Poster Children

Cool thing happened on Saturday at Cyrus International. For those of you who don't know, Cyrus is an organization based in Baton Rouge that helps orphans, those living in poverty and victims of human trafficking. Their mission is HOPE (Helping Oppressed People Everywhere) and they're a great bunch of people.
We did our first outreach on Saturday; a public awareness campaign about human trafficking. About a dozen people got together and put up posters at Starbucks locations and truck stops around Baton Rouge. The posters were provided by the National Task Force Against Human Trafficking and they provide a number that victims can call for help. Pretty cool, eh?
Most people think that Human Trafficking is a problem in India. It is, but its also a problem in Baton Rouge. You don't have to cross the ocean to meet victims; you just have to cross the city. I work at the Dream Center downtown and we come across people every week who have been sold by the people who are supposed to love and protect them. Horrifying stories...young girls, beaten with fan belts, for refusing to have sex with strange men, multiple times a day.
Right here, right now, in our city, this is going on.
I don't know what the answer is, but I know what the answer isn't. The answer is not to look the other way. The answer is not to hope somebody does something about this atrocity. Get involved, give money, volunteer your time...do something.
There's a movie in theaters now called 'Taken'. See the movie. After that, if you want a more realistic version of human trafficking, rent the movie 'Trade'. After that, pray that God would show you how to make a difference. He will answer your prayer and through you, the prayers of the estimated 2 million people who are sold every year. Yep, 2 million. Two million of our sisters, daughters, brothers, wives and friends. That's a lot of people.
Best guesses think that $9.5 billion dollars will be made this year selling human beings...not even selling so much as renting them out in 15 minute increments. They need help...they need us. Pray, give and get involved. Make a difference in somebody's life today.