In my hometown

For over a year now, CCW has been very invested in the issue of Human Trafficking, through our efforts which we have named They Matter.

Modern day slavery: millions of people around the world and here in the United State are forced to work in brothels, fields, and factories for little or no pay.
Our focus in CCW has been in Northeast Florida, where our ministry is present and slavery is also present.

I was 16 when I first heard about human trafficking. A man in my hometown of Palatka was forcing homeless people to work on his farm. At the time, it seemed like a terrible, but very rather rare case. I didn't give it much thought. While I was in college, I heard bits and pieces about human trafficking, but never delved deeper into what was happening. Mostly, my concept on trafficking was, "it's an issue for the UN and people with international power to handle."

Last year, at Passion 2012, we were awakened to how real this is and how it is present in our everyday lives in the products we use. We were told there could be 27 million people globally that are enslaved.

Florida is one of the top three destinations for trafficking victims in the US. It is an issue VERY REAL and VERY COMPLICATED. Late last year, there was another trafficking arrest with someone from Palatka. Those two cases from my hometown, here in Northeast Florida, illustrate the variety in which trafficking comes in, in one case it's exploiting the homeless and the other it's taking advantage of a child.

In one case, the solution is hard to find, and in the other, a man in the article really puts out a big reason for why this happens.

So friends, modern day slavery is around you. You can choose to be oblivious and you can ignore the facts
OR you can do something.

Here's some things you might consider doing

• Educate yourself on the issue
• Educate your friends and families on the issue (raise your voice)
• Volunteer with a local organization that is working toward a solution
• Donate to a local organization that is combatting modern day slavery
• Stop purchasing items that support slavery

There are more people that are enslaved in our world than there have ever been. Make a difference and shine a light on slavery.