th (2)Are you involved in the fight against human sex trafficking? I have been excited and inspired by some of the people I’ve met across this journey: college students, fathers, mothers, young girls, survivors, all wanting to raise their voice for hope in some way.

Last night I received an email from a dear friend in Augusta, GA.  It read,

Just finished Rescuing Hope. Couldn’t put it down. Could hardly finish reading through my tears, now what do I do?”

She’s a wife of fifty plus years, mother and grandmother and sees a need to join the fight.

Then I received a phone call from my son at Georgia Tech?

Guess who’s holding a copy of your book right now?”

He had attended the inaugural meeting of the campus chapter of IJM and learned they were having someone from IJM in Washington speak. He jumped up and ran down freshman hill to his dorm room to grab a copy of my book, Rescuing Hope, and ran back up freshman hill before falling in his seat for the presentation.  He made sure I knew he made his trek in khakis, a button down, a tie, a sweater, a leather coat, not sweat pants and sneakers. He was committed to getting a copy of Hope’s story in the hands of someone who would see it as a tool for educating people on this issue.

There isn’t a day that goes by that someone doesn’t ask me,

“What can I do?”

Well, there are things we can all do:

  • We can all pray. So many people look at prayer as an afterthought instead of a first step. Almost any major move of God ever recorded in history has  been preceded with a major move of prayer.
  • We can all write to our elected officials at the local, state, and national level and demand tougher penalties for pimps and johns as well as more services and resources for survivors.  Better yet, go visit them and tell them what you want. Street Grace organizes a Lobby Day for abolitionist in Georgia to gather together and raise their voice for hope as one.  This year it is February 7th.  If you live in the state of Georgia, consider joining the cry for the children of our state by registering here.
  • We can all educate ourselves.  With the use of the internet, you can learn almost anything you ever wanted to know. Google human sex trafficking in your area and learn specifically about what is being done in your community to fight this issue. Read Rescuing Hope to gain insight into how a typical American teenager can end up being lured into the lifestyle.
  • We can all educate others.  We can take what we’ve learned and share it among our corner of the world.  Whether it’s inviting friends over for dessert and coffee to share what you’ve learned or discussing it at the water cooler in the office, we all have a platform somewhere.
  • We can all write a letter of encouragement to a survivor.  Organizations like Wellspring Living have a writing campaign where volunteers can write encouragement notes to survivors.

There are things some of us can do:

  • Give financially to the cause.  While everyone isn’t in a position to give financially, some of us can. Find an organization you have a heart connection with and support them by sending in a onetime gift or give monthly. Every organization in the fight is underfunded and under staffed and can use your help.
  • Volunteer your time to work with survivors. Many of the treatment facilities use volunteers to help tutor, teach, mentor,  or just hang out with the girls who have come off the street, showering them with love into them and speaking life into them.

We all need to remember Matthew 25:40 and do something to join the fight to bring an end to modern day slavery.

The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.’