Abolishing Human Trafficking

“…He has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners….” Isaiah 61:1

Every year more than 800,000 human beings -- largely women and children -- are bought and sold across national borders. They are modern-day slaves. Annually, more than 17,000 people are smuggled into the United States and forced to work against their wills in domestic service, agriculture, sweatshop/factories, restaurant or hotel work. Many are forced to sell their bodies for sex.

Twenty-first century slavery is of massive proportions. Reliable estimates indicate that more than 25 million people are now being held against their wills in various forms of slavery, prostitution or bonded labor. Most victims are men, women and children in forced or bonded labor within their own countries. Others, mostly girls and women, are moved to foreign countries and forced into slavery as prostitutes in the sex industry.

American Baptist International Ministries decries human slavery as contrary to Christ’s mission and an assault against humanity. We believe not only in soul liberty, but also in liberty of mind and body. Fully ten percent of our long-term missionaries work in ministries that address basic needs of both the vulnerable and the victims. We educate families and bring rescue as well as aftercare for people caught in forced labor or sexual exploitation.

We do not work alone. Our missionaries serve with partners in more than 25 countries where human slavery in the forms of exploitive labor and forced prostitution exist. We also affirm that God offers amazing grace, forgiveness and transformation to the oppressors as well as to those whom they oppress. Therefore we also reach out to those guilty of enslaving, selling, buying, transporting or using human beings as slaves.

LINK TO INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES RESOLUTION AGAINST SLAVERY

For example, International Ministries’ personnel are at work in Thailand, Italy, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Ghana, Costa Rica and elsewhere help men, women, and children out of enslavement and into new life through faith in Jesus.

Let’s work together.

Support those working to free people from slavery.

Come meet and pray with those forced into prostitution in our world's major cities.

Consider a ministry of liberating women and children from exploitation.

American Baptist International Ministries. Come, Grow, Change.