I just heard about a church that has a vision to establish an orphanage specifically for children coming out of human trafficking situations. The idea is to create a place for them to go to. The desire is to aid in rehabilitating these kids, all the while showing them the love of Jesus Christ.
The facility will be in Dallas, Texas. Most of us would have expected it to be in Africa or southeast Asia! Sadly, the U.S. State Department estimates that 14,500 to 17,500 of the 900,000 people being trafficked transnationally each year (some as young as 5 years old) are brought into the United States.
Do you know about other churches in North America that are likewise working to impact the perpetrators or assist the victims of human trafficking?
UPDATE ADDED JULY 2010: See this excellent article by Amy Sherman on what churches are doing to combat sex trafficking.
Warren Bird, Ph.D., is Research Director at Leadership Network, and co-author of 19 books on various aspects of church health and innovation.
We support a ministry in Thailand that aids women and children who desire to leave the sex trade.
Posted by: Eric Strattan | February 26, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Warren, good post. I know of two churches:
Superstition Springs Community www.mission68.org and Perimeter Pres and Unite! Atlanta churches.
Posted by: Don Wilcox | February 27, 2009 at 02:32 PM
I just thought of another church, North Coast Calvary Chapel works with International Justice Mission and some other groups.
Posted by: Don Wilcox | February 27, 2009 at 02:33 PM
Do you know of anything that Canadian churches are doing to address this issue? Joanna Shaule
Posted by: Joanna Shaule | March 10, 2009 at 01:32 PM
The Vineyard Churches have formed a Vineyard Anti-Slavery Team that is working to stop human trafficking as well as develop aftercare programs for the victims. We are also holding a conference that will address the issues of human trafficking among other related social justice issues this fall. You can learn more about it at www.reform-now.org
Posted by: Jason Chatraw | March 12, 2009 at 01:00 PM
www.rockpointchurch.org supports and serves on the board of www.visionabolition.org!
Posted by: Dr. Randy Deal | March 13, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Tenth Church in Vancouver is working with a faith/abolition coalition on this issue. We are particularly working on a campaign for the Olympics called "Buying Sex is not a Sport".
Posted by: Mardi Dolfo-Smith | April 30, 2009 at 12:13 PM