End Human Trafficking... Together, we can!

I know... I know it can seem like such a huge issue.  So overwhelming and we can oh so easily be lulled back to sleep because, well-- what can I do, right?

Only here's the thing... you can do a lot.  You can be the change that is needed and you can release freedom and encourage and equip. You can help raise awareness. You can change the world, one life at a time!

Practically speaking, you can pray, of course. 

I hope that you do... that you are. I believe 1000% in the power of prayer and in how it changes the world.  

But I hope you also know of some other practical ways that you can jump in and raise awareness and help bring an end to Human Trafficking...  

Let's all start with prayer... but then let's put our faith to action - locally, and globally! 

(Wait... what? Do you think this is just a third world problem? Well --if you think that, you are sadly mistaken.)

Putting action to our faith can start out as easily as simply changing our language. Let's call the trafficked --the women and children (both boys and girls) caught up in trafficking... let's call them what they are: Victims.

Whether they were taken, tricked, or trapped - no one dreams of growing up and being enslaved. Let's bring freedom and hope and link up with Jesus, who came to break every chain and set the captives free!

Changing our language reveals our level of grace and love and how far we are willing to go for these who are often invisible and lost... so often misunderstood and mislabeled. Love wins... let's let our words wrap them in grace and mercy, instead of slapping them with judgment and disdain.  

There are all kinds of great ministries, organizations, and foundations that are hands-on-and-hearts-open... doing the work of finding and bringing hope and opportunity for change and for freedom.  These are the hands and feet of Jesus, roaming the backstreets and dark alleyways... in Africa and Thailand and India, yes - but also in Atlanta and Hollywood and {insert your own hometown here.}  

There are several ministries that my Honey and I, and now our church, support.  They are doing a holy work and they make it so easy to sow in to and help make a difference!  

Two of those ministries are MercyHouse of Kenya and Fair Trade Friday.

In fact, on Saturday I was honored to be the speaker at a local women's event and we set up a table of Fair Trade Friday products on the side and encouraged the women to shop with a purpose and to love and support girls and women from around the world by buying handmade items that help to support and keep them out of the traps of Human Trafficking!

The more awareness we raise, the bigger the issue appears to be... and the harder it can be to feel like you can make a difference... but we can --and we are!

One of my favorite things about ministries like Women At Risk, JOYN India, and Fair Trade Friday is that the items often come with a tag giving the name of the woman or women who made the product. I don't know about you, but for me? Well - that personal touch reminds me that these are real individual people... with names... and my purchase and my prayers make a huge difference in their freedom.

I encourage you to sign up to be a member of one of the Fair Trade Friday clubs (where you receive either a box, a pair of earrings, or a bracelet every month... Fun, right?) and/or sign up to host a Party in your home or at your next church event. 

Let's partner with those who have paved the way and paid a price we do not know... and let's be the hands and feet of Jesus, too.  Let's make a difference and be the change that is so desperately needed! 

Let's be the voice for those who have been told over and over and over again that they don't have a voice.

And always, let's:

CLICK TO TWEET: "Whether they were taken, tricked, or trapped - no one dreams of growing up and being enslaved." @KarrileeA #HumanTraffickingAwarenessDay

CLICK TO TWEET: "Let's bring freedom and hope and link up with Jesus, who came to break every chain and set the captives free!" @KarrileeA #HumanTraffickingAwarenessDay

CLICK TO TWEET: Join Organizations & Ministries like @MercyHouseKenya @A21 & @FTFClub to help raise awareness #HumanTraffickingAwarenessDay & #BeTheChange

P.S.  I'm linking up with these lovely writers:

The Community over at #SmallWonders

Laura Boggess over at #ChasingtheBlueFlower

Kelly Balarie for #RaRaLinkUp

Holly Barrett over at #TestimonyTuesday

Here is a brief list of some of the Human Trafficking ministries that we support:

MercyHouse 

Miles for Mercy

Fair Trade Friday

A21

Women at Risk, International

Love146 

EndItMovement

Are you connected to or involved in any other Human Trafficking organizations? If so, which ones? I'd love to hear!