Modern Slavery

Read: Zechariah 7:8-12

But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears. (v. 11 NIV)

There is a roughly 1 in 11 million chance that you will die in a plane crash, and a 1 in 3.7 million chance you will be attacked by a shark. Though very rare, fear of these events is common. Yet most of us never think about the tragedy of human trafficking, even though it affects far more people, with more than 40 million victims in the world today. That’s around 1 in 200 men, women, and children.

The United Nations defines human trafficking as forced labor and sexual exploitation by force, abduction, fraud, or coercion. In simpler language, trafficking victims have been tricked or forced to work without pay, or for not enough pay, in dangerous situations. Human trafficking is also called modern slavery because the victims suffer the loss of control over their lives similar to slaves.

Many people don’t want to talk about human trafficking. It’s easier to pretend the problem doesn’t exist. Who wants to think about children working in harsh and unsafe conditions? Who wants to think about someone’s daughter being kidnapped and sexually exploited or someone’s son working illegally in dangerous conditions? But as Christians, and as fellow human beings, we should not turn away or stay silent about this problem. We don’t know each person’s name, but we do know each person was created by God, who loves them. —Kelly Brace

As you pray, ask God to open eyes to the realities of modern slavery.