You might have noticed a renewed interest in the topic of human trafficking.
We’re grateful for increased awareness and for the conversations that awareness will generate. As leaders of THE FREEDOM TOUR, we’ve partnered with Project Rescue since 2013 as they work against the horrible evil of human trafficking (AKA modern-day slavery). I thought it might be worth offering some thoughts that might provide clarity and guidance in some of those conversations.
Human trafficking is big business for organized crime. The issues surrounding modern day slavery are complex and nuanced. They can’t be reduced to simplistic talking points.
Effective anti-trafficking doesn’t involve one-off, Rambo-style raids. These sorts of raids may in fact further traumatize victims, and frequently leaves them vulnerable to repeated victimization.
Instead, it’s based on the long-term, difficult, painstaking process of developing relationships. Through those relationships, victims can be brought into comprehensive recovery and aftercare situations.
That’s where THE FREEDOM TOUR has focused our efforts. We support a Home of Hope that serves 22 children who’ve been rescued from horrific situations. We’ve watched some of those kids grow from little munchkins when we first met them back in 2013 until now they’re beginning to graduate and move into the next phase of their lives.
This kind of work doesn’t offer immediate gratification. It’s hard. It’s frustrating.
It’s exactly what Jesus invited us to do.
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Of course, anti-trafficking involves more than simply caring for victims. It involves prevention, envisioning and creating a world in which fewer people are victims of this terrible atrocity.
It means identifying the conditions that create this horror and taking active steps to remove them. This, as well, requires consistent, diligent, long-term labor.
Some of this work will happen at the policy level as laws prevent victims from becoming ensnared in the criminal justice system and hold traffickers fully accountable.
Some will happen as organizations like Project Rescue deploy effective prevention initiatives.
But… much of it must happen in individual hearts. As we understand this difficult issue more deeply, each of us must ask how we can be part of the solution and be sure we’re not part of the problem.
As I said earlier, human trafficking and modern-day slavery is a complex, nuanced issue that won’t be solved in simplistic ways or captured in one minute sound bites.
I believe Jesus holds every victim in His hand and cares for them in ways we cannot understand. I don’t know how that works, but I can clearly hear His words:
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”