It was once famously said, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” We often read about child abuse, feel a moment of sympathy, and then continue with our daily lives. Society has tried to numb us to such atrocities through the media dulling down or trying to normalize these events. However, as Christians, we must be people of action, not passive bystanders. We are called to be the voice of the voiceless and the protectors of the defenceless.
To illustrate how we can actively promote safeguarding and create a safe space, let’s look at the guidelines used by some churches. These guidelines can be implemented in your own place of fellowship and exemplify how to protect children and vulnerable adults within the church. By following these practices, we demonstrate safeguarding as an expression of Christ’s love for everyone we encounter in our ministries:
Promoting a Safer Church
We take the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults very seriously and work hard to ensure that we operate in line with the current best practice, as recommended by ECAP – the evangelical council for abuse prevention.
If you are concerned that someone you know is at risk of, or is being abused or presents a risk to others, please seek advice from a Church safeguarding officer, if you have one in place and if necessary, report the matter to the Local Authority Social Care Services or the Police without delay.
The silence around issues of abuse can be deafening, often leaving those that have been abused to be the sole voices speaking out. We will use our voice and our influence to publicly and privately speak up about the injustice of abuse and the need for change.
Put survivors first
Too often we see cases where victims and survivors have not been believed, have been silenced or have been further abused by the response they have received. We will listen to victims and survivors and ensure we put their needs at the heart of any response.
Conceal nothing
When abuse is discovered, it is important that it is fully brought into the light so that justice can be served and those that have been affected can receive the help they need. We will not cover-up or collude but be open, transparent, and truly repentant about what has happened.
Take responsibility
Rather than apportion blame or point the finger at others, we must acknowledge that abuse happens in any culture that allows or creates the circumstances for it to occur. We will take responsibility for the ways we have personally and corporately failed and will take the necessary steps to shoulder that responsibility and the reparations that must come as a result.
Make change happen
Apologies and learning lessons are important steps in the process of responding to abuse, but too often that is where we stop. We will not just take responsibility, and learn lessons, but will make active, tangible, timely steps towards change and encourage others to do the same.
Hold each other accountable
It’s important to acknowledge that issues of abuse are not confined to one particular denomination or tradition, but are issues experienced across all expressions of the Church. We will commit to holding ourselves mutually accountable by accepting the challenge of others about our own practice and challenging poor practice wherever we see it.
Who is Your Church’s Safeguarding Officer?
Example:
Lori Mac The Narrow Path Church Safeguarding Officer
Lori is the Safeguarding Officer for all TNP Parishes. If you are concerned that someone you know is at risk of, or is being abused, or presents a risk to others, please contact Lori for advice.
Email: safeguarding@xxxx.org
Other contacts:
For urgent, out of hours advice, contact Thirtyone:eight helpline: 030 3003 1111
Westminster Council Children’s Services: 020 7641 4000
Human trafficking is closer than you think, the film ‘Sound of Freedom’ opens the pandora’s box by raising awareness to the general public of a dark, underground $150 billion dollar industry. This incredible true story is about federal agent Tim Ballard, played by Jim Caviezel, who quit his job and put his life on the line to rescue trafficked children from sexual exploitation, this has been tastefully done and brings light to this heinous activity. Seeing the film is the first step in spreading awareness about child trafficking, see the trailer above and more information can be found here: Visit angel.com/blog/sound-of-freedom to read more abouthow you can join the fight to end child trafficking. Please support the movement, the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is that good men stand by and do nothing, be the voice of those who have none.
“It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” ~ Luke 17:2
What is human trafficking?
Human trafficking is a nefarious practice that many thought had been abolished years ago. However, slavery is alive and kicking in the 21st century and is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world, it is big business worth $150 billion dollars! It covers an array of ways to exploit another human being for profit, whether it be slave labor, sex slavery, organ harvesting or drug trafficking, the list goes on and gets darker.
There are 27 million enslaved, 7 million of them children and increasing. So many of us aren’t aware of how wide spread this issue is, because it’s not at the forefront of the media, and we think it doesn’t happen where we live. But this is the closet crime that is exploding and rising all around us at astronomical rates. There are more people enslaved today than any time in history, even when it was legal!
Where is this taking place?
The subject matter is too dark for polite conversation, but burying your head in the sand won’t make it go away. This evil is prevalent worldwide and according to the charity organization ‘save the children’ statistics, children make up 27% of all human trafficking victims worldwide, and two out of every three identified child victims are girls. The United States is the largest consumer of child rape videos and one of the largest producers worldwide.
MYTH: Traffickers target victims they don’t know
FACT: Even though this is true, a majority of the time, victims are trafficked by someone they know, such as a friend, family member, family friend, a person esteemed in the local community or a romantic partner.
MYTH: Only girls and women are victims of human trafficking
FACT: Boys and men are just as likely to be victims of human trafficking as girls and women. However, they are less likely to be identified and reported. Girls and boys are often subject to different types of trafficking, for instance, girls may be trafficked for forced marriage and sexual exploitation, boys for sexual exploitation also, but more likely to be trafficked for forced labor or recruitment into armed groups.
MYTH: All human trafficking involves sex or prostitution
FACT: Human trafficking can include forced labor, domestic servitude, organ trafficking, debt bondage, recruitment of children as child soldiers, and/or sex trafficking and forced prostitution.
MYTH: Trafficking involves traveling, transporting or moving a person across borders
FACT: Human trafficking is not the same thing as smuggling, which are two terms that are commonly confused. Trafficking does not always require movement across borders. In fact, in some cases, a child could be trafficked and exploited from their own home or community. In the U.S., trafficking most frequently occurs at hotels, motels, truck stops and online.
MYTH: People being trafficked are physically unable to leave or held against their will
FACT: Trafficking can involve force, but people can also be trafficked through threats, coercion, or deception. People in trafficking situations can be controlled through drug addiction, violent relationships, manipulation, lack of financial independence, or isolation from family or friends, in addition to physical restraint or harm.
MYTH: Trafficking primarily occurs in developing countries
FACT: Trafficking occurs all over the world, though the most common forms of trafficking can differ by country. The United States is one of the most active sex trafficking countries in the world, where exploitation of trafficking victims occurs in cities, suburban and rural areas. Labor trafficking occurs in the U.S., but at lower rates than most developing countries.
DO YOU SUSPECT SOMEONE IS BEING TRAFFICKED?
Spot The Signs
Identifying trafficking is the first step to stopping it. Understanding the signs to look out for could help the most vulnerable people within your community.
Significant Signs
Stop the traffic organisation Stop the traffic states, that there are a number of signs that are common across all types of exploitation. Including, if a person:
acts as if instructed by another, as though they are forced or coerced to carry out specific activities
demonstrates signs of physical or psychological abuse, such as lacking self esteem, seeming anxious, bruising or untreated medical conditions
seems to be bonded by debt or has money deducted from their salary
has little or no contact with family or loved ones
is distrustful of authorities
has threats made against themselves or family members
is not in possession of their own legal documents
SAVE THE CHILDREN: If you suspect someone is a victim of trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-800-373-7888. The confidential hotline is open 24 hours a day, every day, and helps identify, protect and serve victims of trafficking.
Identifying trafficking is the first step to stopping it. Understanding the signs to look out for could help the most vulnerable people within your community.
Specific Signs
Many of the main types of exploitation have significant signs that are specific to them.
Children who are trafficked are intentionally hidden and isolated from the services and communities who can identify and protect them. If you’re worried about a child, you can take steps to keep them safe.
If you think a child or young person is in danger, contact the police on 999.
Contact your local child protection services. You can find their contact details on the website for the local authority the child lives in.
Contact the Modern Slavery Helpline to get help, report a suspicion or seek advice. Call 0800 012 1700 or fill in their online form.
Living in the end times
We live in a fallen world with entitled individuals who think they have a right to do what they want, when they want and to whomever they want without accountability. There has been a major attack on our children from every side because they are the new generation that is supposed to be an arrow in the bow for God’s Kingdom and this attack starts in the womb. (I will do a separate article on this important subject). It’s easy to become discouraged when we focus on the news today, but there is goodness and hope in a broken world, look to God’s promises and don’t be mere hearers, but doers of the Word. There are many brave heroic individuals who are have been doing just that, and one walking in their calling is a man called Tim Ballard, a former special agent and undercover operator for the Department of Homeland Security and also former CIA, shares what we need to know about child trafficking. He’s an abolitionist, NGO specialist, activist and philanthropist, and is the founder and president of O.U.R. Rescue that rescues children from child sex trafficking and sexual exploitation and has assisted in the arrested of thousands of predators.
Quotes
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33 (ESV)
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” -Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” -Romans 15:13 (ESV)
Here are a few ideas on how to be a light in your sphere of influence:
Start and end your day reading the Word of God.
Memorize God’s promises.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Love your neighbor.
Pray for people in your life.
Pray for the world. Pray for our leaders.
Pray for people who are oppressed.
Share God’s love with others.
Give to those in need.
Get involved in meeting a need.
Show acts of kindness.
Encourage those who are discouraged.
Give the gift of love, peace, gentleness, patience, grace, kindness. (navigators.org)
How to get involved?
Please start by watching and supporting the film the sound of Freedom, there are numerous ways to support the individuals on the front line, but to get a flavor of what’s going on, I urge you to watch sound of freedom, it’s a dark subject matter that has been tastefully done, but punches you right in your stomach and at the end of the film, you can either choose to bury your head in the sand or stand up and do something about it.
Support the non-profit organisations fighting human trafficking:
The Sisterhood Hub 
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