*This is a tough post*
I love how God uses story to help open our eyes and draw us closer to Him. Two incredible books released this year that tackled an increasingly horrendous problem:
Sex Trafficking
Some knew nothing about this awful subject, some may have known but turned a blind eye to it - "it's not happening around me, so I can ignore it", some are caught in the midst of it.
I'm going to give you some terrifying stats:
-1.2 million children are trafficked every year; this is in addition to the millions already held captive by trafficking (1)
-Every 2 minutes a child is being prepared for sexual exploitation (1)
-The average victim is forced to have sex up to 40 times a day (5)
-The average age of a trafficked victim is 14 years old (5)
-Approximately 30 million children have lost their childhood through sexual exploitation over the past 30 years (1)
-Sex trafficking is an engine of the global AIDS epidemic (4)
-People are trafficked from 127 countries to be exploited in 137 countries (3)
-Between 14,500 and 17,500 victims are trafficked into the USA each year (4)
-The total market value of illicit Sex Trafficking is estimated to be in excess of $32 billion (2)
-By 2010 Sex Trafficking will be the number one crime worldwide (5)
-Trafficking in women is the second largest global organized crime today
-Over 25% of victims are trafficked from Southern and Eastern Europe.
-Tragically, only 1-2 percent of victims are rescued, and only 1 in 100,000 Europeans involved in trafficking are convicted.
(1-UNICEF, 2-UN, 3-UNODC, 4-US Department of State, 5-The A21 Campaign)
We cannot turn away from this. A lot of people are discussing the problem of Pornography, and yes, pornography is rampant in the world, but this problem is even greater. Pornography feeds this industry. Can you imagine your own child being abducted and sold into sex slavery?
Since reading Priceless by Tom Davis, and Deliver Us From Evil by Robin Caroll, I've been seriously praying about what I can do. What can you do?
If you like to read - Please buy the two books mentioned above. The stories will grip you and bring to life this epic problem. They are both powerful and beautifully written. I'd also recommend you check out Tom Davis's different sites. Tom is the CEO of Children's Hope Chest. Below are other links for you to check out (PLEASE, PLEASE go and read their stories - you will never be the same)
www.sheispriceless.com
www.love146.org
www.iempathize.org
www.hopechest.org
www.notforsalecampaign.org
www.globalcenturion.org
On a personal note, I know both of these authors. They have touched my life in huge ways. This is not just about selling books... this is about changing a life. One at a time. Please pray about how you can help.
6 comments:
oh my gosh...... I'm in tears. I had NO idea. More Christians need to know this information. How have we been so blind to this? You are right this changed me I couldn't believe the stories I read on there. Especilly love the story on Love146 about how they got their name.
Thank you, Kimberly for sharing this with us. I don't know if I'll be able to stop crying.
Karen
whoa -- this is true? how come we aren't doing more? why isn't this on the news?
Thanks for blogging about this, Kim...it IS such a serious offense and it happens right under our noses! I'll be honest, I was clueless when I began research for Deliver Us From Evil...what I found literally broke my heart. Awareness is the first step. Then, we should all pray about reaching out to see how we can help.
Amen, Robin. Thank you for writing it - it's a fabulous book.
Karen and Anonymous, that's why great fiction like Priceless and Deliver Us From Evil needs to get into people's hands. We need to know. We need to learn. We need to help. Please pass the word to others.
What a powerful post, Kimberley. Thank you so much for sharing this heartbreaking, just vital to everyone, information.
I've heard a lot of good about the two books you've mention but haven't had the chance to read them yet.
Blessings,
Beverly
bgrider2@cox.net
International Justice Mission is a non-gov't org that conducts rescue and legal operations overseas. They also provide housing and vocational training for girls rescued. I think Natalie Grant is involved in raising awareness.
Denver folks, there is a group called "World of Girlfriends" that meets at Bear Valley Church in Lakewood and is all about trafficking and raising awareness and supporting groups that are trying to stop it. Call you local churches to see if there are groups. I wish I could go to WOGF, but it meets on nights I work. but do check out IJM. they are a Christian org.
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