University of Georgia Stand for Freedom Event

University of Georgia
Stand for Freedom Event

What are you willing to stand for? I have friends who just returned from Disney World. They stood in line for almost two hours to see the Disney princesses. What about concert tickets? I know people who’ve camped out for almost twenty-four hours to get great seats to a concert. Are you one of those who stands in line for hours to be one of the first in the door for Black Friday shopping (which really starts on Thursday these days)?

Yesterday was IJM‘s global Stand For Freedom Day. College students across the globe choose to stand for twenty-four hours straight as a way to raise awareness of the 27 million held captive in our world today. They use this day to raise funds for the fight against human trafficking as well.

On some campuses students will sign up for a shift to stand against human trafficking. Other campuses have students who will commit to stand up for the full twenty-four hours, even in their classes. They do this so people will ask them why they’re standing, which opens the door to share about the issue of trafficking.

Ephesians 6:10-18 is about putting on the Full Armor of God and taking a stand against evil. Ephesians 6:13-14a says,

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm…”

In case you didn’t know it, we’re living in the day of evil. When one man will sell another for his financial gain and another’s sick, twisted pleasure, we’re in the day of evil.

Will you take a stand against it? Will you raise awareness? How, you might ask?

  • First and foremost, pray. Prayer changes things. Pray for the victims to be safe and rescued. Pray for the officers and others who will rescue them. Pray for the purchasers and buyers to be caught, convicted and then ministered to because they’re broken people too.
  • Speak out about it and raise awareness [Proverbs 31:8]. Tell anyone and everyone who will listen. Educate parents, teachers, coaches, and youth pastors about the danger in their own backyard. Educate the teens and young adults on precautions they can take to make themselves less likely to become a victim.
  • Raise financial support for the grassroots and faith based organizations on the front lines. All of them are under staffed and under funded. It takes money to educate, rescue, and restore.
  • Volunteer. As I said, the organizations in the fight can always use help. If you don’t know where to start, click here.
  • Do a clothing drive or toiletry drive for one of the restoration centers. When these young ladies come off of the streets they bring little to nothing with them. They need clothing. They rarely, if ever, have underwear. They haven’t worn it since they’ve been in the life. They need basic things like a toothbrush and a hairbrush.
  • Give your skills and talents to a restoration center. These girls need to be seen by a doctor and a dentist when they leave the life. They may have a hairstyle someone else chose for them. If you’re a hairdresser, volunteer to do a makeover for girls. If you’re a business owner, offer them jobs when they graduate from their treatment program. Use what you already have and do to bless those coming out of the life.
  • Stop judging [Matthew 7:1]. It’s so easy to make judgments and assumptions when you don’t know the whole story. Instead, take time to get to know people and learn how they ended up where they are and then lovingly help them get on the path God has for them, this includes the pimps and the purchasers [Matthew 5:43-45].

This list could go on and on. In fact, I’d love to hear your ideas. Please go to the comments section and share. We can’t just sit by and do nothing, or we become part of the problem. Let’s become part of the solution. Lives are depending on it.

God calls us to take action [Matthew 25:40]. So my question for you today is what will you take a stand for?