By now, you’ve heard the statistics, the horror stories, the reality. Human sex trafficking is epidemic in our world. It happens in third world countries and in our own backyard. It’s mind numbingly evil. Overwhelming. Shocking. Practically paralyzing.
The compulsion to close our computers, put down the newspaper, turn off the TV, and resume our relatively safe, comfortable lives is strong. We want to put our fingers in our ears, five-year-old style, and cry, “Nah, nah, nah, nah. I can’t hearrrrrr you!”
“I don’t want to hear you…you scare me.”
Shock is an excuse. It wraps around us like a bulletproof vest, shields us from responsibility. It absolves and exonerates: “Oh, I had no idea.” But without shock we’re vulnerable:
To regret: What have I done about this….?
To anger: This is still happening?
To doubt: Will this never end?
The space left by yesterday’s shock can be slowly filled with awe. It’s our choice. But not much of one, is it?
Shock is gone for good. So what next? Remain naked and vulnerable to regret, anger and doubt? Or really see and listen and be filled with awe instead. Again and again. ~ Shaun Groves, Christian recording artist & Compassion advocate
It wasn’t long ago when this evil hit my radar. And I went through all the emotions. I wanted to forget or to somehow make it not true. I desperately wanted to turn my face away, but I couldn’t. So I prayed.
And as I prayed, my shock was turned to awe.
Darkness is the best background for light, and the evil of human sex trafficking is about as dark as it gets. Pitch-black darkness is always scary. It’s disorienting and vulnerable. We don’t know where to go, so we curl up close and protect ourselves. If we can, we run.
But like I said, I couldn’t look away, much less run. Prayer turned on the light.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ~John 1:5
And there’s the awe. The Gospel power to overcome sin, to rescue and bring restoration, to create new life. That’s the hope (the only hope) in the fight against all sin, including human sex trafficking.
From those early prayers, God gave me an idea. It was more like a download.
It started with the words Five-Fifteen. As I scribbled them on a scrap of paper, I really had no idea what it meant. The Holy Spirit began to explain, and over the next four years (He’s not in a hurry), He birthed Five-Fifteen.
Most people care deeply when they hear about human sex trafficking. And most feel overwhelmed. <<Click to Tweet
“What can I do? How can I even ‘go there’?”
The answer is prayer. We’re called to be on the offense in the spiritual battle. The specter of violent sin can make us tremble and quake. But like David, we can say to our enemy, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts,” (1 Samuel 17:45)
From the Five-Fifteen website:
FIVE-FIFTEEN EXISTS TO . .
- promote AWARENESS of the human sex trafficking trade
- encourage COMPASSION for the victims of human sex trafficking
- offer means of ENGAGEMENT on their behalf
- provide ADVOCACY for these victims
HOW? SIMPLY BY TAKING A STAND. JOIN WITH FIVE-FIFTEEN AND LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE.
You will be made aware of the prayer needs of various organizations that are working with victims of human sex trafficking and will unite with them in advocacy and support by:
1. Joining a worldwide network of advocates committed to 5-15 minutes of prayer for justice and healing every day at 5:15 AM or PM.
2. Promoting awareness of human sex trafficking by telling 5-15 people a month about this modern-day evil.
3. Giving $5 - 15 monthly. Your donation will be used to support rescue and rehabilitation programs for human sex trafficking victims (we are not currently accepting donations).
We want to be a prayer clearinghouse. As members of Five-Fifteen connect in prayer the world over, we believe we can make strong inroads into the enemy's territory and see healing come.
As David stood with his God, his sling, and his stones before the giant Goliath, he continued: “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head…that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:46-47)
Through unity in prayer, giants will fall, our God will be glorified, and our hearts will be moved…from shock to awe.
Will you join us?
Five-Fifteen is an international non-profit organization which mobilizes men and women to take a stand on their knees and join the fight against human sex trafficking through daily corporate prayer.
Find out more and join us in the fight www.five-fifteen.org
Contact us: fivefifteenlight@gmail.com
Kim Hyland is a writer and speaker, the founder and host of Winsome, an annual retreat for women, and the founder of Five-Fifteen, an organization fighting human sex trafficking through corporate prayer. She is also Jeff’s wife, a mom to five sons and one daughter, mother-in-love to three, and Amelia and Eli’s grandma! Kim’s passions are to love her family and friends well and encourage women through speaking and writing about her imperfect path and God’s perfect plans. Connect with Kim at her blog Winsome Woman and on Facebook & Twitter.