“Kim” grew up in poverty in the Philippines and her family barely had enough money to survive. All hope was gone, and Kim and her family were desperate.
“We were really poor. We could barely make ends meet. We needed money for my siblings’ education.”
When Kim was 12, a wealthy neighbor named “AJ” told her and her family that he was planning to move to the capital of the Philippines and would have an extra room in his new home.
He told them that if Kim wanted to come and live with him and go to school in the big city, he would not only pay for her school but also help her get a job to eventually help pay for her siblings’ education as well.
Kim and her family were grateful for such generosity and immediately accepted his offer.
At first, life was great. Kim was well cared for and began her new education in a new city. But soon things took a terrifying turn for the worse.
It started off when AJ took a single nude photo and it devolved quickly. Before she knew it, Kim was being forced to pose nude daily in front of a webcam where her naked body was broadcast to predators all over the world.
Shockingly, this was just the beginning. Soon, AJ began sexually assaulting her in these broadcasts and arranging for other men to assault her as well, selling her body for his own profit.
Living in sheer terror, Kim thought the abuse would never end. AJ had told her that what she had been doing was illegal and that if she went to the police she would be arrested.
One night, AJ brought Kim to yet another cheap hotel where she thought she would face yet another assault.
That is until law enforcement busted into the room and saved her life.
And right beside the law enforcement officers, Kim was met with the love and kindness of International Justice Mission officials, who quickly ushered her to safety.
Kim’s story is horrific, but tragically, it happens all the time.
What sounds like the makings of a real-life made-for-tv drama, is the horrific reality thousands of people all around the world, many just children, face daily and it’s worse than anyone ever imagined.
Innocent children are sold into sex-trafficking and vulnerable women are exploited for gain. The powerful dominate the weak, darkness conceals the light, and hopelessness overcomes those who are enslaved.
But one organization is taking a bold stand against the darkness and refusing to sit back idly and watch evil destroy innocent souls.
International Justice Mission (IJM), a Christian organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. is fighting deep within the trenches to eradicate slavery once and for all.
While many people cower or shudder at the idea of going into dangerous territories, IJM ministry workings go in with full force to fearlessly rescue those who are trapped in forced sex slavery.
In addition, they partner and work side by side with local law enforcement officials already on the ground, to empower them to overcome this corruption in their native land.
And even better, like in the cases of 12-year-old Kim, they get results.
For more than twenty years, IJM has been fighting against slavery and injustice. With 17 field offices all around the world, IJM has a team of lawyers on standby ready to aid those who are enslaved at the hands of evil.
By working with local law enforcement groups already on the ground, IJM has a robust infrastructure in place to help.
And in addition to fighting on the ground, they are building a worldwide army of fierce advocates ready to expose the underground world of slavery and speak on behalf of those who don’t have the ability to fight for themselves.
Kim was just a child, without anyone advocating on her behalf, but thanks to IJM, she now has a voice and has been given a new life.
And while many people think slavery is a thing of the past, nothing could be further from the truth. Now more than ever, adults and children are stripped of their freedom and sold into forced slavery.
Oppressors know that humans are the next big commodity because unlike drugs which are a one time shot, they can continue to sell humans, again and again, to make a profit.
Let that sink in – human individuals with a body and soul are being stripped of their individual dignity, for a profit.
But thanks to IJM, those who are enslaved are given a second chance at freedom and restoration and little girls like Kim are given the chance to thrive and succeed in life.
Speaking of her rescue operation, Kim had this to say:
“It was though a great weight suddenly disappeared from my chest. I felt a sense of freedom.”
And because of IJM’s fierce mission to defend the oppressed and punish the real criminals, lives all over the world are being transformed and redeemed.
You see, this global organization doesn’t just haphazardly go into the battleground, they have a plan to “eliminate slave trade everywhere.”
IJM discusses their three-legged plan to eradicate slavery, which first starts with finding and rescuing those in slavery and getting those who are trafficked into a safe place.
While some organizations stop there, IJM goes deeper.
The second tier of their plan helps aid local police in arresting and prosecuting the slave owners, so they are no longer able to hurt others.
And finally, IJM goes after the root cause, working within the justice system and ensuring laws against slavery are enforced.
And their effectiveness speaks for itself. According to the IJM website, they’ve rescued more than 45,000 people from slavery! 45,000 people who once lived in darkness and oppression, have been given back their God-ordained freedom.
IJM is a Christian organization and they are using their power and influence to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
As Christians, we are called to speak up for the fatherless and defend those who are oppressed. It’s simply not an option to turn a blind eye and pretend it is the role of the government or “somebody else” to solve the problem.
Thanks to the individuals at the International Justice Mission following the Lord’s command to care for the oppressed, lives are being saved.
We must never become numb or disinterested in taking an interest and doing our part to make a difference to those who are hurting and suffering around the world.
Because of IJM, Kim no longer has to endure the unimaginable torture of being sexually abused and exploited for the world to see. She is safe and she is free.
But with others still enslaved, the fight is far from over.
Were you surprised to learn modern slavery still exists?
What do you think is the solution to end human trafficking once and for all?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
