We heard from multiple organizations that are passionate about freeing victims of the sex industry. I am blown away by these individuals. They are rock stars! These people are on the streets loving on victims and doing life with those who are rescued. Let me tell you a little about how this issue came to be such a pressing one on my heart. When we came to the campus, one of Justin's classmates told him about this ministry called Inward that reaches out to dancers on Bourbon, shows love, builds relationships, and works to provide freedom both physically and spiritually. I began praying about this, and my heart seemed drawn to it, but I waited until January to jump in. These ladies have blown me away! They are so in love with Jesus and God is blessing the ministry and showing us his miraculous power it seems like on a weekly basis. As I have had the priviledge to pray for these girls working on Bourbon, my heart just breaks for them. I am literally broken hearted for the thousands of victims in the sex industry. So here I am. Right now I am praying earnestly for freedom from the captives. I am not sure how God will ultimately use me here, but I figure a good start is sharing with you some facts as I learned today. I pray the Holy Spirit will stir in your heart compassion for these women and children who have no voice.
*27 million people are in slavery worldwide
* In America, approximately 17,000 people are in slavery
* 12 is the average age of entry into prostitution and pornography in the United States.
* Within 48 hours of being on the street in America, a runaway child is approached by a pimp.
* 70% of street youth are victims of commerical sexual exxploitation.
*77% of strippers and prostitutes were victimized as children
* America is the LARGEST producer of porn IN THE WORLD. Not all of these "actors" are performing under their own free will.
* 1 in 4 women will be victimized in their lifetime.
These is a HUGE issue, and the Christian community has got to step up. Satan is having a heyday wrecking lives and putting women and children in captivity that all too often steals their life. The darkness is deep and persvasive. BUT our God is greater. He is so MIGHTY to save. You would be amazed at how he is mobilizing people, from little old ladies to ex CIA to help rescue these people. God is active in this area. The Women's Missionary Union has even made human exploitation their focus until 2013.
So what can you and I do? Well, I think the best thing is to be aware. I know that when I lived in Brandon, the darkness seemed so far away from me. It was so easy to ignore. Now it is in my backyard. So I hope my reader's will realize that no matter how safe your environment feels, this is an issue you need to be praying for. Also, the church needs to step up and face the fact that many of our MEN have been taken captive. Our church men are feeding this industry. Porn and Sexual addiction is the MOST PREVALENT addiction within the church. So instead of wasting time judging, maybe we need to start helping these men find freedom.
If God has pricked your heart at all, here are some resources that might help you understand more. I want to warn you that some of these resources are extremely graphic. They are not for children and I would also encourage you to guard what you share with your husband. This level of darkness requires intense spiritual warfare. So, without further ado:
Here are some books:
Somebody's Daughter
The Slave Across the Street
Renting Lacy
The Shame Vault
Movies:
Taken- accurate as far as how they took her but not accurate in the sense that it can happen in the United States, not just overseas
Human Trafficking
Trade
In closing:
"He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom from the captives, and to release from darkness for the prisoners." Isaiah 61:1- That verse is enough for me to KNOW Jesus would be all over this.
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