My heart is heavy today. February 27th is a day that the END IT movement uses as a catalyst to bring awareness to modern-day slavery. And although I too have a red “X” on my hand today to raise awareness, it can’t just stop there…

Besides that “X” allowing me to strike up conversations with those around me about slavery and our responsibility in this fight, it has reminded me of the encounters I have had with slavery even in my limited life and experiences.

I have seen it, with my own two eyes. In Haiti and in the states. I have seen those stuck in captivity, those who have lost hope. I have seen hurt and abuse. I have seen the tears and the scars. And I have barely seen anything at all.

Slavery isn’t about an issue, it’s about people with names and faces each unique. I know the problem goes much deeper than most think and has roots that tangle all through society, not just in other countries but even here in our own backyard. Slavery is a worldwide problem, which means it concerns all of us. 

So today, my heart is heavy for the 27 million still enslaved. My heart is heavy for those I’ve met who have been sold into slavery by their families. My heart is heavy for girls exploited by their own mothers. My heart is heavy for those of us who ignore them. My heart is heavy for myself in the ways I live my life in complacency and comfort.

As an infamous quotation by William Wilberforce, a most influential abolitionist, says:

“You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.”

And today I don’t want to look the other way. I want to look this crazy scary, overwhelming, heart-breaking thing called slavery right in the face and stand my ground. I stand for freedom. I stand for liberty. Not just for me but for all. I stand to end it. Slavery exists and I won’t stand for it. 

RELEVANT magazine had a piece about this END IT movement and fight against human-trafficking today and what it said really stuck out to me. It was about TAKING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL. It says:

“We know human trafficking exists. Now it’s our turn to become the generation that acts upon that knowledge and seeks change.

Do you have an “X” on the back of your hand today? Do something about it. Together we can make a difference. Together we can end human trafficking.”

Take some time to learn more about slavery today and the ways you can get involved in this fight. Shine a light for freedom! Some of the links below are from things I’ve written in the past, some are from organizations fighting human-trafficking. Read, educate, pray, and do something. Today. Cause once you know you can’t turn back again. And together, we can make a difference.

SLAVERY IS REAL

BRING AWARENESS

EDUCATE YOURSELF & OTHERS

PRAY FOR FREEDOM

DISRUPT THE BUSINESS OF SLAVERY

BE AN ADVOCATE 

DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT

DO SOMETHING MORE THAN AWARENESS

So I’m asking you today if you’ll join me? If you’ll look slavery in the eyes and say you won’t back down. If you will pray down on your knees. Jesus said He was bringing freedom for the captives and I believe it. He brought freedom to those enslaved to sin and those free in Christ are free indeed. I’m praying for physical freedom for those physically enslaved today but I’m also, more importantly, praying for spiritual freedom for all.

Isaiah 61:1-3 –
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”

John 8:34-36 - 
"Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

And to end this long post on an encouraging note, here’s a remake of the classic children’s song “This Little Light of Mine” by a UK rap group called LZ7.

Cause why not???

We could all use a reminder to let our light shine, not just on days like today when everyone is in the fight for freedom and light, but everyday. Cause we can all make a difference in our generation and our world. So I encourage you to go out there and shine a light, everyday.

Also you can check out LZ7 and Matt Redman’s music video raising awareness about the global sex trafficking of women with their song “Twenty Seven Million.”