urgent Prayer for the Philippines

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.

“Child sex traffickers are the first feet on the ground in many countries following a major disaster, exploiting those families left homeless, without food, or water.”

You may have wondered if you were still on the anti-trafficking newsletter subscription list, as you did not receive an October anti-trafficking newsletter.  Just yesterday, I was working on the newest letter explaining the delay in the October letter and including some helpful new information.  But as a news article came across my desk this morning, I felt an urgent need to send this letter instead.

I want to urge you today to pray for the Philippines, after this incredible typhoon, in regards to anti-trafficking.  In the November 8, 2013 article “Gleaning For The World Aims to Fight Sex Trafficking in Post Typhoon Philippines,” Ron Davidson, President of Gleaning for the World, warns about the dangers of traffickers directly after major disasters.  “Child sex traffickers are the first feet on the ground in many countries following a major disaster, exploiting those families left homeless, without food, or water.”  It is a horrible truth that not everyone who arrives as emergency relief in such a disaster is there to help, but rather is there to hurt.

Trafficking After Disasters

In a May 24, 2010 speech to the Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Luis CdeBaca, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, talks about the importance of setting legislation in place after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.  In his speech he elaborates saying, “When instability shakes governments, communities, and societies as a whole, there is an increased likelihood of exploitation.” 

Be it immediate trafficking from traffickers posing as rescue and relief; outright traffickers who are approaching parents to buy one child ‘so you can have money to feed the rest’; or be it displaced or now-orphaned children and teenagers who are vulnerable to trafficking six months from now, there is a threat of increased trafficking in the Philippines. 

Join me in praying for the Philippines today:

• Pray for divine protection for children and teenagers affected by the typhoon in the Philippines.
• Pray for discernment, that children, parents, and groups would be able to tell when a legitimate or non-legitimate aid group or person is offering help.
• Pray that hope would infuse families and people – that God will provide for every need, and that none would sell their children.
• Pray for hope and discernment, that families and people would not be tricked into giving away their children “for a better future” and trafficked instead.
• Pray that missing children would be united with family, friends, and loved ones.
• Declare hope instead of fear.
• Declare the goodness of God over this situation – that in the midst of disaster, God is good, God cares, and God is their helper, their provider.

Hands On Help

Aglow Philippines has an extensive network of Aglow groups and pastors who are already involved in typhoon relief.  A link will be available by Wednesday, November 13th to donate to Aglow’s Disaster Relief efforts.  Please check out www.aglow.org to donate to the Disaster Relief Fund or send your gift to Aglow International, P.O. Box 1749, Edmonds, WA 98020, Attn: Philippines Disaster Relief.

Thank you for uniting in prayer for the children, teenagers, and families of the Philippines.

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