The evil of human trafficking is overwhelming, isn’t it? What can you or I do about it? 
 
More than you think. 
 
I recently sat down with Dr. Rondy Smith, founder and CEO of Rest Stop Ministries, Tennessee’s first long-term residential restoration program for female survivors of sex trafficking. January is National Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention month, so in the latest episode of CHRISTIAN PARENT/CRAZY WORLD, we discuss the  magnitude of the problem and practical ways that Christians can get involved in the fight. 

A lot shocked me in our conversation, but nothing more than the fact that human trafficking exists in every single zip code in the United States. I had no idea. We also discussed how:

• There are 27 million people enslaved in the world today (more than any time in history).
• 80% are female and 50% of those are children trafficked for sexual exploitation. (That is over 10 million kids.)
• Human trafficking is the 2nd largest criminal enterprise and fastest growing crime in the world.
• Sex trafficking is a $34 billon industry.
• Every 2 minutes a child is trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation in the United States.
• Almost 300,000 American children are at risk annually for trafficking into the sex industry.
• The average age of entry into prostitution is 13.
• There are girls as young as 5 and 6 years old in the U.S. that are forced to do sexual acts for economic gain by their pimp.

Like I said, the problem is overwhelming.
 
BUT… Rondy points us toward some very practical ways that we can get involved in the fight against human trafficking. I WAS SO ENCOURAGED! You will be too.

Moms & Dads… this is the world we are leaving to our kids, so we have get in this fight. 

Proverbs 24:11 tells us to “Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.” The imperative from Scripture is clear, and we all have a part to play. God hates injustice—so we must take a long, hard look at this problem and become a part of the solution.

To hear how you can become a part of the solution, listen to Episode 86 of CP/CW on Life Audio by clicking on the image below:

Or you can listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts. And please consider giving CPCW a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. That would make my day!

RONDY’S BIO: Dr. Rondy Smith is Founder & CEO of Rest Stop Ministries, which is a residential restoration program for female survivors of sex trafficking in the Nashville, TN area. Rondy is an ordained minister with a Doctorate in Education from Vanderbilt University in Human & Organizational Development, and she has served 37 years in Corporate, Academic, and Ministry professions.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Rest Stop Ministries, Rest Stop: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter

The Samaritan Women: Institute for Shelter Care

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

Isaiah 61

Proverbs 24:11

Matthew 22:39