Start planning now to observe National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in January. January 11th is Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Wear blue to show your support of victims.
January 27th is Freedom Sunday when churches are invited to raise awareness about human trafficking during their worship service and other activities. Sign up with International Justice Mission to receive a customized kit that you can use to design your Freedom Sunday experience.
Garner United Methodist Church will be hosting a free anti-pornography event on Freedom Sunday at 3:00pm for youth and adults. This “Fight the New Drug” presentation is open to all. Individual and group registrations are available.
Media Center Resources
The Media Center offers training, documentaries, books, and curriculum for adults, youth, and children that will help your church learn about and fight against human trafficking and pornography. The resources listed here can be borrowed by anyone associated with the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, free of charge. All you need to do is fill out the Resource Request Form.
DVD Training, Documentaries, Movie, Curriculum
Trauma & Trafficking: A Christian Respo
nse presents a seminar hosted by Biblical Seminary that features experts in this field including a psychologist, prosecutor, and advocates from International Justice Mission and Berks Coalition Against Human Trafficking. The experts provide individual presentations and participate in panel discussions. Topics include a biblical response to violence, mobilizing Christians against human trafficking, sexual abuse in Christian organizations, and more.
Lives for Sale: A Documentary on Immigration & Human Trafficking was funded in part by the United Methodist Women. This 1-hour documentary shows why immigrants are willing to risk everything – even virtual slavery – for the American Dream. This new investigative documentary exposes the painful, rarely seen human side of illegal immigration, especially the growing black market trade in human beings. The DVD contains lots of extras including a study guide, script, fact sheets, brochures, video clips, and more.
Not for Sale: A Two-Part Documentary on the Fight Against Human Trafficking seeks to raise awareness about human trafficking with an emphasis on what can be done about it. The documentary features the stories of many advocates making a difference around the world and invites the audience to join the fight. Based on the book by David Batstone.
Trade of Innocents is a feature, fictional movie centered around human trafficking in Southeast Asia. Dermot Mulroney and Mira Sorvino star in this heart-pounding race to rescue a trafficked child and a kidnapped wife. This movie won the Gold Crown Award in Best Picture Category and Silver Crown Award in Best Drama Over $50,000 at the International Christian Visual Media Conference in 2012. It is rated PG-13.
Somebody’s Daughter: A Journey to Freedom from Pornography presents the stories of three men and one couple who struggled with pornography and the devastating effect it had on their lives. Along with the accompanying CD, this resource seeks to provide freedom from pornography through the documentary, music videos, original songs, personal stories, poetry, and readings. Winner of the Bronze Crown Award in Best Music Video and Best Youth Film at the International Christian Visual Media Conference, as well as the Bronze Telly Award for Best Documentary, in 2009.
See-Through Life: Helping Teenagers Get Real, Get Honest, Get Accountable is a study for youth by Craig Gross and Rachel Ceballos who work with XXXchurch.com which provides visitors with practical and spiritual solutions to pornography issues. This 4-session study is about accountability among youth and with their caregivers that provides a safe space for teens to mess up and get back on a healthier path.
Books
The White Umbrella: Walking with Survivors of Sex Trafficking by Mary Frances Bowley tells the stories of survivors as well as those who came alongside to help them to recovery. This book offers principles and guidance to individuals or organizations seeking to learn what they can do to assist these victims in becoming whole again.
God in a Brothel: An Undercover Journey into Sex Trafficking and Rescue by Daniel Walker tells the story of how Walker has gone undercover into brothels attempting to rescue victims of human trafficking. It is dangerous, hopeful, and devastating work. Walker teaches about the crisis of human trafficking and strongly urges all Christians to become involved in the fight against it any way they can. Read our review of this book by clicking on the title. A free discussion guide is also available for download.
Safe Sanctuaries in a Virtual World by Joy Thornburg Melton and Michelle Foster is a training manual for churches on how to safely navigate the virtual world. One of the chapters is on pornography and obscenity. It gives a Christian perspective on these issues and includes information about related laws.
Christian Reflection is a serial publication from the Baylor University Institute for Faith and Learning. In this issue on Anger, one of the articles features the story of Jamaine Smith who is a Christian artist using his skill to bring awareness to human trafficking.
Human Trafficking Prevention Curriculum for Children and Teens
Born2Fly is a wordless picture book and companion curriculum designed to teach children self-respect and how to avoid becoming victims of human trafficking. It has been tested in 5 countries, and nearly 1,000 organizations in 65+ countries have now registered to teach it. The Soaring Higher curriculum for young children is specifically for Christian organizations. These curricula are also available in Spanish and several Asian languages. Curricula for teens are also available. All of this material is available through a free download at www.born2fly.org, or you may borrow it from the Media Center.
Request These Resources
The resources listed here can be borrowed by anyone associated with the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, free of charge. We can even mail them to you! All you need to do is fill out the Resource Request Form.