Archive for sex trafficking

Mar
28

Kathi Macias: Examining the Real-Life Issues of Violence and Sex Trafficking Behind “Special Delivery”

by newhope

Author Kathi Macias discusses the violence in Juarez, Mexico, which is spilling over into El Paso, Texas, and the heartbreaking true story of a notorious place of sexual exploitation in San Diego, California. Kathi treats these subjects with sensitivity and closes the podcast in prayer.

These troubling topics inform Kathi’s new novel Special Delivery, which is the second book in the “Freedom” series. This redemptive 3-novel series explores the shocking problem of human trafficking, with characters in Thailand, Mexico, and the US. Special Delivery is available as a paperback and ebook.

Free book club guides with questions for discussion and prayer points are available for Special Delivery and Deliver Me from Evil.

Informative content to help you get involved in the fight against human trafficking can be found on NewHopeDigital.com. You may find “Ideas and Resources to Join the Fight Against Modern Slavery” a helpful overview. The Release and Restore CD is an extensive resource for this issue.

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0 Categories : Podcast
Feb
3

Watch the Trailer for “Special Delivery,” Novel 2 in the “Freedom” Series by Kathi Macias

by newhope

Special Delivery, the second novel in the “Freedom” series by Kathi Macias, releases in March 2012. Watch the trailer to learn more about this riveting upcoming release.

Follow Mara as she risks her own precarious safety to rescue a pregant young woman held in modern slavery. 

At the same time, halfway around the world in a Thai brothel, a young girl is rescued with the promise of being reunited with her younger sister who was adopted by an interracial couple in the States. They (the couple) are friends of the family of Jonathan Flannery, the Bible student to whom Mara now finds herself attracted.

Meanwhile, Jefe—Mara’s uncle who formerly held her as a sex slave in his San Diego brothel—seeks revenge for Mara’s testimony that put him behind bars for life.

If you have not already, you’ll want to read the action-packed first novel in the “Freedom” series, Deliver Me from Evil. Learn more about Mara, Jonathan, and Jefe—as well as the horrific and all too real problem of human trafficking, which stretches around the world even to our own neighborhoods.

The third and final novel in this series, The Deliverer, is scheduled for release in the fall of 2012.

0 Categories : Videos
Dec
6

Honor Killings, Immigration, Sex Trafficking: Kathi Macias Covers It All on The Harvest Show

by newhope

Watch as Kathi Macias discusses serious real-life topics related to her missional fiction.

For more information on sex trafficking, see resources here. You can also download the first 2 chapters of Deliver Me From Evil, which is the first novel in the “Freedom” series. An estimated 27 million people worldwide are held in some form of modern slavery.

People of the Book takes readers deep into Saudi Arabia. Download the first 3 chapters here and begin to learn more about the horrific issue of honor killings. People of the Book is the fourth novel in the “Extreme Devotion” series, which highlights the persecuted church around the world.  

Download a free sample of A Christmas Journey Home. This edgy yet heartwarming novel looks at the immigration issue from several angles. Two widows, victims of border violence, find their lives intersect in an unusual way on Christmas Eve. You can also watch a video trailer here.

This segment originally aired October 14, 2011, on The Harvest Show.

1 Categories : Videos
Nov
21

Kathi Macias Discusses Human Trafficking on The Harvest Show

by newhope

Watch as Kathi Macias discusses human trafficking and her novel, Deliver Me from Evil. Download the first 2 chapters of the novel here now.

Deliver Me from Evil is the first novel in Kath’s 3-novel Freedom series focused on human trafficking. The second novel, Special Delivery, is scheduled for release in March. You may preorder now.

KM1 from WMU on Vimeo.

Find out more about human trafficking by starting with resources and information provided here on New Hope Digital.

This video aired October 13 on The Harvest Show.

1 Categories : Videos
Sep
20

Andrea Mullins: WorldCrafts Changes Lives Through Fair Trade

by newhope

Godavari Women: A WorldCrafts group working in India

Andrea Mullins, director of WorldCrafts and publisher of New Hope Publishers, shares how WorldCrafts is changing lives through fair trade.

She discusses the WorldCrafts Set1Free campaign and highlights the work done by the artisan group Connexions to free women from sex trafficking in Calcutta, India. She concludes by offering several ways to get personally involved in the liberating work of WorldCrafts.

The vision of WorldCrafts is to see an income with dignity and the hope of everlasting life offered to every person on earth. WorldCrafts is a fair-trade division of WMU®.

For a free WorldCrafts Fall catalog, call 1-800-968-7301 or view the pdfs at http://www.worldcrafts.org/seasonal.asp.

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0 Categories : Podcast
Aug
8

WorldCrafts Releases Fall Catalog

by newhope

WorldCrafts, a ministry partner of New Hope Publishers, recently released its new Fall 2011 catalog featuring more than 200 handcrafted, fair-trade gifts from artisans across the globe. A diverse mix of items graces the catalog pages from these categories: Christmas, home decor, stationery, jewelry, accessories, and children’s.

WorldCrafts develops sustainable, fair-trade businesses among impoverished people around the world. The WorldCrafts vision is to offer an income with dignity and the hope of everlasting life to every person on earth.

Artisans represent more than 30 countries on 5 continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Many of them are part of the Set1Free campaign, which highlights those groups working to free women involved in or at risk of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Lives are changing. Women leaving dire poverty and even sexual slavery are being trained, given fair-trade employment, and told of joy that lasts for eternity. Whole families can escape desperate circumstances.

WorldCrafts encourages its customers to host parties to support the artisans and to raise awareness about fair trade and human exploitation. More information is available at WorldCrafts.org.

For a free catalog, individuals may call 1-800-968-7301 or email customer_service@wmu.org. A pdf of the catalog is also available at WorldCrafts.org.

Enjoy free shipping on WorldCrafts orders of $75 or more from August 3 through August 17, 2011. Online orders only. Use promo code NEWYR1.

—New HopeDigital

 

1 Categories : News
Jul
27

Beyond Body, Beauty, Boys: Inspiring Young Women to Live Missionally

by newhope

by Sarah Bragg

What does it mean to live missionally? Does it mean to give away everything you possess and live on the street? Does it mean you need to move to a foreign country? I think that sometimes we cross “living missionally” off our to-do list because we think it requires us to move far away or that it requires us to do something big, like selling all we possess.

And since most students aren’t allowed to just pick up and move on their own, it feels irrelevant to them. It feels like that calling is for somebody else. Yet the Bible is absolutely relevant to all of us, including students. You see, to live missionally simply means to live with an outward focus. And the last time I checked you don’t have to move away in order to be outward focused. You can live that way at 16 or 61.

In my book, Body. Beauty. Boys., I try to remove the veil from our eyes to see that God intentionally created each of us unique and to find contentment in those areas. The focus God’s plan, story, and purpose for each of us is to love God and love others. God desires for us to choose to collide with the people of this world.

I use the word collide because it’s not natural for us to think about others. It’s not natural for us to be outward focused. We have to force a collision. It’s easy to go through our day and not see the world around us. It’s easy to pass by people who are in need because we have so many other all-consuming things happening.

To be honest, I think that most of us are afraid to collide. We fear what others will think of us. We fear what it might cost us. We fear what we may lose if we think outside ourselves.

But what would happen if you laid your fears aside? How would your life and relationships be different if you lived with an outward focus?

Body

How could God use your body? Maybe you could use the times you exercise to pray for others. Maybe you could ask a friend to run with you because you know they need God and it would give you a way to talk to them. Maybe you could just take the focus off of how many calories you need to burn and think about giving thanks to God for the body He gave you.

Beauty

How about your beauty? Maybe you could purchase beauty products and give them to a local charity rather than keep them for yourself. There are even organizations that collect beauty products in order to give to girls rescued from sex trafficking. Or maybe every time you gaze in a mirror, you could pray for young girls around the world who need God.

Boys

And finally, what about boys? Maybe you could trust God enough to allow Him to use your singleness rather than spend your time trying hard to get a guy to notice you. You have more time to give to serving others when you are single than when in a relationship. You could sign up to serve on Sunday mornings in the children’s department or you could have time to go on the summer missions trip.

God created you to be a part of His story. No one enjoys a movie or book with a dull story. We want a story to inspire us, to move us. The same is true with you. God desires to do something great in you. He desires for you to begin to see yourself the way He sees you and to grab hold of the purpose for which He created you.

Sarah Bragg has worked with students in ministry for more than 10 years and worked in full-time student ministry for 6 years. Sarah also spent several years creating, developing, and writing a student strategy and curriculum called XP3 Students for Orange at the reThink Group. She speaks regularly to large audiences of teen girls, singles, and women’s audiences in church settings, at schools, at retreats, and at conferences.

1 Categories : Articles
Jun
23

Christian Responses to the Economics of Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking

by newhope

by Mark L. Russell

In my last column, I discussed the complexities of economic growth in India, particularly how it has opened the door to gender-selective abortion, which in turn, is producing a gender-imbalanced society ripe for increased sex trafficking.

Priscilla Center, Northeast India. One of several Set1Free WorldCrafts artisan groups in India.

This is an ugly picture and flies in the face of what most of us think when we imagine economic progress. The good news is that once we recognize a problem, we can start to develop Christian responses to it.

Here are a few ways we can make a difference for India right where we are.

Think
We need to think differently and more deeply about these problems. In my experience I have noticed that people tend to develop a quick negative bias against a country or people group when they hear of inhumane activities like gender-selective abortion. It is obviously understandable to recoil in disgust, but we need to move beyond that initial reaction.

We may be tempted to boycott India, but that would be an improper reaction, which would do little to solve the problem. Rather, we need to support economic progress in India. India still needs jobs for her people to prosper. They still need our support. We need to think “pro-India” not against her.

Instead, we must begin to think in terms of long-term change. There is not a quick-fix solution. The conditions that have given rise to gender-selective abortion in India developed out of centuries-old cultural understandings and beliefs. (Remember, gender-selective abortion is illegal in India. This is not a legal issue, but a worldview, or heart, issue.) Superficial, knee-jerk responses will not aid in sustainable change. India needs committed, thoughtful people willing to engage the hearts and minds of her citizens.

Buy
Believe it or not, we can buy for a change. There are scores of good, Christian organizations that are working to combat the social ills and sins of India, particularly in the sex industry. For example, WorldCrafts sells products that ultimately provide dignified employment to women leaving sexual exploitation. A list of some highlighted groups can be found at http://www.worldcrafts.org/set1free.asp.

The next time you are looking for a gift for yourself or someone else, think about buying from one of these organizations, knowing that your purchase will contribute toward economic progress that is accompanied by a broader understanding of the way the world works and what God desires of us.

Give
Don’t buy something you don’t need. In some cases, you can support business-as-mission (BAM) enterprises by making a financial donation.

Relying purely on business profits puts them in direct competition with people who do not value human dignity nor care to offer complementary services and benefits to their employees. A simple gift to a BAM company can go a long way in supporting counseling, medical care, job training, and Bible teaching for local employees.

Preach
Some people believe that the gospel and economics are separate and that the workplace is no place for faith. I beg to differ. The situation in India highlights the fact that we need to preach the gospel always and everywhere. Economic progress, without the life-transforming power of the gospel, is not redemptive; in fact, it can multiply sin.

Leaving people in poverty and misery is not an option for the Christian either. We must be on the forefront of socio-economic development. Therefore, we should not be tempted into blocking off business and economics from the church. When the church goes to work and goes to market, she needs to take the gospel with her. Lives are at stake.

Pray
Now that you know more about the situation in India, you have something to pray about. Take two minutes right now and pray for India and her girls.

Mark Russell is a widely respected voice in the missional community. He has lived in Russia, Chile, and Germany, and has traveled to more than 70 countries to carry out a variety of business, educational, humanitarian, and religious projects. He is the author of The Missional Entrepreneur.

0 Categories : Articles, Columns, Mark Russell
May
27

You Are God’s Instrument

by newhope

by Sheryl Churchill

As the morning light cast its shadows on the kitchen floor Lola* could feel the warmth of a new day ahead. Her farm house sat at the back of the family land. From her kitchen window she could see the neighbor’s house and yard as well.

Today a metal building was being delivered—more storage space perhaps? Thinking nothing of it she went about her housework. But as the days passed something didn’t seem quite right. As she worked at the sink she would notice a good bit of activity across the way. The farmer had extra help at certain times of the year but why would only the male workers be coming and going from the new metal building at all hours of the day and night?

Lola had recently attended a women’s missions meeting where she had learned about human trafficking. Is it possible this could be happening in her own neighborhood? What were the signs they had told her about? She retrieved her notes from the conference. There was the phone number for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center—1-888-3737-888. Should she call? She made a list of things that had caused her suspicions to rise, prayed for guidance, picked up the phone, and dialed the number. Then, she waited.

Lola had chosen to let law enforcement take the lead. She was not knowledgeable or skilled enough herself to tackle what she suspected as trafficking activity.

Some time later she noticed a different kind of activity at her neighbor’s house. Law enforcement had indeed taken the lead. They arrived and were making arrests. Lola had successfully helped to dismantle a human trafficking ring. She was caught off guard at first, but because she had just enough knowledge and was aware of her surroundings God led her to do the right thing. Several women were rescued and several men were arrested.

In an indirect way Lola was Jesus to those who were rescued. What if she had not acted?

Over the past many months as WMU, NewHopeDigital.com’s parent company, has put a spotlight on the issue of human exploitation (which includes human trafficking) stories of courageous individuals, groups, and churches emerge. Many have found an issue that directly affects them. Many have chosen to act on what they know. As a result, they have seen the difference their actions have made.

Who are the trafficked? They may be children, teenagers, young women. They may be in this country against their will or under false promises. They could be the student that goes to school with your child. They could be the runaway from your neighborhood. They are “kept,” forced into pornography, bullied, raped, and sold for profit.

Who is the trafficker? One who has no regard for human life. One who cares not about the victim’s family, religion, background, or dreams. One who has no regard for the love of God.

Who is the one who demands services? Look no further than the man who flies in and out of your city in a day seeking sexual services. Look no further than someone of high or low regard in your community. Look no further than one’s family member.

Many will never meet or even ever see a victim of human trafficking. Just because we don’t see them does not mean they are not there. Each person can do something. If you see or realize something is amiss, say something. If the media sources around you degrade women, say something. If you see a bullying encounter in process, say something. You are God’s instrument and He can use you to change the situation.

*Name changed.

Sheryl Churchill (schurchill@wmu.org) is a ministry consultant at national WMU in Birmingham, Alabama. The stacks of paper in her office plus multiple documents on her computer reflect months spent in researching the subject of human trafficking. Involvement with a local coalition also provides her with an awareness of those who trap and are trapped in the trafficking cycle.

1 Categories : Articles
May
23

Charles Powell: Fighting Slavery in America

by newhope

Charles Powell, author of Not in My Town and founder of the Mercy Movement, discusses the horrible truth: slavery continues in America. He exposes links to organized crime.

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1 Categories : Podcast
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