Stop the Traffic

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” - Matthew 25:37-40 NIV

9 years ago this month, my then 9th grade daughter Ellie (now a married ER nurse) and I were asked to attend the Florida Governor’s Cabinet meeting to be a part of and support a resolution announcing/supporting National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. We were asked to attend primarily because of our involvement in raising some $40,000 in early 2012 to help build Human Trafficking shelters in Mumbai, India.

Over the past 12 years or so, this issue has grown into a passion of mine... primarily because is first became a passion of Ellie’s and to some extent, Abbie (my now Junior in college) and Sarah Grace (my Senior in High School).

What began with a chapel service that Ellie attended in 7th grade that crawled into her heart and soul has grown into helping raise funds for a ministry and shelter for girls in Greece... to raising funds with our church for a shelter in Mumbai, India... to planning mission trips to all over the world... to being able to briefly share with the Florida Governor and Cabinet about the Human Trafficking issue... to putting in place the Florida Department of Health’s first Human Trafficking policy, to whatever else God may have on the horizon.

Some facts about Human Trafficking:

* 1.2 Million children are being trafficked every year; this is in addition to the millions already held captive by trafficking (UNICEF)
* Each year, it is estimated that 600,000 - 800,000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders (Some research places those number even higher) and the trade continues to grow.
* Every 2 minutes a child is being prepared for sexual exploitation (UNICEF).
* Almost 300,000 AMERICAN children are at risk for trafficking into the sex industry (USDOJ)
* The average age AMERICAN girls are first victims of sex trafficking is 12-14 years old (USDOJ)
* The total market value of illicit human trafficking is estimated to be in excess of $32 Billion (UN Press Release 6/2/08). That’s $32 Billion in transactions a year in 2008, which means it is even higher today.
* There are girls as young as 5 and 6 years old in the U.S. that are forced to do sexual acts for economic gain by their pimp (USDOJ).
* An estimated 30 Million people are held in slavery, with statistics estimating that 99% of these victims are NEVER rescued.
* Trafficking in women and children is the second largest global organized crime and gaining.

The question is, what can we do about it? How can one person (child or adult) make a difference?

In my mind, it boils down to three areas... three ways over and above basic awareness of the issue that we can effect change:

* Pray
* Give
* Go

* Pray - Pray for these children and young people. Pray that somehow, some way they can find a way out or that someone will find them and remove them from their situation. They need a hero.

Pray that they will come to know Jesus... come to know hope.

Pray for their families... and the families that could potentially be tricked into giving up their child.

Pray for the organizations that are on the ground striving to find a way to end slavery of all kinds, especially human trafficking.

Pray for the people who are kidnapping, stealing the lives of the children and doing such atrocious things to them. Pray that they will see the ills of their ways and that they just plain stop (or are stopped).

* Give - Give to aid organizations and shelters. Many are Christian based organizations that need funding to make a difference. Many have missionaries on the ground in places like Mumbai, India; Athens, Greece; Atlanta, Georgia; St. Louis, Missouri; Miami, Florida... and all places around the world.... Some are based out of International Ministries in the Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian churches. Some local churches are even sponsoring missionaries and shelters around the world

If you have interest in giving, I can help you connect with some folks who are making a difference... to folks who would be grateful for whatever you can give.

* Go - Go to Mumbai. Go to Athens. Go to Ethiopia. Go to Zimbabwe. Go to Atlanta, St. Louis, Miami, San Francisco, L.A., New York... your city or town. Go and help shelters in these areas that are working to remove these young women, boys and girls from the industry. Go help them learn a new trade. Go give them medical care. Go give them hope. Go be the light in a dark, dark world. Go be the hands and feet of Jesus. Go.

When you see something that doesn’t look right. Anonymously call the local authorities and/or the Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888

Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem