Several weeks ago, I attended a class on Global and Intercultural Ministry at FLAME. The first afternoon we watched a video called “The Day My God Died.” It was a video about the sex trade in India where girls and women are sold as slaves to fill men’s sex needs. During the video they had women tell their stories about how someone they trusted sold them into the sex trade. It was hard to watch little girls talk about their experiences. The thought that came to my mind was the sick minds these men who the one who are fueling the want so there is a need for this sick practice. As we talked about the video, this question came up, “Why are men not the ones standing up and trying to stop this problem?” This is a problem that men are fueling and it will take men to stop it.

Many times we don’t think of this problem being right here in the United States and yet a couple a weeks ago I was watching a documentary on human trafficking right here in the United States on the Entertainment Channel. In the documentary, two girls in Ohio who were going out for ice cream and were kidnapped and put to work as prostitutes at a truck stop in Michigan. It’s hard to believe that in the Twenty-First Century – in the United States of America – that things like this are still happening.

Worldwide there are more than 27 million involved in slavery. Here in the United Stated it’s hard to believe that there are over 200,000 in slavery. What can be done about it? We need to do what the early Wesleyan Methodists did and take a stand. They took a stand against slavery in the United States. We need to take a stand against human trafficking now. There are some great organizations that are already making and taking a stand. World Hope International is one and its founder is now one of our General Superintendents. Dr. Lyon is still involved in this important issue of our day. I encourage you to check out their website and take a stand against human trafficking, which is a sin against God’s creation. I especially challenge Christian men to get involved and make a difference.