www.salvationarmy.org.uk/captivated

IntroductionThe trafficking of people is an example of humanity at its worst – distorting beauty, snatching away innocence, preying on the vulnerable. It exploits individuals, breaks apart families and destroys communities, robbing people of their dignity and humanity.

All over the world, hundreds of thousands of people are held captive by a false hope or false promises, by charm or by threat, and drawn into a web of lies. They are then put to work in fields, homes or brothels, exploiting people’s strength, vulnerability or bodies for profit.

The Salvation Army is at the forefront of opposing the horrendous injustice that is human trafficking, and in a unique position to tackle it. As an organisation operating across more than 120 countries we have the networks to match that of the traffickers, and we can use this to mount a serious challenge to this illegal trade in human lives.

We are tackling a great evil, but we believe that the best way to respond to great evil is with great love – because love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

It is this love that has been shown to each of us by God, and it is this love that compels us to act for all our brothers and sisters waiting for freedom to be proclaimed.

ActivityThe following is a series of statements to be read aloud by members of the group. While doing this, you could add an extra dimension to the reading by wrapping a volunteer in a ribbon or scarf or other ‘restrictive’ material with each statement that is read out, and then removing them one by one as they are ‘rescued’. Afterwards the volunteer could be asked how it felt to be steadily captured then released.

Narrator 1: I could see my Mum was worried. We just didn’t have enough money. I just wanted to help – I didn’t want to be a burden.

Narrator 2: A man came to us and told us there was good work in the city, and he could help us get there.

Narrator 1: They told me that I would be looked after, and that I didn’t have to worry about my Mum any more.

Narrator 2: I was put on a bus. They didn’t tell me where we were going – they just told me not to worry.

Narrator 1: They took me to a city. There were so many people there, but I didn’t know anyone.

Narrator 2: They took photos of me, forced me to take drugs and sold me for sex.

Narrator 1: They told me it had cost them a lot of money to bring me here, and I had to pay them back. They didn’t say how long it would take. They treated us like objects.

Narrator 2: I was too scared to ask for help. I didn’t know what they would do.

Narrator 2: In the end I had to escape – I would rather have died than carry on living like that.

Narrator 1: Eventually I got up the courage to call the police.

Narrator 2: They looked after me, and brought me to The Salvation Army.

Narrator 1: At first I was afraid of everyone, I couldn’t trust people. But I’m starting to trust again now.

Narrator 2: I have gone to college, worked as a volunteer and found a job.

Narrator 1: I now have friends and a life again.

Narrator 2: I am now independent and confident again.

Narrator 1: I am no longer afraid.

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AFM MEETING OUTLINE

www.salvationarmy.org.uk/captivated

PrayerDear Lord,

We bring before you the thousands and thousands of people who have been trafficked, who feel helpless and alone right now. We pray for those in our very own community who are victims of human trafficking. Open up our hearts for them, and open up opportunities for them to be rescued and given the chance to rebuild their lives.

We pray too about the huge scale of trafficking around the world and the different ways that The Salvation Army is responding, through prevention work, victim support and rehabilitation. May our eyes be opened to how we can support this valuable work and fight for an end to human trafficking.

Help us to become captivated by the injustice of trafficking. Compel us to take action in whatever way we can to proclaim freedom for all of those held captive in our world.

AMEN.

ThoughtBible Reading: Isaiah 58:6

Trafficking is today one of the largest global crimes, with an estimated annual profit of around 32 billion dollars1. It is an injustice, a binding chain, a yoke, and God challenges us to do something about it.

In Isaiah 58 the prophet is shouting, trying to wake people up, trying to make them see that their ‘church’ attendance and observance of high days and holy days is not enough – even their fasting and praying isn’t enough! Their good living doesn’t cut any ice with God if it isn’t accompanied by some serious social action.

Interestingly in this verse we are told to first loosen, then untie, and then break the yoke of oppression. There is a process, and we can all be a part of this process until we see the yoke completely broken and unusable.

Kali’s StoryIn Aizawl in India, the eight children of a poor Hindu family work with their parents, looking after their landlord’s cow and searching for food.

One of the eight – a 15-year-old daughter called Kali – out collecting cattle fodder, is approached and befriended, tricked and then groomed by a local border guard. He promises her paid work in Mumbai, on condition that she tells no one about the offer. The trust she places in an authority figure is horribly exploited.

She disappears.

The local police show little interest, suggesting the teenager has eloped with her boyfriend. She isn’t important enough to merit an investigation. After four desperate months, her distraught parents make contact with The Salvation Army, pleading for help or information.

The Salvation Army is able to track the girl down, but the real tragedy then slowly begins to unfold. The truth is shocking.

Since going missing, this young, naive teenager had been sold twice as a bride. Now her life was in danger from the border guard who, facing charges of kidnap, false imprisonment and trafficking, has hired a killer to silence her.

If it had taken just a couple more days to find her, it would have been too late.

Instead Kali, who came within 48 hours of having her young life callously taken away, was provided with care at a shelter for vulnerable girls, not too far away from home.

She has since had to move away for her own safety while the case against her traffickers is pursued, but her family are still there working with The Salvation Army to fight for justice in the face of inequality and corruption.

1 Forced Labor and Human Trafficking: Estimating the Profits (ILO 2005)

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www.salvationarmy.org.uk/captivated

VideoKali is just one of thousands of people that The Salvation Army is supporting through its anti-trafficking work – people whose voices are rarely heard but whose lives are precious. We worked with a group of people from Adult and Family Ministry groups in Kent to produce a video in response to this issue.

Show ‘Captivated’ video.

Human trafficking is a big problem. It needs a big response. How can you and your group take action to help The Salvation Army continue to bring relief and restoration to those who have been victims of human trafficking and protect those still vulnerable?

There are a number of fundraising ideas in the Captivated fundraising pack. Take a few minutes to think and discuss as a group what more you can do to boost your fundraising and engage a wider audience with this issue.

SongsThis song has been specially written to highlight the plight of victims of human trafficking, and to encourage a response:

CAPTIVATED Set to ‘Ellan Vannin’ – Salvation Army Tune Book No 434

1) Lord, we pray, our hearts make tender,Captivated by the needTo become the strong defendersOf the weak and those who plead.Christ has need of dauntless soldiers;Come and teach us how to fight,That the cries of helpless captivesSpur us on to do the right.

2) Take our time, take all our talents,Captivated by the plightOf the ones whose days are ruined,So that darkness turns to light.Come, inspire us in our thinking,Show us ways to intervene,That the love of God in JesusBy those victims may be seen.

3) Lord, equip your willing servants,Captivated and inspiredBy a burning sense of justice,With a righteous passion fired.Here we offer our resources,All horizons now to scan,Not to rest or cease the struggle,Keen to know your battle plan.

4) Mark our lives with deep compassion,Captivated, sealed with love,Fighting for the kept and wounded,Taking orders from above.Help us stand in face of danger,Facing giants fierce and tall,Holy, resolute, undaunted;Distant floats the trumpet call.

© Stephen Poxon 2013

Additional song suggestions:

SASB 438: ‘Love divine’

‘There are people hurting… They need you’ by General John Gowans

‘God of Justice’ by Tim Hughes

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