Recognizing a Seemingly Invisible Problem

Recognizing a Seemingly Invisible Problem

Do you know about the darkness happening in your community? In our egocentric society, it is so easy to focus on ourselves and what’s happening in our bubble of our family, friends, jobs, vacations, and contentment.  How then, are we called to see others according to the Bible?

Love God. Love People.

That seems simple… at first.  It can be easy to just say, “love God and love people, and you’ll have it all figured out.” Only you know your relationship and heart with God. But how are you loving people? All people? Do you see what the Bible calls “the least of these”? Do you know about some of the people that may be hurting the most in your communities? We need to examine our hearts and attitudes as followers of Jesus Christ and apply that to how we treat others.

Sex trafficking and human trafficking, in general, can tend to be a problem that Christians ignore more easily. 

“I don’t see it, so it must not be that big of a problem.”

“We live in St. Charles. That kind of stuff only happens in other countries.”

These are the kinds of untruths that keep the sex industry and trading of people flourishing. 

Then they also will answer, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?” Then he will answer them, saying, “Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”
-Matthew 25: 44-45

The “least of these” include the hungry, thirsty, destitute, sick, and imprisoned.  As followers of Jesus, we are called to that standard to love on all people in all of these categories. Victims of sex trafficking are hurting and in need of help. It is our responsibility as a church to see these people hear their stories and come alongside them to help them heal.

Healing from traumatic sexual experiences and exploitation is a wound that usually can only be fully mended through the hope and restoration that Jesus provides.  That’s why it’s so important we as Christ-followers, are part of their healing. People who’ve experienced sexual assault are 10 times more likely to attempt suicide than those who haven’t, according to a study by the National Victim Center and the Medical University of South Carolina.

The church body cannot allow the darkness and heaviness of sex trafficking to unnerve it. This is not a problem that can be ignored just because it is not seen clearly in the light of day to seemingly safe and cozy suburbia.

Let’s challenge and examine our hearts and who we are ministering to. What can you do to help the imprisoned? Maybe this doesn’t necessarily mean people enclosed in four walls, but people stuck in apparently impossible situations to escape.

Start with Prayer.

*Photo from Naomi’s House Facebook*

A few ways to pray for trafficking victims and our partner, Naomi’s House:

• Pray for victims who need help can find help through Naomi’s House or other organizations.
• Pray for the residential programs at Naomi’s House.
• Pray for Naomi’s House and their new initiative called “The Gathering Place,” which is their new day program opening this year.
• Pray for the Naomi’s House staff to have wisdom and understanding to guide these women.
• Pray for victims to fully rely on Jesus for their recovery, and not of themselves. 
• Pray for those in recovery to not return to the situations they came from.
• Pray for those who have recovered to find employment.
• Pray for the church to recognize this problem and find ways to help.
• Pray that immense light is brought to the increasing problem of trafficking.

Now ask God what else you can do.

There are countless ways to get involved to help. Check out Naomi’s House on their website and Facebook. Or you can see the previous blog post, Naomi’s House – Equipping to Heal, which lists ways to get involved.

Let’s be His hands and not ignore this seemingly invisible, but very real problem.