Since I moved to Houston, the problem of human trafficking – in particular, sex slavery – has come more and more to my attention. And for good reason; Harris County ranks top of the nation for areas where trafficking occurs; I-10 which is the main thoroughfare here is THE “trafficking highway.”
So I was galvanized as I heard more and more of these statistics – until this past weekend. I watched an MSNBC documentary on trafficking right here in Houston and was shocked to find featured in the main story, young Korean women in massage parlors. It’s not that Koreans are any different from other ethnicities that I should take notice; it just… hit close to home. They were all too familiar, in a sense, and seeing how they were caught up in this ring made me feel… helpless.
What can one do against so great an evil?
I remember the words of Dr. John Perkins: “Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is the ability to manage your fear.” So I am committed to facing this thing without turning away. I am committing myself to see with eyes to see and having my eyes and heart seared. I am opening myself up to hearing more and more. Being educated more and more. Taught, rebuked even.
If any of you are in the same boat with me, I encourage you to open yourself up as well – to be taught, educated, enlightened, ruined:
2011 Free the Captives’ Houston Human Trafficking Conference
- Saturday, February 26, 2011
- 8:30am to 4:00pm (note the new times)
- Lazybrook Baptist Church, 1822 W. 18th Street, Houston, TX 77008
- Lunch will be provided by Kingsland Baptist Church
- $10 to Register online by February 21, 2011 to save money and reserve your lunch ($15 after 2/21/11): www.freethecaptiveshouston.com
You are invited to a human trafficking conference in Houston aimed at educating and mobilizing the community. You will learn about local and global human trafficking and discover practical ways to combat this injustice. Choose from breakout sessions with trafficking survivors, FBI, Children at Risk, SMU, Redeemed/Not for Sale, and other non-profit and Christian groups. We will also have a panel of Texas organizations working on a safe house for victims. The Free the Captives’ conference is sponsored by Lazybrook Baptist Church and Kingsland Baptist Church.
Topics include:
- The Biblical Call to Action
- Survivor of Sex Trafficking Speaks Out
- The Link between Pornography and Sex Trafficking
- Economics of Human Trafficking
- Law Enforcement and Human Trafficking
- Mentoring Human Trafficking Victims
- Human Trafficking Legislative Update
- Safe Haven Panel
- Child Labor Trafficking Survivor’s Viewpoint
- International Human Trafficking
- Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking
- How a Church can Mobilize as a Congregation
- How You can Make a Difference on Missions Trips
- What Services are Available to Victims
- Truckers against Trafficking
- Using Art to Create Awareness about Human Trafficking
WAYNEPARK.COM 
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