybe with your ride pledge sheet.

Worried about seeming overly aggressive? Me, too. We always need balance, and we need to do everything with a spirit of love and gentleness.

But…the harsh reality is that somewhere a child cowers in fear because her mother is trapped in a life of violence. And if we don’t speak out, that child will likely be sold into the same horrible cycle of abuse.

To stop that cycle for even one kid, I’ll risk pre-empting a few cute-cat videos.

Please leave a comment here.