The Church at Clarendon

Guest Post by Susan ~

When I headed to the movie theater to see the Liam Neeson thriller “Taken” I expected an action filled afternoon with a Jack Bauer-like character on the hunt for his kidnapped daughter. What shocked me were the graphic scenes depicting young girls in an international sex trafficking ring. Sex trafficking plays such a large role in the story (don’t think I am giving anything away for you, as it is clear from early on the reason for the girl’s capture) that I wondered why no one warned me about it. Had I been prepared, maybe I would not have burst into tears every five seconds, or at least I could have brought tissues.

It might be that the topic is just so unpleasant that no one wants to talk about it, or maybe my friends that recommended the film to me forgot to mention it. In the worst case, it is because we are so used to violence and terror in movies that it almost seems normal. There are plenty of instances where I am unaffected by something when I should be, but this is not one of them.

I have been exploring lately why it is that this issue breaks my heart like it does, and have not come up with any one answer. In book Captivating, John and Stasi Eldridge suggest one of the core desires of women is to offer and find beauty in this world. It is sometimes said that twists on the truth are much worse than outright lies. Sex trafficking is the worst twist on this truth imaginable. The message these women and children hear is, “This [sex] is the only worth you have and the only thing you have to offer.”

My own lack of faith is also involved. Learning about women and children in these situations, I cannot help but think, “That is not a life worth living.” Despite the healing I have seen in my own life, it is hard to see Jesus as the ultimate healer, the ultimate restorer that He is. Nothing is impossible for Him.

I wanted to tell you a little bit about how this issue is pressing on my heart, and now I want to tell you about an organization that is committed to rescuing and restoring women and children in crisis. The organization is Shared Hope International. They are launching a nationwide focus on sex trafficking in the United States, and are holding vigils around the country to start it off. The Church at Clarendon is partnering with them to host a vigil in the sanctuary Wednesday, May 27^th at 7:30 pm. I hope you will participate with me in an evening of learning, praying, and keeping watch for women and children in this country.

Here’s an excerpt from one girl’s story:

“That’s the way it seemed to me when I was 12, and when I realized that my boyfriend was a pimp, I thought, well, I guess that’s just the way it is and I did what he told me. I thought I was making the choice, and that was pretty much what I would have to do to get along in life. Nobody ever told me–I didn’t understand–what a choice really was.”

Click here (http://www.sharedhope.org/what/storiesofhope_tanya.asp) to read the rest on the Shared Hope International website.

I hope to see you there!

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