How can we engage human trafficking? - Evangelical Covenant Church

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27 million people are enslaved today as:

commercial sex slaves
forced laborers
child soldiers

Human trafficking is the third largest money-maker in the world following the sale of arms and drugs.

While considering ways that you might engage in addressing human trafficking, first reflect on this prayer:

"Lord, what can I do to be involved? How can I be your hands and feet in this area of ministry?"

For a month-by-month calendar suggesting ways to engage human trafficking, click here. When you are done reading this please tell us how you will respond.

To read the many responses from individuals who have felt God's call to make a commitment to engage human trafficking go to this link: here are your responses.

(1) Engage your heart in prayer.

For a heart that is broken by the plight of trafficked people.
For the trafficked people.
For organizations working to free them.
For nationals to rise up and stop trafficking in their countries.
For the healing and restoration of rescued victims.
For the traffickers - that they be convicted and repent.
Become a prayer partner with an anti-trafficking organization.

International Justice Mission: click here to become a prayer partner with IJM;

Love 146 (formerly Justice for Children International): email Kathy Maskel at kathy (at) love146.org
Pray for NightLight:click here
Incorporate prayer for slavery victims into your church service.

(2) Engage your mind.

Study God's word regarding injustice.
Select and read a book from the recommended book list.
View a movie from the recommended movie list.
Host a movie screening.
Attend a conference on trafficking in your area.
Research what organizations are doing to fight trafficking.
Read the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report
Set up a Google alert on human trafficking.

(3) Engage your voice.

Gather a small group to discuss a book or movie from recommendations listed above.
Organize a Bible study on trafficking using recommended resources.

-The Department of Christian Formation has recommendations for both youth and adults.
-What Does the Lord Require? Compassion and Justice Curriculum Series. Click here.
-The Amazing Grace study guide (in conjunction with the movie).
-The Amazing Grace Faith discussion guide
-"Amazing Grace: Christians and the Global Slave Trade" discussion guide from Sojourners.
-Zach Hunter (age 15) "Be the Change: Your Guide to Freeing Slaves and Changing the World" (2007)
-"Modern Day Slavery Unit" curriculum for educators: click here.

Encourage preaching on trafficking. Click here for a sermon outline.
Organize presentations in local high school on danger signs.Invite a speaker from an anti-trafficking organization or survivor to speak on human trafficking.Organize a fund raiser.
Host a "Slavery Still Exists" awareness event. Click here for more information.
Hang human trafficking awareness posters in your community. Click here for these resources.
Lead youth or college students through the Justice Mission curriculum. Click here for an evaluation of this curriculum by the Department of Christian Formation.
Start an anti-slavery group or chapter on your college campus:

- Love 146
- International Justice Mission Chapters.

For information on the North Park University chapter IJM, click here.
Communicate to your elected representatives on key legislative initiatives regarding slavery and human trafficking: the US Senate and the House of Representatives.

(4) Engage your hands and feet.

Become a "Break the Chains" Team member as a serious or casual athlete involved in marathons or triathlons. Join as an athlete or sponsor an athlete. For more information on competing to raise funds for "Break the Chains" click here.
Communicate to your elected representatives on key legislative initiatives regarding slavery and human trafficking.
-To find contact information for your US congressional officials, click here and enter your zip code at the left menu bar.

Investigate what your state is doing to end human trafficking. Eight states currently have an anti-trafficking task force: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota and Washington. 27 States have passed anti-trafficking laws. For details click here.
If your state does not have an anti-trafficking task force, discuss with your state legislators the possibility of creating one.
If your state does have an anti-trafficking task force, ask your legislators what they have done to address human trafficking.
Explore whether your state has an anti-trafficking task force and determine what your state legislature does to assist victims of trafficking. Consider ways you can be involved in helping make a difference.
Contact local shelters to find out if they assist trafficked victims and how you can be supportive.

(5) Engage your time.

Join online anti-slavery groups that send regular action updates:

-Relentless campaign

-iAbolish

-World Vision

Consider opportunities for short-term service in a human trafficking organization.

Volunteer with local social service agencies dealing with restoring victims.

-The Rescue & Restore Coalition of the US Dept. of Health and Human Services: (click here).
-Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking in Los Angeles, CA: (click here).
-To volunteer with Nightlight (Los Angeles, CA) email nightlightbkk (at) yahoo.com
-Polaris Project (Boston, Colorado, Ohio, Rhode Island, Los Angeles, Seattle):click here. Washington, DC shelter: click here.

-Shared Hope International (Washington DC & Vancouver, WA): click here.
-SAGE Trafficking Opposition Project:click here.
-The Illinois Rescue & Restore Coalition: click here.
-Several cities and states have anti-trafficking coalitions or task forces: click here.
-End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking here.(ECPAT-USA) (Brooklyn, NY)
-Restoration Ministries (Washington, DC): click here.
-The Salvation Army (Alexandria, VA): Bram Bailey, Program Director. Email: Bram_Bailey (at) usn.salvationarmy.org
-Project Rescue (Springfield, MO): To volunteer, email info (at) projectrescue.com

(6) Engage your relationships.

Learn as a family with Families for Justice curriculum. Email education (at) ijm.org for more information.
Learn how to identify victims of trafficking.

-Click here for a list of identifiers from the Salvation Army.
-Tips for social workers, health workers and law enforcement workers are available here.
-If you suspect someone is a victim of human trafficking, call the Trafficking in Persons and Worker Exploitation Task Force Complaint Line (US Dept. of Justice and US Dept. of Labor) at 888.428.7581 (voice and TTY). DO NOT attempt any action without their help. For additional information, call the Trafficking Information and Referral Hotline (US Dept. of Health & Human Services) at 888.373.7888. Click here for the Safe Horizon website.

(7) Engage your resources.

Donate to "Break the Chains"
Demand "slave-free" goods.
Buy "fair trade" products. Click here for Trade As One - Change Lives with Everything You Buy. Encourage your church to do the same. Click here for a list of companies that support fair trade products.
Buy products made by human trafficking survivors: Click here.
If buying a rug, look for the Rugmark symbol for a slave-free guarantee.
Ask hard questions about your investments.
Consider supporting one of the anti-trafficking organizations listed.
Stay only in hotels where there is a "code of conduct."

-Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism: click here. Only five US companies are signatories: click here.