In recent years, human
trafficking has come to the forefront in the media. But trafficking is ancient
news. People have been enslaving, selling and buying each other for thousands
of years. Nearly 2000 years before Christ, an Israelite named Joseph was sold
by his brothers into slavery and “trafficked” to another country.
Enslavement,
whether for sex or labor, scars individuals for life—if they survive their
captivity and abuse. Yet, Joseph told his brothers, “God turned into good what
you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could
save the lives of many people (Genesis 50:20 NLT).” Victims who rely on God to
rescue and redeem them discover his power to turn evil into good.
“It’s an amazing
feeling to be an expert on your own life, to have these shameful experiences
actually be useful, to feel the shame lifting every time you speak out about
what needs to be done to help other victims.” (Rachel Lloyd, Girls Like Us)
“I remember how
intimidated I felt when, for the first time, I…said I used to be in the sex
industry. I was afraid of being judged and ostracized. But I also knew this
fear was a tool of the enemy to hold me back from sharing the amazing power of
redemption and how a life can be transformed.” (Andee Eve Flynn,
IAmaTreasure.com, Talking to God)
“I needed to turn
something so evil into something good. I needed to educate others. I refused to
let the horror get shoved away... I needed to turn it into something good to
help others.” (Theresa Flores, The Sacred
Bath)
“I have been
honored to use what God has taught me along my road to redemption and pass that
knowledge and wisdom, that only comes from the Holy Spirit, onto you.” (Rebecca
Bender, Road to Redemption)
Those of us who’ve
never been trafficked can pray and advocate for the millions of individuals subjugated
worldwide and ask God to use our own hardships and struggles for his purposes.
“We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live
through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to
rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead. …You are helping by
praying for us (2 Corinthians 1:8-11 NLT).”
Winds of Freedom, 2nd book in
the Kate Neilson Series
Winter storms blast
across the Whispering Pines Guest Ranch, and a cold wind blows
through Kate Neilson’s soul. Despite her pain, Kate’s well-being takes a
backseat to the needs of loved ones: her best friend, who’s been ensnared
by evil; her failing great-aunt, whose dementia care keeps Kate guessing;
and Laura and Mike Duncan, whose ranch and livelihood are threatened by a
land-grabbing neighbor.
ABOUT REBECCA CAREY LYLES:
Rebecca Carey Lyles
grew up in Wyoming, the setting for her Kate Neilson novels. She currently
lives in Idaho, where she serves as an editor and a mentor for aspiring authors
and as a coach for women transitioning from prison to life on “the outside.” Winds of Freedom is the sequel to the
award-winning first novel in the Kate Neilson series, Winds of Wyoming. She recently contributed to a short-story
collection titled Passageways, which
is scheduled for release this month.
WHERE TO PURCHASE WINDS OF FREEDOM
Amazon link, Winds of Freedom
WHERE TO CONTACT REBECCA CAREY LYLES
5 comments:
Thanks for letting me share about a disturbing social issue on your site, Christine. One thing I might add to my blog post is that traffickers also "harvest" organs from their victims' bodies. I find it hard to comprehend anyone could be so evil and greedy, yet God can redeem the worst of situations and rescue the powerless. We have the privilege of praying for his Spirit to invade and shatter the darkness.
Thank you Becky for sharing this!
This is so true. Christine Caine was our speaker today at church. She and her husband started A21, an organization that works all over the world to abolish human trafficking. Bless you for bringing this horror to the forefront.
Not for Sale is an organization that helps stop the slave trade. And beyond sex and house slaves, we have to remember those who work in sweat factories under abhorrent conditions so we can have our cheap t-shirts and purses.
Thanks for providing additional information, Bonnie and Carol. The thought that our shopping habits encourage slavery turns my stomach.
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