Human Trafficking Report – Project Moses

Human Trafficking Ministry – June Report

Brothers,

Many are asking what the human trafficking environment looks like in this world of pandemic. The simple answer is that trafficking cases are substantially increasing!

To help illustrate this escalation, below is a report from Polaris, the organization that administers the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Polaris Dear Mark, Since the onset of COVID-19, Polaris has been tracking data reported to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline. According to our analysis, the impact of the pandemic and subsequent quarantine may already be leading to an escalation of sex and labor trafficking. Our snapshot compares a post-shelter-in-place period to two deliberately chosen pre-shelter-in-place periods. Key findings include: The number of crisis trafficking cases handled by the Trafficking Hotline increased by more than 40% in the month following the shelter-in-place orders compared to the same period in 2019, and the number of situations in which people needed immediate emergency shelter nearly doubled. A greater need for stable housing and resources for at-risk communities, victims, and survivors now more than ever to ensure the pandemic does not further contribute to the epidemic of sex and labor trafficking in the U.S.

To read the full snapshot, please click here. One of the contributing factors to these findings is the significant increase in pornography attributed to the increase of online activity during stay-at-home mandates. Traffickers are very opportunistic and have targeted many through online solicitations, especially through the site Pornhub.

Exodus Cry is a global organization that combats human trafficking. They are featured on our Brotherhood of St. Andrew webpage as a resource for Brotherhood Chapters to help fight trafficking in their own community. Exodus Cry has reached out to the Brotherhood to join in an International Day of Prayer for the Shutting Down of Pornhub.

Here is an excerpt from the communication that we received from Exodus Cry:

Therefore, we are naming July 7 as an International Day of Prayer for the Shutting Down of Pornhub, deliverance from addiction, and the turning of hearts to Jesus. We are putting ourselves very much on the front line and running towards this Goliath and are aware of the crucial need for prayer cover at this time. We invite you to join with us on a special prayer call on Tuesday, July 7 at 11am PST (7pm UK time) led by Exodus Cry.

You and all your congregants are invited to join!

Considering the mature subject matter, we understand if this is not something you feel able to share publicly (on the weekly church email bulletin, etc.), but perhaps your men’s and women’s groups could be notified and invited.

With stats revealing that 50% of men and 20% of women in the church struggle with porn addiction, we know that pornography is something that affects everyone in some way—it is likely that many struggling believers are visiting Pornhub or were exposed to pornography as a child by the online predator Pornhub.

We believe that the Body of Christ must take its place in the fight against this predatory platform and that we, as believers, must learn to effectively war against it.

We would love for churches, prayer groups, and believing individuals across the world to join together with us in prayer. If you would like to register for the global prayer call on Zoom, please register here.

We also invite you and your congregants to sign and share the petition at traffickinghub.com! 

And you can track with this unfolding campaign through our social channels:

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: @exoduscry