Human Trafficking Awareness Month

Submitted by Monica Schultz

January is “Human Trafficking Awareness” Month. Pray this prayer with us to end the trafficking of people across the world, and look for information at our exit doors to get involved in advocating for these most vulnerable children of God.

Prayer to End Human Trafficking

Loving Father, we seek your divine protection for all who are exploited and enslaved. For those forced into labor, trafficked into sexual slavery, and denied freedom. We beseech you to release them from their chains. Grant them protection, safety, and empowerment. Restore their dignity and provide them a new beginning.

Show us how we might end exploitation by addressing its causes. Help us reach out in support of victims and survivors of human trafficking. Make us instruments of your spirit for their liberation.

We pray through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(USCCB handout for World Day of Peace 2015)

Faith Advocates Against Human Trafficking

St James, Good Shepherd & Queen of Apostles have collaborated to help fight today’s “modern day slavery” in our community through church, community education, action and supporting organizations dedicated to rescuing and restoring hopes & values of those trafficked as they begin again and struggle to re-enter society.

Each month St. James & Good Shepherd work closely with the Franciscan Peacemakers Street Ministry by making lunches. Franciscan Peacemakers use these to go out on the streets, offer lunch to girls engaging in prostitution (due to sexual exploitation/trafficking), gain their trust and show them an alternative healing path to a new healthy, safe and productive life.

Each year as we search for new ways to reach out to our community. It is most important to educate our children; however, so is looking into the demand side of the problem. Who are these humans who are using our children for sex? As disturbing as this sounds, you can look out your back window at home, your neighbor, your doctor, your lawyer, an uncle, your father, maybe even your husband. Many children brought into the sex industry have been abused before, often by a relative. A group called HEMAD (Human Trafficking Educators working with Men and boys to stand Against the Demand). HEMAD is an award winning campaign to motivate men to take a public stand against the commercial sex trade and human trafficking. Men can take the pledge at www.convergenceresource.org/hemad

The “users” are the fuel that ignites human trafficking. Though many do not believe that human trafficking exists in our friendly state, all 72 counties have cases of human trafficking. A big reason for this is our lack of monitoring our children online. What may look like a completely harmless online game could be the hide out for predators and connection to your child. Never let your guard down. Always question. Always monitor what your children are doing. Keep your child safe online! The Faith Coalition has put together a social media resource card available at our entrance. If you would like more info, contact Faith Advocates Coordinator Debra Schneider: djschneider86@gmail.com