Resistance or Action?
By Lucretia Mobbs
There is a great evil in the land! Wars have been fought over it for centuries, yet it rises again to capture the hearts and souls of men and women. It is the evil of one human being exploiting another for profit. Human exploitation is not confined to other countries. It is here at our own backdoor.
Jesus warned us that wickedness would increase in the last days. He told us, in Matthew 24:12 (NIV), “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” Edmund Burke, the great Irish statesman said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
We confront this ancient evil through prayer and engaging in strong action in this second year of our emphasis. If you have not formed a prayer team now is the time.
At the heart of this issue is greed manifested in a multiplicity of ways:
* Bullying, cyberbullying, and queen bee bullying
* Exploitation of natural resources for personal gain
* Human trafficking, which includes both sexual and labor trafficking
* Pornography
* Media exploitation of children and families
Detailed information about each focus area can be found at wmu.com/ProjectHELP.
Why should you and I get involved? We have a biblical mandate to “Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:3–4 NIV). We, as good women and men, must not turn away. We must act!
Continue to educate yourself and your church about the issues related to human exploitation. A great place to start is the Project HELPSM Web site—wmu.com/ProjectHELP. There, you will find an overview and resources customized for every missions group. A suggested resource is the CD Release and Restore: Addressing Human Exploitation Through the Church. The CD is a comprehensive aid enabling you to take Project HELP to the next level of involvement. It includes:
* Bible study, bulletin insert, poster, devotion, Scriptures, and a resource list for each focus area
* Sample sermon and sermon resources
* Blurbs for church Web sites
* Prayer plan and worship suggestions
* Bulletin board ideas
* Training section for creating awareness and assessing your community
* Resources for working with non-English speakers and law enforcement
Human Exploitation is a difficult issue to face. Resistance to talking about these topics is to be expected. Allow the love of God to compel you to action, and the power of God will give you great success in shining the light of Christ on this dark evil.
*This article appeared in its entirety in Missions Leader®, Fall 2011.
Lucretia Mobbs is a freelance writer and speaker.
