Justice Conference

Since I attended the Justice Conference last month in Philadelphia, I've been meaning to do a write-up on initiatives who are tackling sex trafficking around the world.  For several reasons, I actually missed most of the talks.  But more important than the talks was my time in the booths hall, talking with NGOs who are doing amazing work all over the world.

So, I don't have too much to share from the speakers.  But, I did take some pictures!

The speakers I heard were pretty great.  This is Gary Haugen, president of International Justice Mission.  His staff are tenacious.  Whatever country they're in, they want to prosecute traffickers.  So, they just keep working--for years--until the traffickers are in jail.  One of my favorite quotes (ever) is from Gary Haugen's talk: "What's so great about this is that, when they go to jail, they can't hurt the children anymore."

There was also a number of musicians.  They weren't all my style, but I really liked Leeland, and Gungor (who will also be performing at the conference in Hong Kong!)

I actually spent more time out in the booth area than in the main conference hall.  I think there were over 100 different justice initiatives represented.  They were almost all based in the U.S., but the majority had projects around the world.

There were too many to do justice to them all here.  So, this blog post will be specifically addressing anti-human trafficking work, as this was my main focus in attending the conference.

This will be long, so you might have to skim through and come back later.

Intervarsity Press, with books and resources to fight sex trafficking, including Refuse To Do Nothing: Finding Your Power to Abolish Modern-Day Slavery. (See video promo here.)

Vanguard University's Global Center for Women and Justice. See their "Ending Human Trafficking" podcast here.

IAST is a branch of the Salvation Army dedicated to fighting sex trafficking.  I spoke with Lisa Thompson, whose presentation was remarkable.  Here's an interview she gave about her work last October.

This year's Freedom Climb will see 44 women climb Mt. Everest, to Summit Kalaphatar (18,192 feet). On top of being an awesome hiking trip, it's also an awesome fundraiser, whose proceeds are used by Operation Mobilization to fight sex trafficking around the world.  What's also really cool is that the Freedom Climb team brings dozens of people to the base of Mt. Everest, who spend two weeks praying and crying out to God for an end to slavery, while the others are climbing.

The main work of Zion Project is to rescue and care for trafficked girls in Uganda.  Unlike some NGOs, their primary objective is not just to give every poor African extra condoms.  They know that real change requires long-term relationships, and reliance on the work of the Holy Spirit to heal and transform.

FAAST connects major Christian NGOs to combat trafficking.  They also provide training resources and workshops to educate about specifics of preventing human trafficking, and caring for those who have been freed.

The mission of Hagar International is to restore lives broken by sexual exploitation in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore...and now in Hong Kong!

From love146.org: "Pimps are strategic, organized, and committed in getting to children.  We must be more so."  Read the beautiful story about how they chose their name.

See Remember NHU's 5-minute documentary on how they prevent children from entering the sex trade.

Unseen Ministries gives valuable media support to help NGOs fight poverty and sex trafficking.  Interserve provides opportunities for people to use practical skills to meet real needs, all over the world.

The Justice Experience is set up at churches, schools, and events all over the United States.  It gives eye-opening (but not graphic) visual aids about what it means to be a slave.  (This project is coordinated by Calvary Chapel of Delaware County and the International Justice Mission.)

Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Company does community-transforming work in Rwanda and Haiti.  This group doesn't specifically address human trafficking, but it was certainly one of my favorites at the conference.  Besides giving out free coffee each night of the conference (!!!), they also have a great motto: "Drink Coffee, Do Good."  (Maybe I'll take that as my life's motto.)

Justice Ventures International helps small "justice ventures" to grow by offering legal advice and  capital investment.   Justice--sounds like a very worthwhile investment idea!

Freedom Street Ministries is a ministry that YWAM coordinates to bring freedom to street sex workers. They have a pretty holistic approach to deal with this problem in the community of San Jose, Costa Rica.

I snagged a photo of Shane Claiborne, who was certainly a superstar of the conference.  Here, he is doing an interview with the Bruderhof Community.  (I'd never heard of them, either.  But I recommend looking around at their website for 90 seconds.)

World Relief is involved with many projects to help the poor and oppressed, including anti-trafficking work in Washington State, Florida, and North Carolina.  They also helped to launch FAAST.

Okay, I think International Justice Mission was my favorite.  They are dedicated human rights lawyers and activists who believe in the power of prayer. One of the staff told me that their daily office hours include private prayer time and a 20-minute all-staff prayer meeting.  By the way, they are also running the annual Global Prayer Gathering April 5-7.

Venture Expeditions.  Adventures + Missions = Justice for the Oppressed.  Way cool.

From the homepage of Better Way Imports, about their staff in Calcutta: "They would like to see the 10,000 sex workers in their neighborhood empowered with the choice of leaving a profession they never chose in the first place."

Exile International works with war-affected children and former child soldiers in the Congo and Uganda.

I didn't stay for it, but there was also a film festival.  Not Today is on the plight of slaves among India's dalits (untouchables").  It will be in U.S. theaters in April.

Stopping in briefly at the film festival were Pastor Andrew Gardener and Justice Advocate Tony Read, from my home church in Hong Kong.  They are now preparing for the Justice Conference Asia, to be hosted at the Vine Centre, May 16-18.  (Photo taken without permission--hence the covert rear shot.)

You may not read this whole post, or view all the websites and videos here.  But I'd like to suggest that you pick one that looks interesting, check it out, start praying for trafficking victims, and just do something.

Go for it.