THE EPIDEMIC OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Sara L. DeVol
Box 161
Human Trafficking
April 14, 2011
Outline
- Introduction
- The Necessity for Rescuing Victims
- The Security of Safe Houses
- The Healing that is Ineluctable
- The Power of Christ
Introduction
Human Trafficking is an epidemic that forces women, children, and even boys into slavery to their boss, to their customer, and to their mind and heart. Sexual slavery is a stronghold that has a grip on such a variety of evils. It leads to the spread of HIV/AIDS, child pornography, adult pornography, prostitution, rape, greed, drug addiction, molestation, isolation, never-ending debt, broken families, shame, kidnappings, infidelity.
The Necessity for Rescuing Victims
This rampant evil is so sly, seductive and cunning. Anyone could be subject to participating in human trafficking because this evil hides behind several disguises. Brothels are cloaked by industries such as gentlemen's clubs, massage parlors, spas, and pornography. Anyone could be trafficked because of the clever by-lines given to young women these days. There are sexual predators on facebook, there are “honest and loving” fiances who sell their woman once they are secured into marriage. There are boyfriends who blackmail their girlfriend into making him money amongst his ‘clients’ through the use of her body. There are recruiters for ideal jobs as singers or dancers, and there are seemingly wonderful foreign tour guides who take advantage of young tourists who are not aware of what situation they will get themselves into.
The need to rescue these victims is so large and so strong that only God can do it.
The Security of Safe Houses
Safe houses initiate an enslaved woman back into normal living. They are homes of transition that bring calm and peace to a hurting soul. Here women can learn new trades, eat healthy, develop life skills and habits, and come to understand the peace of God and salvation. Dream Homes help release women from inappropriate guilt, depression, loss of meaning of life, depression, and paranoia. The staff at these homes are trained to minister to these women to help them let go of their traumatic past and restart whole and new in Christ. (www.runforfreedom.net)
In India, Project Rescue has started numerous homes that are currently being used for children of prostituted women (Behind the Soiled Curtain, p.153). These homes have a bed, clothing, food, education, clean water, and medical care. They learn about the love of Jesus and they pray heartily for their mothers to know their salvation as well. These Project Rescue Homes are strategically planted throughout Dubai and Nepal. One is in the center of the Red Light District. They are accepted by brothel owners because of the free medical check-ups, food give-aways, and concern for the children.
The Healing that is Ineluctable
The women who come to these homes are showered with love, affection, attention, and teaching. The emotional healing that a girl feels takes time. Something dies within their mind and spirit in order for them to survive the horrors and emotional scars they have. When a girl finds healing in Christ, they walk with eyes of light. They are ministered to with the manifested love of Christ. One example of this is the care given to women with HIV/AIDS. Within brothels, women with this disease are cast out to die alone and to suffer greatly. At houses of hope, these women are given the medical care they need to alleviate their pain. They are treated with dignity, respect, and love. They are cared for until death.
The Power of Christ
Christ has come to seek and save all who are lost, including women who are broken and shamed. Jesus offered freedom from their bondage to several lost women in the New Testament. The passage containing the great commission reminds us to include all people groups when we are sharing the gospel, including exploited women. The power of Christ empowers His people with strategies and courage to reach women who are enslaved. Once shared, the truth of the Gospel will reach every abused soul. It will bring justice to the weak and oppressed by bringing awareness and shame to those forces behind such a great tragedy.
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Human Trafficking Report
Behind the Soiled Curtain by David & Beth Grant
What is the author’s purpose in writing this book.
To express the details of the effects of human trafficking in India by using the personal testimonies of women who have been set free from the sex-slave industry and by evidencing the healing power of Christ as claimed by missionaries and ministers of the Gospel in India and Nepal.
What is the most helpful part of this book for you?
The most helpful section of this book is in Chapter 10: A Global Strategy. This segment outlines the need for homes that offer education, vocational training, recreation, moral education, love, and a disciplined life for children in India who are without the above. Currently in India there are “homes” that are supposed to provide care, protection, treatment, and rehabilitation of neglected or delinquent children. These include children abandoned by mother’s who are prostituted or children who have escaped human trafficking. The sad truth is that these observation homes actually hold children for years longer than they’re supposed to and the children live in inhumane conditions. This section is helpful to me because I can see that these children lack undergarments, solid meals, good hygiene, emotional counseling, moral education, and a place to sleep. Now I can understand why the home that Project Rescue has built is so essential to their ministry.
What significant information is new to you?
It was unbelievable to me that poverty is so rampant that fathers and mothers sell their own children thinking that they will have a better life. Unfortunately they are deduced into believing that their sold children will work in honorable job situations, however they are all too often mistaken.
I also found it interesting that a once-freed girl will return back into prostitution if her heart and mind have not yet been healed. I always assumed that these women would day to run away the chance they got. The devil has a strong psychological hold on these women, until the power of Christ compels them they will not always leave their situation for good. The book says that spiritual freedom and physical freedom do not always happen within conjuncture of each other.
What is one quote from the book that was particularly important or relevant to you (include page #) and why.
“Weeks later, when Ayushi was released from the hospital, Devaraj’s team admitted her to a Home of Hope. There she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. Her wish had come true. Death had come to her old life and a new life had begun.” (p. 153 Behind the Soiled Curtain)
This quote outlines the outcome of Ayushi’s story. Having been sexually abused from the youngest age she grew up bitter with the knowledge that her sexually enslaved mother was set free in exchange for herself. What mother would give her daughter the agony that she had dealt with for her whole life?
Ayushi longed for death, and when she was at the lowest place seeking death, she received it. She tried to take her life by getting run over by a car, but was unsuccessful, eventually her owners gave her to Devaraj. Ayushi received Christ and she received death to her old life.
This quote is so significant to me because the unbeliever assumed that death will release them from the deadness that their life already holds. They are dead without Christ. What they are really longing for is freedom from the consuming deadness, and cannot see that it is not their physical life that restrains them but their spiritual life.The healing power of Christ and His salvation offers life to lives who were dead.
