After graduating from high school in Michigan, Mary (not her real name) decided to spend some time as a nanny before going to college. She responded to an ad and arrived at the appointed time to a wealthy home in a north Chicago suburb. The horror was just beginning. 
The ad agency was only a front, and Mary was abducted to be a sex slave. Five years later she was able to sneak a postcard out of the Cincinnati bar where she was being held with just her initials on it. Stirred with hope, her family went to the bar. By the time police arrived, she was gone. Two years later, the FBI finally found and freed her, to return to her home – pregnant and addicted to heroin.
This is not an isolated incident; it is one of the world’s 27 million most terrifying secrets: that there are more people in slavery today than at any other time in human history. Yes, you read that right, 27 million. And it is not just in foreign countries. There are 300,000 young women, ages 10-17, who are trapped in sex slavery in North America.
When I learned this, I was as shocked as you may be right now. I thought that through the work of people like William Wilberforce and John Woolman that slavery had been abolished. It looks different now, but slavery continues to thrive, as slave traders in 2007 making more money than Nike, Google and Starbucks combined.
Then, I hear a national media personality proclaim that we should flee from any church that speaks of “social justice.” I am not sure what he meant by social justice, but I think I know what God means when he says things like, “”Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6, NIV) or “…And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice” (Micah 6:8, NASB) or the words of Jesus, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind…” (Luke 4:12, NIV) There are numerous other passages, such as Amos 5:7-27 and Isaiah 1:12-17 that make it clear that God expects faithful worshipers to seek justice. And this is not just “Old Testament stuff” as Jesus makes clear in the parables of the good neighbor in Luke 10:25-37 and the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46.
As followers of Christ, can we turn a blind eye to fellow human beings who are bought, sold and used? Can we claim to love God and speak for him when we fail to speak for those who have no voice? While the issue seems overwhelming, you can make difference. Learn more about the issue by talking to your pastor or visiting some of these websites: International Justice Mission (ijm.org), Not for Sale (notforsalecampaign.org) or Call + Response (callandresponse.com). Read a book on the topic, such as Not for Sale by David Batstone or Renting Lacy by Linda Smith. Write to your elected officials to raise the awareness. Buy products that are certified slave free. Pray about how you can be involved. There are many other ways listed on the websites above. There are 27 million people out there like Mary, and with God’s help, you can make a difference in their lives. God calls us on us to “let justice roll on like a river” (Amos 5:24), and that river begins with us.
If you are in the area, our church will be hosting a showing of Call + Response on April 14th. For more details check out covchurchcheboygan.com
