Human trafficking is a real and tragic modern day problem. Thank you to all who prayed together to end this offense to humanity.

Human trafficking is modern- day slavery, and a worldwide scourge that ensnares millions of victims at any given time. Congress passed a resolution in June 2007 making January 11 the National Day of Human Trafficking Awareness in order to bring attention to this evil perpetrated on women, children and men in every nation around the globe.

The U.S. State Department estimates there are 12.3 million people in forced labor, bonded labor, forced child labor and sexual servitude. They also estimate that 80 percent of victims are women and children, the majority of which are trafficked for sexual servitude.

Human trafficking happens right here in the United States in communities across our nation. Cases have been reported in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta. In Atlanta, there is a growing crisis of child prostitution wherein men fly in during the day to have sex with children and then return home to their families at night. While the major cities having this problem are not a surprise, it is not limited to them. Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky and Wyoming, to name a few, have also been reported to have human trafficking cases.

The first step to eradicating human trafficking is to become aware of the problem, and the next step is to pray for rescue and restoration for the victims.