Over the past few months, I have been wondering what God must feel when He looks down at His creation. Does His heart ache? Is He angry at the evil He sees? As I pondered these questions, my eyes started to open to a kind of evil in this world that I was very naïve too. It was as if God began to take off a layer of skin that covered my eyes to something so horrific that if I truly understood it, I would not be able to close my eyes at night.
Did you know that?
• 1.2 million children a year are forced into sex trafficking in addition to the millions that are already held captive
• The average age of American girls who become victims of sex trafficking are between the age of 12-14
• Worldwide girls as young as 5 years of age are forced into sex trafficking
• 161 Countries identified as affected by human trafficking
• 32 billion a year is profited by the human trafficking industry
Our administrative assistant, Shana, shared this with me the other day:
“I always heard about sex trafficking and could figure out what it was about but never understood until I started to research it. I was reading about two teenage girls who are survivors of sex trafficking. One was abducted right in her driveway waiting for a friend. She was gang raped and put in a dog crate for 40 days. The other girl was working at the mall and was approached and promised a modeling career. She was flown to another state where she was held hostage against her will. These girls were beaten and sold for money. If they tried to escape, their abductors threatened to kill them and their family. By God’s grace, they were rescued.”
My heart breaks for these women and children. I try to imagine the pain, the suffering, the emotional devastation that they must encounter every day of their lives. But my mind can’t comprehend it.
One thing I know is that what I have learned has changed my life forever. I can’t pretend this isn’t happening. I can’t turn my back on it and go on with life as usual.
Some amazing things began to happen. We started to receive communication on real estate opportunities. People were looking for a non-profit to use their properties to help others. To use the properties to impact and change the lives of others. Coincidence? I don't think so! I believe God began to make connections with like minded people so that a safe house could be opened for women who are being removed from sex trafficking.
Truth for Women immediately began to make connections with other churches and women who God is pursing to stand up and make a difference in this area. We are currently working on creating a task force of women from all over the Lehigh Valley who are willing to put their time, energy and talents to see this safe house come to fruition.
My question to you is What Breaks Your Heart? What makes you Cry Out in Righteous Anger? If human sex trafficking is it, please consider joining our task force to see this safe house open and running.
For more information, please contact Kim Checkeye at 610.866.5755
