Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Isaiah 58:6
Prayer breaks chains and gives favor that is supernatural. It enables rescue and puts people in the right place at the right time.
Know - Pray - Act:
This series of newsletters will explore various solutions so that YOU can reach out in your community to stop human trafficking.
This month we are embarking on a new series of anti-trafficking newsletters. We are receiving more prayer requests from our anti-trafficking partners, so we will start sending prayer request newsletters again, as well.
In January and March this year, two different Aglow anti-trafficking workshops took place in the Mid-Atlantic Region, one in Maryland and one in North Carolina. During this time, groups worked together to determine practical actions that can be taking within their communities to make a difference in human trafficking in their state. This series of newsletters (Know, Pray, Act) will feature some of the solutions that were brought up so that YOU can reach out in your community in a similar way.
Know
Raising awareness is a powerful tool. The reason? Because while this first step may seem “simple” and easily dismissible to some, the fact is that you can’t recognize what you don’t know exists. Having conversations with others to let them know that labor trafficking happens in nail salons and that sex trafficking happens with young junior high girls helps others to be aware, to trust their gut feeling when seeing something wrong, and encourages them to report tips to police or anti-trafficking hotlines.
Pray
God, open my eyes to trafficking occurring in my community. As I seek to spread awareness, help ME be aware of what is going on, and how I can help stop trafficking.
Act
Here are some suggestions for raising awareness in your community:
- Form a Neighborhood Watch; be alert and observant of signs of trafficking; know your neighbors; know your environment.
- Host a community awareness event in your neighborhood; you can even make it a summer BBQ.
- Encourage pastors to have a plan to inform their congregations and make it on-going, not just a one-time event.
- Find out what resources are available in your state. For example, Google search “Human Trafficking in ______ (state).” You may be surprised what anti-trafficking coalitions are active in your area that you may be able to join.
- Be approachable (but not aggressive) and trustworthy in order to form relationships in your community. Remember, law enforcement is equipped to rescue. We are equipped to help in other ways – including being eyes and ears of our community.
- Meet with law enforcement officials to find out what is going on in your area and how you can help. See what they need in order to help rescued victims.
- Provide information prominently in locations where middle school age children gather displaying the anti-trafficking tip line for your nation.
- Communicate with media contacts (radio, cable and network TV, newspapers, magazines) to get them to cover Human Trafficking [visit www.easymedialist.com].
- Distribute Blue Campaign [US Department of Homeland Security] and other materials in English and other languages in areas likely to be used by actual and potential victims.
- Find or prepare and distribute materials prepared in both visual affect and wording targeted to the age group of vulnerable girls and boys [such resources are available on many Human Trafficking websites].
Standing in the gap with you,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Anti-Trafficking Specialist
Aglow International
