Bringing Light to the Darkness of Human Trafficking
Would it surprise you to learn that there are more slaves today than at any other time in history? Today it goes by another name—human trafficking.
And there are currently 27 million people trapped in this lifestyle. People are being sold, transported and used for profit. They are forced to beg, work in sweatshops or as child soldiers…and even as prostitutes.
Joyce Meyer Ministries’ Hand of Hope is working to rescue those trapped in human trafficking and bring light to this issue.
Rescue Victims Around the World
Mumbai, India 
When Joyce Meyer went to the red-light district in Mumbai, India—an area filled with brothels—she was introduced to a new level of degradation.
“I was taken into one that consisted of three small rooms with three beds in each room. The girls or women serviced men in these small rooms, hoping to make enough money to be able to eat and feed their children if they had any, and many of them did,” says Joyce.
“These women don’t live like this because they want to; they have no other choice. They are uneducated and have grown up in the midst of poverty that most of us would not even begin to understand. Some of them are actually owned by pimps who keep them as prisoners and beat them if they don’t make enough money.”
Our partners have built the Prem Kiran Transformation Center to help rescue women and their children from a life of forced prostitution. The Center, located 2.5 hours outside Mumbai, houses up to 50 families.
Los Angeles, USA
In America, 14,000 – 20,000 victims are trafficked into the U.S. each year. By 2010, human trafficking is expected to become the #1 crime in the world, surpassing the illegal drug trade.
The typical victim is a 14-year-old girl. Every day, women and young girls are being tricked, kidnapped or coerced into a life of crime or prostitution—so broken by abuse they dare not escape.
Together with the L.A. Dream Center, 
Joyce Meyer Ministries is donating $1 million toward the construction of a women’s shelter in Los Angeles, which is due to be completed in early 2010.
The L.A. Dream Center will provide Christian-based counseling, educational programs and support groups to help women work through the spiritual and emotional traumas associated with human trafficking, doing their best to prepare them for a second chance at life. Those rescued will receive the long-term love and support, medical care, job training and counseling they need to make a new start.
“Because the care they require is so intensive, there aren’t a lot of shelters that can meet their needs,” says Hernandez. “But we have the resources to help them and, as Christians, we also have a responsibility to do something.”
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
There are women, young girls and even boys who are trapped in sexual prisons and forced to “work” in Ethiopia. Many yield to this lifestyle because they have no other option. But there are also those who are kidnapped and robbed of their identities and their dignity.
We have teamed up with International Crisis Aid to help rescue women in Ethiopia from a life of prostitution.
Eled is one of those women. She was a student at the University in Addis Ababa. She was forced to quit school when her mother, who was her sole support, tragically died. Though she lived with friends, she had no money, and her friends wouldn’t feed her. Alone, and without any other options, she was reduced to a life of prostitution.
“There is absolutely nothing good about that lifestyle. Sleeping with many men is morally degrading. They had different requests, and I had to fulfill all of them,” she shares.
Many of the men would beat her—before, during or even after and steal their money back. Eled says that the worst thing though, was that many men refused to wear protection. If she refused because of this, they would just beat her more.
In order to make it day-to-day, Eled became addicted to crack cocaine. “I used to not think about the future. I just wanted to survive that day,” says Eled. Eled now lives in the Ethiopia Women’s Home, along with more than 30 other girls—some as young as 12.
Once in the home, women begin studying God's Word, participating in worship, learning a trade, receiving counseling and the main thing they truly need—the love of Jesus Christ.
Europe
Joyce Meyer Ministries partners with Equip & Empower, cofounded by Nick and Christine Caine, to help fund the A21 Campaign – a program to help those trapped in a life of human trafficking throughout Europe.
It is estimated that 2 to 4 million people are trafficked across borders annually, and Zoe, the first resident of the campaign’s first shelter for human trafficking, was one of them.
She had come to Greece from another country in Eastern Europe 3 years earlier to pursue a better life. What she thought would be a waitressing job turned into an unthinkable nightmare. Moving from brothel to brothel, Zoe was forced to service up to 60 men a day.
The A21 Campaign staff helped Zoe get a visa to stay in Greece, gain vocational training, find a job, and move into her very own apartment. Zoe even started attending the local church and on her second Sunday there, she responded to the salvation altar call…both hands raised and tears streaming down her face.
Today, because of your support and the staff at Equip & Empower, Zoe is a confident and free woman—shoulders back, head held high and a bright smile on her face. She’s even looking to help women just the way The A21 Campaign helped her.
“While there are an estimated 27 million trafficking victims in slavery right now, Zoe has shown me that The A21 Campaign exists for the one – and when we love each one – slowly, the statistics start to change,” shares Christine Caine.
Rescue a Victim of Human Trafficking
Unfortunately there are thousands of young girls—and boys—just trying to survive until someone rescues them. And that someone could be you.
Right now is your opportunity to help rescue women like Eled and the many others who are suffering in situations like human trafficking.
Please consider doing everything you can by donating today.