When people first think of sex trafficking, they assume only women and children located overseas are being forced and sold into the sex trade. In reality, this horrific issue hits extremely close to home and as a country, we need to address that Americans do in fact traffic other Americans. This hard fact is something many Americans do not want to imagine, but since 2007, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline has received reports of 4,588 sex trafficking cases inside the United States. In addition, in a 2014 report, the Urban Institute stated that the underground sex economy ranged from $39.9 million in Denver, Colorado, and up to $290 million in Atlanta, Georgia. Clearly, victims can be anyone and traffickers make a substantial profit in the United States off of this form of modern slavery that exists right under our noses. For many, it could be easy to read statistics like that and think there is nothing anyone can do to seriously combat this injustice. Although the issue itself is complex and large, as a Christian I know that I serve a God that is infinitely bigger. Each and every day, traffickers use various forms of coercion, violence and lies to lure children and adults into the horrendous world of sex trafficking against their will. As Christians, it is our responsibility to not brush these types of horrors off and instead make them visible to others. It is important to show people that we serve a God of love and freedom when all they have known is bondage and manipulation. We need to have a broken heart for people that have to live through this type of pain and suffering every day, because whether we know them personally or not, they are still sons and daughters of Christ.

A Christian force to be reckoned with that is combatting sex trafficking on both a local and global scale is Christine Caine, an international motivational speaker and leader from Hillsong Church. She created a non-profit organization called the A21 Campaign, aimed at fighting human trafficking (including both forced slave labor and situations involving sexual exploitation). The organization combats slavery around the world through education that promotes awareness and prevention, as well as medical, psychological, and legal assistance for victims of human trafficking. The campaign partners with fundraising supporters, governmental agencies, and community members (or A-Teams) to unite together to prevent human trafficking by using educational materials and restoration programs. This organization should serve as an inspiration to every Christian that there is power in collective action. As single units, we may feel powerless. But like Christine Caine says in an interview featured in the video link below, if we come together as Christians in the unconditional love of God, we can love people into wholeness and freedom. There is power in loving people boldly like Christ so scandalously loves us all no matter the circumstance. His love for us is filled with patience and commitment, which is exactly what is required in us, as abolitionists, to see long-lasting changes and momentum in the fight against sexual slavery.

So what can we do, and what do we think God is calling us to do about this issue? First and foremost, our call to action as Christians, especially as American Christians, is to combat sexual exploitation across the world and the place we call home by consistently remaining committed to praying. We need to pray on behalf of all of the millions of victims worldwide that are still being trafficked, as well as survivors. But, do not just stop there! As young people, we have the opportunity to start awareness groups on our campuses, community groups, and the churches we belong to. We can provide the wide variety of different groups we are involved in with educational resources to help them learn more about sex trafficking, how to prevent being trafficked, and how to recognize if someone else is being trafficked. The more light that is shed on the issue, the more people that can collectively come together to combat it. All it took for me to be broken for all of these people I had never met before was one conversation. I was not aware of the severity and prevalence of the sex trade until my late teens and God broke my heart for children, women and men all over the world affected by sex trafficking and all of its evils. God intentionally stirred my heart for this injustice and since that moment, I have known that I was called to work with sex trafficked women and children and make their stories known. Education is so powerful and if you know how serious this problem is, it is your responsibility to get as many people on board with you to fight for this cause. The enemy will always try to make the people of God fearful and weak, but we are strong in the love and power of Christ and the faithful God we serve will always reign over the enemy. We are not slaves to fear because we are children of God and he paid the ultimate price to make us his. Therefore, we have to fight for each and every one of his children and the freedom he so sacrificially gave them that no mere human should ever be allowed to take away.