Thank you for doing another written interview with me Bill. Today I want to discuss about a different issue which is also important to you – Human-trafficking. What got you involved in bringing awareness to this issue? In 2018 I was asked to help put together an awareness event for sex trafficking which turned into a one day mini-conference at the New Hope Wesleyan Church sponsored by the Valley Care Pregnancy Centre. We pulled together a team to research the issue and I was overwhelmed by what we found and how it exists here in the Valley. The most helpful resources included interviews with those who had been trafficked and the RCMP who, at that time, were just in the process of developing a Human Trafficking Unit here in Nova Scotia. Some people may not be aware of what human trafficking is and where it takes place. Could you elaborate on what this activity is and where it happens most often here in Nova Scotia? In order to answer your questions, I will be drawing from the trafficking portion of our website (www.takennomore.com) which has even more information. According to the Alliance for Freedom, Restoration, and Justice, human trafficking is modern slavery for purposes of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, or organ trafficking. At present, there are an estimated 40.3 million enslaved by this kind of exploitation in the world – more than at any point in our world’s history. Human trafficking is an evil and global business that generates an estimated annual profit of $150 billion through the sale and exploitation of souls. Here in Nova Scotia, the human trafficking we have by far is sex trafficking – the purposeful manipulation of (mostly) young women and girls, trapping them both psychologically and physically, into a life of sexual slavery for profit. According to the Nova Scotia Government’s website, “Nova Scotia has the highest rate of human trafficking incidents in the country.” What are some of the underlining factors that feed into this activity? Cst. Kelli Gaudet (Kings County), told a reporter that sex trafficking is "a modern-day form of slavery that’s affecting our youth in Kings County.” Why? Because young women in our rural communities are being targeted as easy prey. Here in our rural, laid-back lifestyle, we are mostly unaware and therefore unguarded when it comes to this evil. RCMP officers working in Nova Scotia say that sex trafficking in our province is a "hidden epidemic." Recruiters of victims lure a girl, enticing her by making her feel special, including her in special events, buying her clothes, trips to big cities or even a promise of love. She receives the attention willingly, but it doesn't take long before she finds herself trapped in a prison of unexpected debt, abuse, fear and forced sex – shuttled around to Halifax, Moncton, Toronto and other cities across Canada and the USA. Escape for the victim is extremely complex once her (male or female) recruiter has often formed an emotional bond with her (and perhaps even had a child with her). She may be told that unless she sells herself, her recruiter will share incriminating video with her family or friends. She may be threatened with violence toward herself or her family and/or be threatened by those who have bought sex from her. It is also very difficult for her to trust authorities because often those who buy sex from her are teachers, judges and people in authority themselves. She feels trapped. One mother of a trafficked girl told a reporter regarding how recruiters can so easily reach young women, “It doesn’t matter if you have a mother or father. It doesn’t matter if you’re loved. Sometimes you feel neglected, and these people (recruiters) seem to get you at this point. It’s not easy growing up.” As Christians, we are called to protect the vulnerable. How can we best do this as an individual and as a church? With sex trafficking being such a huge issue, people often wonder, “What can I do now?” UNICEF says, “Do not participate in the cause. The demand of consumers for pornography and buyers for the online sexual exploitation of children, men, and women drives trafficking behaviors.” Bring awareness to the issue. RCMP Cst. Kelli Gaudet says that public awareness is the best tool in combating this problem. She said, "the more people know about this, the more it will prevent our girls and boys from getting in with this." We need to bring awareness to what is taking place. This responsibility lies with each community. At the same time, public awareness can make it appear that something is being done about it. Not much is being done at the moment. Become involved in people’s lives. Traffickers target those with addictions, mental health struggles but also children with a cell phone as young as 12. Parents need to know what is on their child’s cell phone and social media accounts. Further, our community and churches must step up to love the vulnerable. We have to become more pro-active in befriending and loving our neighbour. This means more than “programs”. We really need to get in our community and volunteer and visit one another and just plain love one another. There are not enough professionals to handle this crisis in our community. The answer is for each one of us to take responsibility for ourselves and for those around us. We must invest our hearts and lives in caring for our neighbors. It is often the vulnerable and disadvantaged and young and naive that are most often lured, manipulated and enslaved by this evil of sex trafficking. Only the love and compassion of God working through those who have accepted His love can change the heart deceived by sex trafficking (including the heart of the enslaved girl or boy, the trafficker and the users). We have more info on how you can become involved in preventing this evil from continuing on our website. You can check it out on our "Fight Human Trafficking" section. What are some signs we should be aware of when we are out in public? Whether it’s in public or private, here is a list of what to look for. Situations where a person …
How have you seen lives changed as you served to bring awareness to this issue? One girl here in the Valley called us because her parents were trafficking her. We were able to see that she was rescued and made safe. Parents of trafficked girls here in the Valley have shared their stories with us and we were able to support them and direct them to where they can get help. Many others have said how much they appreciate the education and awareness they have received through the conferences and online resources. Thanks for taking the time to respond to these questions. Is there anything you’d like to say as we come to the end of this interview? We believe that the core issue of the existence of sex trafficking in our province is a call for each one of us individually to take responsibility to return to God's plan for our lives, including our sexual behavior, and to love one another. In regard to our sexual behavior, we can't fight sex trafficking and be a consumer of porn or buying sex at the same time. We've had the sexual revolution where "free sex" (free from the confines of marriage) was celebrated. We can now see the horizon of where that will take us: disease, abuse, using one another, pain, heartache, guilt, shame, hopelessness, despair, depression and suicide. But you and I do not need to stay on that path, no matter how far we have traveled on it. There is a Power greater than all of these things; a Person who has the power to Redeem us (buy us back) from these wrong choices, forgive us and wash us clean and transform us so that what we have come to despise - the source of our pain and shame - can be transformed into a power to help us rescue others. A Word To Those Involved In TraffickingNo matter what you have done or what has been done to you or what videos there are out there of you doing whatever, or whatever threats there are against those you love, the awesome news is that your heart and mind and life can be redeemed - made brand new. This Person who has this transforming power is your Creator who revealed Himself completely in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. You may have been abused in the name of God or in the name of Jesus. If so, we understand. Some of us have been, too. But please don't let those lies keep you from the truth. Please keep reading. You might feel small (and you are) but God reveals in Jesus that your single life has unspeakable value, worth and purpose. Jesus Himself was only one life. But with His one life He fed the hungry, defended the broken, freed the prisoner, silenced those in authority, healed the sick and even raised the dead. He spoke truth in love. But this world (everyone) rejected Him. In contrast to Hollywood's portrayal of Him, He was quite homely looking and appeared like a reject to everyone who saw Him, like someone cursed by God. His miracles and words offended the authorities and threatened the economy. So they conspired lies and traps to betray and finally crucify Him. He did not deserve to die.
The reality of Jesus' life was that He was God humbling Himself to enter into our pain and suffering and to lay down His own life, taking on Himself the penalty for all the wrongs we have ever done (and paying for all the wrongs others have ever done to us) so that we may receive forgiveness if we accept and rely upon His sacrifice on our behalf. On that tree where Jesus was stripped naked, his flesh torn off him and crucified, God Himself entered the torture, shame, humiliation and abuse you have experienced. He understands you. In that act, God revealed His love once and for all so that no matter what circumstances you face on this rotting earth, you can know God loves you, God is for you and there is hope for all who accept and trust Him. But He didn't just die in our place. He rose bodily from the dead declaring there is hope beyond this life. God offers to come and live in us, rising us from the ashes of our shame and pain if we walk away from all this world has to offer and surrender our lives to His love and grace and truth. This transforming power of God's love in Jesus is what we have experienced in our lives and it's why we are here for you. We understand that you may have experienced abuse by those who call themselves Christians, so we're not here to push anything on you. We offer all we have to you free and without any obligation. We tell you these things because we want you to know where we're coming from and we want to invite you to know this Powerful Love. Our hope is that He will reveal His love to you through us. You are precious and dearly loved.
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