Have you noticed one of the hot topics in the media these days?It's slavery.It is a topic in newspapers, on television news shows, and in museum displays.And the discussion is not focused on what happened in the U.S. prior to the Emancipation Proclamation.It's about modern slavery.

Jim and I were privileged recently to attend a lecture by Dr. Kevin Bales, Director of Free the Slaves and a noted expert on contemporary slavery.He identifies a slave as a person who is controlled by violence or its threat, who works without payment and who is economically exploited.By this definition, Dr. Bales estimates that there are 27 million slaves in our world.This is more than ever before.Modern slaves can be found in the sex industry, in domestic work, and in hard physical labor.In many instances, a slave is a victim of human trafficking.

Having heard of the work of other International Ministries missionaries, we were aware of the issue of human trafficking.Human trafficking is the movement of people through the use of force or deception for financial gain.Trafficking can take place within a country but is most often thought of as the movement of a person from one country to another.This relocation is usually the opening scene in a trafficked woman or child's slavery nightmare.

There are women who have been trafficked to work in Belgium in prostitution, but no one ever told us she had been trafficked.But now, as Jim and I prepare for our new assignment in Italy, we are planning to purposely seek out women who have been trafficked and are being used in prostitution.Rev. Anna Maffei, President of the Christian Evangelical Baptist Union of Italy (UCEBI) writes:

We should like to develop the ministry among young women victims of trafficking in Italy.Italy is a country where prostitution is widely spread and is performed mostly by girls who are trafficked both from African countries and from East European countries.We have some experiences in the ministry in this field but we need to strengthen this ministry in the churches much more and give the work continuity.

Partnering with UCEBI churches, this will be a component of our new work.Dr. Bales states that Italy has the largest problem with slavery of any country in Western Europe.This is due in large part to the prevalence of organized crime.

Dr. Bales points out that there have been three major anti-slavery movements in history.Each of these, he says, grew out of religious communities.He suggests that we are at the beginning of a fourth movement.But, he says, this movement does not yet have the religious fervor that fueled the other three.

You have the opportunity to help fan the flame that Dr. Bales feels needs to grow in today's movement.Just this month Reid Trulson, Director of International Ministries (IM), wrote an article reminding us of IM's activity in anti-slavery efforts from its earliest days.

Christ came "to bring good news to the poor…to proclaim release to the captives…(Luke 4:18).When you support the ministry in Italy through prayer and financial gifts, you are working against slavery.We, as your missionaries, are your voice to share the Good News and your hands to break the chains around the world.We also need your voice here in the US to advocate for the international anti-slavery movement and to be alert for and fight against slavery as it exists in our own country.

There are many resources around this issue, and we would be glad to share with you those which have been helpful to us.Or, perhaps you know of a resource which we could use to better educate ourselves on this topic.We would love to hear from you!

Soon, the stories of slavery Jim and I hear will not be stories we see on the television or we read in the newspaper.We will look into the eyes of women enslaved in prostitution and seek to offer a word of hope.Please pray with us that we will be ready.

Your ABC missionaries,

Debbie Kelsey, along with Jim and Luke and Ben

P.S.We are looking for a place in Ohio to store a couple of pieces of furniture and some boxes while we serve in Italy.If you or your church might be able to help us with this, please send us an email.