LOOK BENEATH THE SURFACE

Isaiah 61:1 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoner.

In January 1863, President Abraham Lincoln promised in the Emancipation Proclamation freedom and liberty for all people.

One hundred and fifty years later slavery still exists in our country and throughout the world.

We encounter modern day slaves daily and may even contribute to the slavery of others, at times without realizing it.

Let us take a few minutes to look BENEATH THE SURFACE

Look Beneath the Surface the next time you eat at your favorite restaurant.

Cases of human trafficking in restaurants have been investigated in multiple states, including FL, NM, TX, MA, NY, WI, WA, CA, NJ, OH, CO and MN.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10: 25

Let us take a moment of silence in solidarity with those victims of trafficking in our own local community and for those we may have met in the restaurant industry who are held in slavery-like conditions.

Look Beneath the Surface the next time you purchase or consume vegetables and fruit

In 2010, the Department of Justice issued indictments in at least 13 states for human trafficking in the agriculture industry.

Many corporations subcontract the production of fruits and vegetables to operators so that they can reap the benefits of the system without having to worry about public relations.

Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor. Psalm 10:1-2

Do trafficked children and adults work in the agricultural fields in your state?

Let us take a moment of silence in solidarity with those who are in situations of fraud, force, and coercion especially those who are recruited to labor under abusive conditions in the agricultural industry.

Look Beneath the Surface the next time you purchase or consume chocolate or cocoa

He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor. He seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. Psalm 10: 8-9

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me.” Matt. 9:14

Let us take a moment of silence in solidarity with those who never see their children and loved ones again because of trafficking. And with those children whose childhood is lost.

How can you introduce Fair Trade products into your daily life?

Look Beneath the Surface the next time you hold your cell phone or another electronic device in your hand.

They may have been made by the hands of slave men, women and children.

Conflict minerals are minerals mined in conditions of armed conflict and human rights abuses.

As consumers, we are fueling conflict and the use of human trafficking in mines in the form of debt bondage,

child slavery, sexual slavery, and forced marriage when we purchase electronic devices sourced from conflict minerals.

These minerals are often mined at gunpoint.

“Then God said ‘Let us make woman and man in our image, after our likeness.’” Genesis 1: 26

Let us take a moment of silence in solidarity with those who have been trafficked to work in dangerous mines who have been reduced to commodities rather than human beings made in the image and likeness of God.

Look Beneath The Surface When You Buy Clothing

…and Shoes

…and Sugar

…and Coffee

Life is the Gift of our Creator… and it should never be for sale.

LOOK BENEATH THE SURFACE

“…He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners… to release the oppressed…” Luke 4:18,19

Let us take a moment of silence in solidarity with those who have been trafficked providing the goods we use daily.

To learn more about Human Trafficking please see the resources at the end of the Resolution. If you suspect someone you meet may be involved in human trafficking please call the national hotline or text BeFree (233733)