I was talking with a friend in Sunday school yesterday about the extent of sex slavery and human trafficking in this country. The Jesus Alliance is determined to create awareness of this problem and to encourage everyone to help us do something about it. Consider that:
- The average victim’s age is 11 to 14
- 2 million children are subjected to prostitution in the global commercial sex trade
- Of every three child victims, two are girls and one is a boy
- Children are chained up injected with heroin, until addicted, raped repeatedly, sometimes 35 times a day until they have lost their will to resist
- Average life span of a victim is 3 to 7 years (found dead from attack, abuse, HIV and other STD’s, malnutrition, overdose or suicide)
- Children are most often targeted by traffickers as they are easier to manipulate than adults.
- Drugs are used once and they are gone. Victims of child trafficking can be used and abused over and over again. The cartels have picked up on this and are now actively involved in it.
- A sex slave sells for about $90
- More money can be earned by younger girls and boys especially virgins.
- Younger girls are expected to have a greater earning potential, and as such are in greater demand.
- Human trafficking has surpassed the illegal sale of arms and will surpass the illegal sale of drugs in the next few years; ($32 billion-a-year industry)
- Human trafficking is on the rise and is in all 50 states
- The number of victims annually in the U.S. is in the range of 2 to 4 million 21 million globally
- From 14,500 – 17,500 of those victims are trafficked into the United States each year
- 50% of those victims are estimated to be children
So you might think that this evil is far way, but it’s not. In fact Georgia is the number one state for sex trafficking in the United States with Atlanta being the number one city. California is second and FLORIDA is third with Tallahassee being the number one city when the session is in.
Events like the Final Four, Super Bowl, and so forth are an economic boon and young girls and boys are trucked in especially for these events. The goal of the Jesus Alliance is to assist those ministries and organizations that are combating this problem. It begins with awareness. Evil hides in the dark shadows; we need to shine light into the darkness and let people know what is going on so more people will work towards ending it. Prevention is of paramount importance and can be accomplished by tougher laws and vigorous prosecution making it less profitable and attractive to organized crime; (until recently it was a misdemeanor in Georgia that carried a $50 fine). Rescue is another goal. This is dangerous work and God bless those brave souls that are committed to taking the necessary risks to save these children. Restoration is another ingredient. These kids are addicted to drugs, suffer from PTSD and other mental challenges, and are ravaged by disease. They have little education and are ill equipped to face the world. It takes time and money to rehabilitate them. We are woefully ill equipped to do so in this country with just 34 designated safe houses in the entire United States. Finally there is reintegration into society. That means teaching them vocational skills and helping them to find jobs.
All of the above requires prayer, money, and volunteerism. Currently we have found about 400 ministries involved with this problem. Not all of them are doing that good of a job. At the Jesus Alliance we have begun vetting them and winnowing it down to the top tier organizations and are raising money to help them succeed. You can donate to the Jesus Alliance and designate funds to go to end sex slavery/trafficking and we’ll ensure the money is wisely spent. Please pray for these little children all over the world. And speak out. Failure to do anything speaks volumes about your faith.
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
One day God will settle up with those who hurt these little ones, but until then it is up to the church, the body of believers. Do what you can starting today won’t you?
Matt. 18:6
But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
October 5, 2015 – Click here to listen