In Acts 16:16-19 NIV we read:
Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.
Human trafficking is nothing new, it has been around since Bible times. January is a month of reflection and a fresh start. It is also Human Trafficking Prevention Month. When considering how I want to spend my next year, I often consider what matters to God. What is on His mind? I believe that these poor vulnerable souls, being sold for profit for purposes of evil are surely on His mind.
Look at verse 18 in Acts 16, the NIV says that Paul was “troubled”, but a better word for the original participle used here might be “being grieved”. Paul was grieved (saddened) at how this poor vulnerable girl was being sold for these bullies’ profit. How did he respond? He did something. He cast the demon out of her so she would no longer be valuable to these men, and at a great cost to himself. Are we willing to be challenged to help someone so vulnerable, no matter that it makes us uncomfortable? We aren’t all called in the same way, but we can do something.
The challenge here is two-fold. First, this isn’t a comfortable topic, especially when discussing sex trafficking. This kind of trauma can be more comfortable for us at an arm’s length. Second, when you start to see the enormity of the problem, it is easy to get overwhelmed with the sheer size of the problem. What can little ol’ me do? You can do something.
- Pray. Just like in Acts, this is still very much a supernatural problem. Prayer is how we fight this battle. Also, pray about direction on how God might use your time, talents, and treasures with those on the front lines. There are many options, some hands on and some at an arm’s length. Don’t let your concerns stop you from helping those financially and in prayer called to go to places most of us avoid.
- Do some research. Human trafficking is a domestic and a global problem. There are many options to support human trafficking efforts financially, but very few that allow you to roll up your sleeves and get to work. There are several positions that work directly with survivors and many that support the efforts of those who do. Current needs include, but not limited to marketing/social media, board member positions, and office cleaning.
At Redeem and Restore Center we are concerned about what concerns Jesus! He is concerned about the approximately 27.6 million people at any given time sold each year globally for profit.1 Our restorative care home located in Waukesha, WI allows us to serve women in a very tangible way, providing safety, counseling, and a safe place to heal before continuing in their individual life’s journey away from the horror’s they have become so accustomed to. If you are interested in donating your time, talents, and treasures to Redeem and Restore Center, go to www.redeemandrestore.org.
1 https://www.state.gov/humantrafficking-about-human-trafficking/
-Stacy Kageff Visit me at https://www.dancingintherainllc.com/
