Ending Slavery

Later this month, our church is coming together to help support women who are currently trapped in trafficked situations, practically and prayerfully. There are over 27 million slaves around the world, and multitudes of the women who are trafficked are coerced, tricked, and forced into sex slavery against their own will. These women, made in the image of God, are violated in every way imaginable–physical, spiritual, emotional, mental.

We can help.

There is hope.

In Christ, there is always hope.

On March 21st, from 7-9 pm at my house, women will come together to pray for those across the world–men, women, and children–who are trafficked. We will be calling out to God on their behalf for freedom, redemption, justice, salvation, and hope. We will be asking God to dismantle the gangs who perpetuate trafficking. We will pray that he will straighten the crookedness in governmental officials who look away when they know slavery is taking place. God hears. He is already bringing freedom and hope in pockets around the world. Just today, The A21 Campaign, one of my favorite organizations, mentioned that four more women were brought to one of their safe houses this week. Four more lives saved out of sex slavery. Four precious women who God dearly loves.

There is hope.

And we can help.

On the same night, we will also be packing up items to help launch a new safe house for trafficked victims that is starting on the West Coast of the U.S. (through our church organization).

If you would like to donate some items and bring them to pack that night, here are the needs:

-Neutral-colored towel sets
-Neutral-colored twin sheet sets
-Toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, soap, makeup, and skin care items.
-Gift cards to Target

If you do want to donate something, here are some practicals:
-Please bring $3-5 extra dollars in order to help cover shipping costs if you are bringing a tangible item.
-Gift cards will travel better (and more cheaply) than liquids. Although it may seem impersonal, a gift card can go a long way for the safe house right now.

I am thrilled that we have the chance to practically and prayerfully parter with God’s work in the world! Please email me if you have any questions, need directions to my house, or want to drop something off earlier: ann.swindell@gmail.com

Hope to see you there!

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.
–Jesus

For well over a year, now, God has been stirring a desire in my heart to somehow, some way, get involved as an advocate for trafficked women. This week, I am taking practical steps toward that calling by starting to plan an event to directly benefit these women and by taking time to pray for what needs to change for these women to be freed, both physically and spiritually.

I’m also toying with the idea of opening my Etsy store back up, with the sole vision of turning any and all profits toward stopping the slave trade. I don’t work for any government agency, I don’t create policy, and I don’t have the freedom in my schedule to take six months off to go intern at a rehabilitation house for trafficked women across the globe (although I wish I did…maybe some day…). What I do have to give is my time, my prayers, my energy, and my money. I have so much, so incredibly much. Really, any of us who live without the constant reality of being violated physically and emotionally have immensely more than we can fathom in comparison to the women, children, and men sold into slavery approximately every 30 seconds. It is my time to step up, my time to be a voice for those whose voices have been robbed from them. I may not have worldly power, or fame, or prestige to move mountains on behalf of these people, but I have a Father in heaven who does. He is the mover of mountains, the healer of every heart. He has come to set the captives free—and I want to partner with him.

Pack and Pray: An Anti-Trafficking Event

The Forfeited Life: Stepping Up

Look Around

Past Posts