Emilie, a senior in high school
Emilie found our Break the Chains website through a Google search last fall. Emilie was looking for nearby organizations that could help her learn about human trafficking because she had seen a documentary on TV and wanted to do her high school senior project on trafficking. She called me and came in to talk. I lent her everything I had in my bookshelves about trafficking. Some of the books were testimonial stories of women who had been trafficked or in prostitution and were saved by the grace of Jesus. Emilie read them all, even though she confessed she didn't consider herself a religious person. I kept on passing along information to Emilie over the next months. . . websites, online articles, documentaries, a film list, and then I put her in touch with one of the authors she wanted to interview, and then with a few Internaional Ministries missionaries. Emilie interviewed the missionaries, too.
She has created a website about human trafficking; it is a central part of her senior project. You'll find it at http://humantraffickingsgp.weebly.com. Praise God for the ways in which AB Women's Ministries' Break the Chains initiative has touched Emilie. I know that God will use her to help her peers understand the issue and how they can make a difference. She wants the website to reach a wide audience, so do not hesitate to share it with others.
-- Submitted by Virginia Holmstrom
Robin, a seminarian
Early in 2010, Robin, a seminarian from Palmer Theological Seminary called me. She had met Rev. Elizabeth Conde Frazier, who had spoken at our Women's Day in Pasadena last year. Elizabeth knew about our Break the Chains initiative, and when she learned that Robin wanted to focus on trafficking for a seminary class research paper, Elizabeth put her in touch with me. Robin came by the office and I pointed her toward lots of online resources. (This time I had fewer books to lend, because Emilie was using them!)
Robin stopped by to see me in the office to present me with a copy of her research paper she had written for her seminary course, "The Church as a Commuity of Compassion." Throughout the paper she has cited many of the ministries that have received Break the Chains grants. When I asked her how she would use her learnings in her ministry, she said that she feels led to explore prison ministry and training others to minister to survivors of trafficking.
Robin's thank you note points us all to God's sovereignty in a topic that we have all found to be emotionally treacherous and draining: "Thank you for sharing with me your passion, knowedge and direction in the area of Sexual Human Trafficking. As you are aware, the journey into this 'world' is overwhelming and emotional. It is, however, a blessing to be reminded that the Lord our God is still in control and that we can trust in Him as our source for strength and conquest. Be encouraged."
-- Submitted by Virginia Holmstrom
Update from Susan Omanson of BE FREE ministry in South Dakota
Our outreach team made a trip to Winner and Dallas SD the opening weekend of hunting season. Earlier in the summer the Winner Ministerial Association invited us to their meeting to discuss their concerns about all the sexual exploitation that is taking place in the area in October and November. We were shocked with what we found. At this point, we are being very circumspect in what we share about this experience. However, I will report that much of what we observed is similar to what I see in Bangkok, Thailand on any given night in the notorious red light districts. Frankly, we have sex tourism in South Dakota during the hunting season. (CAVEAT...I fully realize that most hunters that visit our state do not participate in these activities nor do most of the private hunting lodges provide prostituted women for their clients. However, even if one woman is trafficked or sexually exploited, it is one too many!) We need an anti-trafficking law in our state and the will to enforce it...one of our goals for 2010.
Our next outreach...The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Also, we are sending a team for training on ministry in strip clubs...another big challenge for our area.
Interview with Lauran Bethell on Human Trafficking
Lauran Bethell is a global consultant with International Ministries, ABCUSA, now living near Amsterdam and still deeply engaged in the issue of the abolition of sex trafficking worldwide. Our interview with Lauran includes perspectives on the legalization of prostitution, the role of men in abolition, and an upcoming event for your calendar.
Click here to download interview.
The Elizabeth House Newsletter: The Elizabeth House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota empowers women to experience life-changing transformation through the love of God, the power of Christ Jesus, and the healing of the Holy Spirit. The Elizabeth House is one the six ministries that received funds during the first year of Break the Chains. Click here to download the first edition of The Elizabeth House Newsletter.
 Mylinda Baits, an American Baptist missionary in Costa Rica, works with the Costa Rican Baptist Convention to provide pastoral and lay leadership training and theological education. She is involved with the Mansion of Light Baptist Church, a Break the Chains funding recipient. Mylinda has written the Bible study that is available on the "What Can I Do?" page of this website. To view Mylinda's missionary journal, click here.
 Pastor Xinia Porras, pastor of the Mansion of Light Baptist Church in La Guácima de Alajuela, Costa Rica, is leading the congregation to reach out to the families in their community with parenting classes, abuse prevention and job training. They have begun the planning and work for opening a day care for working families and outreach to girls at risk of prostitution. Break the Chains project funding will help this congregation do that outreach.
Karen Smith, an ABC missionary in Thailand. Karen directs the New Life Center Foundation that provides shelter, educational, and emergency services to tribal girls at risk, and to those who have been trafficked or sold. To view Karen's missionary journal, click here. An education and rehabilitation ministry at New Life Center will receive Break the Chains funding.
 Lauran Bethell, a Global Consultant, based in Prague, Czech Republic. Lauran helped establish the New Life Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 1987, offering freedom and hope in Jesus Christ to young women and girls who are sold, tricked or willfully drawn into prostitution. Now she encourages ministries around the world. To view Lauran's journal, click here.
 Deborah Kelsey, an ABC missionary in Italy. Debbie has begun a new ministry in Italy to reach women trafficked for work in the sex industry. To view Debbie's missionary journal, click here. Debbie's ministry will receive support from Break the Chains.
 Sarah Chetti, an ABC missionary in Lebanon. Sarah has been involved in ministries in a local prison and with the Sudanese Congregation that meets at Fanar Baptist Church. Her Maids in Lebanon ministry will receive funding from Break the Chains.To view Sarah's missionary journal, click here.
 Annie Dieselberg, an ABC missionary in Bangkok, Thailand. Annie directs NighLight Bangkok, an international faith-based organization committed to giving women and children an escape from sexual exploitation, to enable them to discover their dignity, and to provide a program of holistic transformation, empowering them to live and work in their community. NightLight Design gives women in Bnagkok an economic alternative to trafficking and prostitution through jewelry making. To view Annie's missionary journal, click here.
 Charity Marquis serves as the director of NightLight USA which began in 2006 as a support for NightLight Bangkok (see above) by facilitating jewelry sales and addressing issues of trafficking and sexual exploitation in the United States. NightLight USA provides people with ways they can be involved both domestically and internationally. Through advocacy, trainings, and street outreach, NightLight equips business owners and community members with the tools to recognize and act when they encounter trafficking. NightLight USA will receive funds from Break the Chains. Charity Marquis developed a new website for NightLight International. Check it out at http://www.nightlightinternational.com/.
 Terry Myers, an ABC missionary in Bulgaria. Terry is involved in teaching English to a group of teenage orphans who attend an after-school program near the orphanage where they live. She develops markets for handicrafts made by the women of the Baptist churches. To view Terry's missionary journal, click here.
 Sarah West, American Baptist missionary in Lusaka, Zambia, leads a weekly Bible study with several women who have found themselves in various ways snared into prostitution. One woman who has now opened a prayer chapel in her home was HIV positive. But like the wind, the Spirit moves in ways beyond our understanding or control. This woman is now HIV negative. And she has her prayer room open 24 hours a day for the praise of God and for ministry to others. To view Sarah's missionary journal, click here.
 National Ministries (ABC/USA), along with other faith-based investors, are pressing the travel and hospitality industries to help protect women and children from the horrors of human trafficking. Currently, National Ministries’ efforts include a combination of letter writing, company dialogue, and filing of shareholder resolutions, all aimed at getting companies to adopt a "Code of Conduct to Protect Children". The code calls for an ethical policy regarding commercial sexual exploitation of children from hotels and for them to train their employees on how to prevent child sexual exploitation by tourists. Click here for more information on the code: http://www.thecode.org/
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What are others doing to eradicate trafficking or minister to its victims?
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Have you been inspired to become involved in eradicting human trafficking, or to minister to its victims? Share your story with us!
God at Work
Kit Ripley, IM missionary in Thailand
God at Work
Annie Dieselberg, IM missionary in Thailand
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