28 days of prayer for human trafficking victims

This is written by LIA volunteer Gia Hughes. Among the many things Gia does with LIA, she is director of our Human Trafficking Outreach. Please join us this month in daily prayer.

As an American, I recognize this Labor Day and I am thankful for the work that has been given to me over the years. But with that, I can’t help but think about those who are being forced into a work not of their choosing. My heart cries for them!

Human Sex Trafficking is plaguing our nation! It is stealing our children! The movie “Taken” sheds some light on this horrendous crime, but too many people may take the wrong message from it. First: that it only happens in foreign countries; and second: that good always prevails. While it is true that it occurs extensively in foreign nations, it is also very much alive right here in the USA. It is in your area--- it is in mine! Because we may not see it exactly as it is shown on tv, we think it doesn’t exist where we are. Don’t be fooled, it IS here! And in reality, only 1% of victims are ever rescued! . . . 1% . . . That means that there are 99% that are still being victimized! Of the 100,000 American children that are exploited each year and sold into sex slavery, 99,000 are still trapped! My heart cries for them!

I realize that many people do not understand this vile and debilitating offense. I didn’t either until the Lord laid its’ severity on my heart and I started researching it. He also brought it to light that it does happen here, in our city, when an arrest was made recently! With the knowledge we are given, we are called to action. As a part of Love in Action International Ministries, we want our community to be aware and informed; to know the signs, to know what to do. We want to protect our young people and give them the knowledge to make wiser choices. We want to do our part! We want to do what the Lord calls us to do! We have already been working towards this the past few months, but starting today and for the next 28 days, we will be praying over a specific area related to trafficking as passed down by the International Mission Board. (Thank you, Amy, for getting these together and passing them along).

Please join us in prayer as we move forward to combat this evil in our area and in our nation. We can make a difference! Today, Day 1- Read Genesis 16 and Genesis 21- focus your prayers on the exploited.

Remember: no young person just wakes up one day and chooses to prostitute themselves. It is not something they have dreamed about growing up and becoming. In a vulnerable moment, something happened, which trapped them mentally or physically or both. I pray as a nation we will open our eyes and our hearts and hear their heart cries!

It is an injustice! It is heart-breaking! It is not their choice!