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.
The Power of Awareness
Greetings! This month I’d like to talk to you about the power of awareness. Annie Lobert, founder of Hookers For Jesus, recently made a powerful statement on social media:
“Many #sextrafficking organizations exist to just bring awareness and many deal directly with girls-BUT regardless: WE. NEED. EACH. OTHER.”
How true this is!
When I talk to people about raising awareness of trafficking in their nation, I am surprised at the responses I commonly receive. “Is that all?” “That’s nice, but we need to do something.” This month I would like to encourage you that raising awareness is no small feat. We need rescue organizations. We need to put action with our faith. But I’d like to encourage you that raising awareness is powerful - and it bears fruit. We definitely want you to continue to partner with anti-trafficking organizations locally and be active in your community. We also want to shed light on the power that awareness brings.
Recently, Special Agent Todd Rignel of U.S. Homeland Security spoke in a small seminar in Seattle, WA, and specifically commended the faith-based community for their work in raising awareness of trafficking. Not sure how simply spreading the word makes a difference?
Let me break it down into 5 steps:
Step 1 - You become educated about anti-trafficking through this newsletter, books, articles, the internet, etc.
Step 2 - You spread awareness by simply telling others what you know, as opportunities present themself.
Step 3 - When you or someone you have talked to see something that stirs their Spirit or their gut, now knowing that ‘stuff like this’ really is happening in their own community, they are empowered to call and report the situation to an anti-trafficking tip line or to the police.
Step 4 - Tip lines and police receive tips on where a potential trafficking situation might be going on. They investigate that situation.
Step 5 - Upon investigation police, anti-trafficking rescue organizations, or other appropriate authorities are able to conduct an actual rescue and provide the victim with support services.
The bottom line is - When law enforcement knows where to look for trafficking, they can go after it and stop it. If they don’t know where to look they can’t easily find it.
Additionally, when traffickers know the law enforcement in a specific city is acting on tips and looking for trafficking situations (when they know there is heightened awareness) they will move on to other cities that are less active and less aware.
Is Trafficking Happening Near You?
Becoming aware of trafficking and spreading that knowledge – it’s a simple act, yet it produces incredible fruit.
In the same seminar Special Agent Rignel commented on the statistic that Seattle, WA is “the third highest city in the U.S. for trafficking”. Truth be told, anti-trafficking statistics are quite murky, and the fact that any trafficking is going on anywhere should motivate us to act. But what is most interesting was the explanation Rignel had around this:
He explained that Seattle may or may not actually be one of the highest U.S. cities for trafficking. That there could actually be much more trafficking in, say, Boise or Columbus. The key is – we are finding more numbers of trafficking cases in Seattle, because we are looking for them. And we’re looking for them, because awareness of this problem is being raised. This same thing is happening internationally. As we become alert and aware of the trafficking happening in our communities in Denmark, Thailand, Australia, Uganda, Fiji, The Bahamas – we are reaching out and shining the Light of Christ in the darkness through prayer and action to see the tyranny of oppression broken, to see victims free and empowered, and see people restored to radiant place of relationship with GOD and with others.
So keep up the good work, talk to other Aglow members, talk to your family, talk to your neighbors, and spread the information you have!
UPCOMING NEWSLETTER NEWS
I’m pleased to let you know that the upcoming newsletters will now include prayer for specific anti-trafficking organizations, as well as information on trafficking in that organization's region of the world. The newsletters will continue to be sent once a month. Bless you as you continue to join in prayer and action in your community!
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
