Not For Sale

Think slavery has ended? Think again!!

Many of you may have already heard about this, but for those who haven't, there is a great free book you can download this month only at Christianaudio. Thanks to friends who posted about this and let me know about it. Although I have only listened to about an hour so far, I would recommend listening and learning more about human trafficking which plagues our world and even this nation.

Ryan and I are both deeply interested in how to help bring awareness and get involved in fighting the sale of humans for sex and labor. There are more slaves in the world today than in over 400 years of the African slave trade combined!! These slaves can be men, women, boys, and girls. They work 7 days a week, nearly all day long, with little or no pay. They may serve your food at your favorite restaurant, make your toes pretty at the salon, or be a domestic servant hidden away in your next door neighbor's home. In my opinion, the worst of cases are those where children and women are beaten, raped, and forced into brothels where the violence continues in demeaning acts with 15 or so "customers" a day....yes, this happens here in the U.S. of A. It's not just an issue in Southeast Asia. I just read today of sex rings busted in Lynnwood (my new hometown) last summer. Many involved are believed to have been held against their will--modern day slavery.

If you would like to learn more, please go to the link above and listen to the book along with me.

For those in the Western Washington area, check out this site and this one for upcoming anti-trafficking conferences where you can learn more about this all too prevalent evil and what you can do to help.

Here are some more links if you want to learn more or donate to fighting this issue.

International Justice Mission

The Polaris Project

Share Hope International

For those of us who say we believe in Jesus and want to serve Him, slavery is not something that we can ignore. We are called to, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." Prov. 31:8 We must be the voice (advocate) for those whose voices have been taken away.