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October 09 - TRAFFIC
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Brian Hardin
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11/11/2009 09:22 |
We're not buying girls. That approach would get people killed. The way that rescue is largely done is that the girls are befriended or "bought for the night" and then rescued if they want a way out. This is dangerous and tough business because they can't trust anyone. They've been degraded and broken down and although they were normal people months earlier they are traumatized. When a girls want freedom she's spirited away but this is dangerous because the pimps and the organized crime conglomerates actually think their property is being stolen. They really think they own these girls.
My point in sharing a number and a value of life was to contextualize a problem much too big for us to defeat alone. It was to share a part of the story that we can have. Our efforts will go into rescue, restoration and housing of rescued women and I've worked hard to develop a structure that we can actually see what we're a part of rather than giving into a black hole that does good but we never really knew about it.
Brian
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Jeffrey Mitchell
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11/13/2009 22:16 |
I certainly am thankful Brian has brought this horribly evil act to the attention of this community. It gives us all a worthy focus and an opportunity to help some sisters and brothers as Jesus told us to do. Sometimes we sit in our church seats, a cushion at our backs and pretty carpet on the floor and slip off into a spiritual slumber and accomplish nothing more that wishful daydreams. Brian has found a mission, a cause that motivates us and God is glorified in the process. How wonderful that God would honor us in our response to this disease of the soul. Praise Him!! Thanks Brian.
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Ray
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11/15/2009 07:33 |
Yeah, I'm an engineer. I always want to know how systems work and think about the details. I was not trying to cast doubt on the darkness of the evil or the light in Brian's heart. They are very clear.
Sorry, I'm not around to stay engaged as I would like. I've been working on a few other ministries lately, but I still listen and pray daily. Brian, you stated there is "structure" to prevent "black hole" giving. Where is that? I'm just not in touch as I need to be and have missed it. I assumed this is an IHOP team and this is a fund raiser for them, correct? I guess this based on the comment in "Traffic" about working on a building in KC.
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Penny L Sullivan
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11/15/2009 08:43 |
From working with Touch A Life foundation (who partners with The Rapha House, prostitution rescue in Cambodia), and the Place of Rescue, I've learned that while rescuing those who are working in the sex industry is of the utmost importance, EQUALLY important (and much less dangerous) is in the area of prevention. Prevention means saving the young girls who are at risk before they are in the hands of the corrupt and wicked. It means housing the, loving the, and training them. One ministry that impresses me is called Warm Blankets. This is a model ministry where orphans and widows are cared for--getting children off the streets and learning the Truth...preparing them and equipping them to be used by God.
Prevention takes $$. And I certainly trust Brian and the work he's doing. My husband and I are excited to become a part of DAB's fight against human trafficking and we watch for ways we can help.
God Bless You, Brian!
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Ray
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11/20/2009 14:20 |
I'm familiar with a branch of YWAM, Tamar Center, who have a focus in Thailand.
http://www.ywamthai.org/pattaya/tamar.html
http://www.ywam.org/searches/BProfile.asp?BID=806
Thailand has a huge problem being the vacation land. What a sad mess.
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Margaret Burnett
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11/21/2009 19:17 |
I'm a law student and had already been doing some reading on this subject. One of the groups actively fighting sexual slavery all over the world is International Justice Mission (IJM), a biblically based Christian organization http://www.ijm.org/.
This is their mission:
(1) Free the victims
(2) Prosecute the perpetrators
(3) Secure places of safe aftercare for the victims
(4) Transform communities so the injustice isn't acceptable any longer
The prosecution component is an important part of it, because when perpetrators start getting locked away for 10 - 20 years it is a serious deterrent to others. It is illegal everywhere, and the challenge is to work with law enforcement and the justice system to get them to enforce their laws in countries where these institutions are weak or corrupt.
The reason purchasing girls, or even just rescuing alone is not sufficient is because they are easily replaced with new girls. Purchasing has the added down side of creating a new market for trafficked children--compassionate Americans, and where there's a market, there will be a supply.
IJM hasseveral books available on their website and I just finished reading "Terrify No More," the story of young girls, many under 12 years old, held captive in brothels in a small village in Cambodia, and the undercover operation to rescue them. This was a popular destination for western sex tourists, particularly pedophiles. Another one of their books I am reading is Good News About Injustice, which walks through the biblical foundation and practical tools to overcome the most urgent crises of our day.
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Ray
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11/22/2009 14:02 |
Thanks, Magaret,
That comment, "the challenge is to work with law enforcement and the justice system to get them to enforce their laws in countries where these institutions are weak or corrupt" is something that I wondered about in this effort. As you said, without some front towards the criminal the problem might move to the next victim.
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Ray
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11/22/2009 14:32 |
I don't see a strong Christian representation here, http://www.ijm.org/. Could be they have to keep a low key to operate in the hard places.
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Ray
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11/22/2009 15:08 |
another thread here mentions the "Exodus Cry Movement," http://www.exoduscry.com/about/who-are-we being spoken of in the Oct. summary. I guess that got by me. I'm not a good listener. Some reference material would be helpful to me.
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Margaret Burnett
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11/22/2009 17:57 |
In fact IJM is a strong Christian organization, and if you read "Good News About Justice" by the founder, Gary Haugen, it walks you through the biblical basis for fighting injustice in the world. The staff prays together daily, and they get a lot of prayer support from other believers. On the other hand, it is also a very professional organization with top notch lawyers, investigators, and social workers. This is a tough and dangerous business. "Thousands of times over the last decade, my colleagues at IJM have confronted brutal men of great evil and great power: rapists, murderers, slave owners, sex traffickers, torturers, thieves, kidnappers, thugs and sadists (many of them wearing uniforms of official authority and power). In desperation we have cried out in prayer to the God of justice, asking him to rescue the victims of abuse when we could not, to protect us when we were to weak, and to bring down the arrogant men of violence and lies when they were too strong. And we have seen God answer these prayers--more frequently, more reliably and more powerfully than I ever dreamed I would see." (from "Good News About Injustice")
If you go to IJM.org, click on the "Get Involved" tab, then "Prayer Partners" you can sign up to receive e-mails about specific, confidential prayer needs. There are also other specific ways to support the work against trafficking under the Get Involved tab.
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