Human trafficking blows across the Ozarks leaving destruction comparable to natural disasters, affecting thousands annually, yet remains largely unrecognized. Springfield Business Journal recently published an opinion article entitled “Human Trafficking is big business in the Ozarks”. The article confronts the prevalent opinion that the Ozarks couldn’t possibly be that affected by this criminal industry. Eric Olson, SBJ Editor, states, “According to the Justice Department, more human trafficking cases have been prosecuted by federal attorneys in Missouri’s Western District, which includes Springfield, Joplin and Kansas City, than in the other 93 judicial districts. That says it exists, yes, but also that we’re in the fight.”[1] Trafficking is a crime against humanity.
Human Trafficking is defined as a form of modern-day slavery in which traffickers use force, fraud or coercion to control victims for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor or services against his/her will.[2] This definition provides a comprehensive spectrum that includes all trafficking. Several cultural factors contribute to trafficking, including high levels of poverty, single parent households, a prior history of abuse and neglect, drug use and tourism. This list of factors reads like a “greatest qualities” and “larger societal struggles” collection that perfectly describes our region. Convincing people that trafficking could possibly be an issue in the Ozarks remains a big hurdle. The data shows, though, that Southwest Missouri represents a prime context for human trafficking to thrive.
I recently attended a general information meeting hosted on the campus of Drury University to address human trafficking in the Ozarks. I confess that I had no idea the size of the trafficking issue and especially its presence in our region. Consider this staggering statistic: “Every year, human traffickers generate billions of dollars in profits by victimizing millions of people in the United States and around the world. Traffickers are estimated to exploit 20.9 million victims, with an estimated 1.5 million victims in North America alone.”[3] Churches in the “6th most Bible-minded city in the US”[4] must get our heads out of the sand and confront this horrific evil.
Several important facts about trafficking struck me. “Traffickers”, includes anyone who benefits in exchange for sex with a minor, often begins as a boyfriend. They stalk their victims, at times over many weeks and months, gathering information to use against them once captured. Traffickers utilize very methodical practices that appear harmless in order to gain trust. They prey on girls in public places, malls and restaurants, and even convince minors to host a party where they can bring a pool of traffickers to identify potential targets. Once they gain the trust of the girl, they convince them to follow them into deeper isolation where they are introduced and slowly groomed toward trafficking. There are three primary manifestations of child sex trafficking in America.
- Pimp-controlled prostitution. An older male, typically middle-aged and white, dominates the girl and takes the money she receives from sex.
- Familial prostitution. This occurs when the family sells or introduces their family member to the sex industry to make money.
- Survival sex. This occurs when a girl or woman sells her body for sex to pay her bills and make a living.
Finally, this fact stung. The sex trade is growing because you can repeatedly sell a human body, where other markets sell a product only once. Polaris Project provides more staggering statistics for 2014.
Determining the best focus of resources to serve and bless the city presents a big pastoral challenge. Churches cannot equally address every issue of need. There are simply too many. Some of my thoughts about this struggle are captured in a Go61 blog interview here. But when an issue of this magnitude strikes in such close proximity, it demands our focus. Churches are uniquely equipped to make a significant impact in the lives of people and bless our city. We must inform, equip and encourage our people to confront this issue. I want to lead LifePoint Church to make a difference in people’s lives, to bless our city and impact the world.
LifePoint Church is hosting a Human Trafficking informational meeting THIS Sunday, March 15 at 12:30pm. You can get more information about this meeting at www.lifepointozark.com. The deadline to register is Wednesday, March 11. We will hear from Casey Alvarez with Go61, hear from some of our own people who are serving to combat trafficking and explore more ways for LifePoint to impact people’s lives and bless our city in the coming months.
Here are some things you can do NOW.
- Learn to recognize the signs. Polaris Project identifies important indicators to look for to recognize human trafficking.
- Read this great article that addresses some of the issues that fuel this industry.
- Call the Hotline to report any signs that you see: 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678)
- Check out these additional resources:
Resources: Organizations
Polaris Project http://www.polarisproject.org/ Polaris Project rated states in how they score in trafficking.
National Human Tafficking Resource Center http://traffickingresourcecenter.org/
Shared Hope International http://sharedhope.org/
Go:61 Reclaiming People http://go61.org/
NightLight International https://www.facebook.com/NightLightInternational
F.R.E.E. International http://freeinternational.org/
Stand Against Trafficking http://standagainsttrafficking.org/ Led by Dr. Rachel Harrington, Drury University.
Resources: Articles
“Sex Trafficking: In a City Near You” by Elizabeth Grant. Published in Enrichment Journal, Winter 2012, by the General Council of the Assemblies of God. You can read this article here.
“Opinion: Human Trafficking is big Business in the Ozarks” by Eric Olson, Editor, Springfield Business Journal. You can read this article here.
“An Ozark Pastor Addresses sensitive Issues About Human Trafficking and Ministry”, by Casey Alvarez on go61.org blog. You can read this article here.
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[1] http://sbj.net/main.asp?SectionID=48&SubSectionID=108&ArticleID=99849
[2] http://traffickingresourcecenter.org/type-trafficking/human-trafficking
[3] http://traffickingresourcecenter.org/type-trafficking/human-trafficking
[4] http://www.americanbible.org/features/americas-most-bible-minded-cities