Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Human trafficking enslaves image bearers of God

  • May 31, 2021
  • Margaret Colson
  • Featured, Instagram, Latest News, National News

Human trafficking enslaves image bearers of God

Dewi had lived for decades as a victim of sexual exploitation in the red-light district of the Asia Rim.

Her introduction to modern-day slavery began when she fled an abusive marriage to find a job in the city. There, she was lured unknowingly into a life of prostitution. Trying to escape that life, she met a man who claimed to care about her.

Again, the vulnerable woman was forced to sell herself to earn money for him. Finally, after becoming pregnant, she found the courage to flee without turning back.

She discovered a Southern Baptist Send Relief center that helped her leave the sex trade and equipped her to earn a sustainable income to support herself and her child.

Reclaiming life

Tess, a single woman desperate to care for her daughter, posted online about her vulnerable situation. A predator saw the post and lured Tess with the promise of a job. She discovered it was an escort service.

The only way Tess would see her little girl alive again, the predator told her, was to do what he told her. She was trafficked through five states until she found someone she could trust who encouraged her to call a trafficking hotline number.

Through that call, Tess connected with the Baptist Friendship House in New Orleans where she was able to reclaim her life and ultimately reunite with her family.

Each year throughout the world, from Asia to Arizona, men, women and children are victimized by human traffickers. The U.S. Department of Defense defines human trafficking as “a crime in which force, fraud or coercion is used to compel a person to perform labor, services or commercial sex.” It is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world because humans can be sold repeatedly every day.

“Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery,” said Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. “It is a truly heinous crime, committed in the shadows — and in plain sight.”

Billion-dollar industry

The Department of Defense estimates more than 4.5 million people worldwide are victims of forced sexual exploitation, bringing in $99 billion annually. Some 21 million worldwide are victims of forced labor, bringing in $51 billion annually.

Sex trafficking is the most prevalent form of human trafficking in the United States.

“It has been estimated that as often as every two minutes around the world a life is being bought and sold as if it were merely a commodity to be traded. Human beings — image bearers of God — are being captured, exploited and bound as modern-day slaves,” reports the website for the Tim Tebow Foundation, which is engaged in the global fight against human trafficking. “The exact numbers are hard to track, often inconsistent and presumably underreported, yet they are a global reality steadily trending higher at an alarming pace.”

Even the pandemic did not stop the blight. Just as much of the country has found ways to use technology for good in lieu of in-person gatherings, Kay Bennett, executive director of New Orleans’ Baptist Friendship House, believes traffickers have been doing the same to carry on their business.

Alliance of partners

Once considered a big-city issue, human trafficking is spilling over into smaller cities and towns.

Along with a variety of laws being passed throughout the states, an alliance of state, federal and nongovernmental partners continually join forces to combat human trafficking.

Nongovernmental partners include numerous members of the faith-based community, such as Trafficking Hope (traffickinghope.com), which developed the CARES (Coalition, Awareness, Rescue, Education, Services) initiative as well as organizations that directly serve human trafficking victims.

In Birmingham, Alabama, The WellHouse plans to open a home that will offer emergency accommodations, a safe house and recovery programming for trafficking victims under the age of 18.

A similar home, Camille Place, is under construction in the Monroeville area of Alabama to help girls ages 6 to 19 who are victims of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Once rescued, survivors have few options for rehabilitation programs, which is one reason the faith-based community is needed, leaders in the effort contend.

Faith community needed

Carolyn Potter, CEO of The WellHouse, agreed.

“There is no greater community able to advocate for the eradication of human trafficking and the healing of its victims than the faith community, whose foundation is based on God’s love. Such love will speak out for justice and protest harm to others.”

Rescue and rehabilitation are the twin focus areas for those victimized by human trafficking, David Pinkleton of End It Alabama explained.

“In the short term, human trafficking victims need delivery out of trafficking situations, a safe place to live and drug detox in many cases,” he said. “In the long term, trauma-informed care is a must, along with life skills, education and workforce training.”

If you suspect something, say something

If you suspect human trafficking, contact your local law enforcement agency, the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line at 866-347-2423, the Department of Defense Inspector General Hotline at 800-424-9098 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.

EDITOR’S NOTE — Some names have been changed.


Read here how Baptists are helping human trafficking victims.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Disaster Relief leaders across U.S. meet, prepare for 2023
    Disaster Relief leaders across U.S. meet, prepare for 2023
    February 1, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • First Person: God was faithful to missions trailblazer George Liele; I believe He’ll be faithful to me
    First Person: God was faithful to missions trailblazer George Liele; I believe He’ll be faithful to me
    February 1, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • 2023 SBC Annual Meeting: Pre-registration now open
    2023 SBC Annual Meeting: Pre-registration now open
    February 1, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Disaster Relief leaders across U.S. meet, prepare for 2023

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer Jason Yarbrough kicked off his first year as state disaster relief director for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma by

First Person: God was faithful to missions trailblazer George Liele; I believe He’ll be faithful to me

A missions trailblazer — that’s who George Liele was.  He was born into slavery. His owner freed him so he could pursue God’s call on

2023 SBC Annual Meeting: Pre-registration now open

Pre-registration is now open for churches to pre-register messengers for the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, set for June 11–14 in New Orleans. Pre-registration

What can a church learn from Krispy Kreme about advertising?

Whether doughnuts are healthy or not is another subject, but I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who doesn’t like Krispy Kreme. Churches buy them by

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel