This weekend my husband Nathan and I (Jency) went to a human trafficking conference at Bryan College. We were encouraged by the number of students that had the desire to know more about this horrible injustice and to spread that awareness. The number one question we heard though is a question that so many of us ask all the time: "But what can we do?" I thought I would share with you this month a topic that is near to my heart and one that the conference highlighted- Fair Trade.
Nathan and I run a fair trade store (World Next Door) in Chattanooga, TN and we get to hear the success stories all the time of people coming out of poverty and no longer being exploited. The basics of fair trade are that the person making the item or growing the crop gets a fair wage for their work under good working conditions. In countries where sweatshops are the norm or prostitution is the only option for survival, being treated fairly and having enough money to support a family totally transforms a community. There are many fair trade organizations that have offered women in brothels, who have no skills, job training so that they can get out of prostitution (or prevent them from ever getting into it). We have found some organizations that do this in the name of Jesus- so the women hear the gospel as well- but sadly, most of the organizations we have seen are "do-gooders" who might be giving these people a chance to feed their family (which is great!), but the people do not get the chance to be spiritually fed. Our hope is to see the Church catch on to the "fair trade" movement- we want to be in the lead when it comes to fighting for justice!
The following are organizations that have rescued women from prostitution by offering job training. These women also get to hear the gospel and learn of the way that Jesus can transform their lives. You can support these women by praying for them and by buying the products they make.
Freeset Bags- these women are taught how to make bags out of jute. http://www.freesetbags.com/story
International Princess Project- These women are taught how to make pajamas out of recycled saris. http://intlprincess.org/
Sari Bari- These women make blankets and bags out of recycled saris. http://www.saribari.com/
Prayer Requests
- pray for the women that have been rescued from prostitution and are being taught a skill. Praise God that they are able to take great pride in the work they are doing. Pray for their salvation- that they would see the spiritual restoration that Jesus brings while they are being restored physically.
- Pray for the church- that we would support these ministries in the work that they are doing. Pray that more ministries would be able to be a part of the fair trade movement in their community overseas.
- From 10/40 Connections: At the border between India and Nepal many girls make life-changing choices – go ahead or go back home. Our friends seek to council girls/women who are being trafficked. Pray God will give this ministry grace, protection, and wisdom. Pray many girls/women will choose to go back home. (This ministry also has begun to teach girls skills such as driving and making hats out of banana fiber.)
- Pray for the Fair Trade organizations that are helping to rescue women. Pray that the Lord would greatly bless their work. Pray for the physical and spiritual protection of these workers as they engage in fighting for these girls.
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