Escape, a guest post by Author April McGowan

Escape

by April McGowan

When you’re young, everything emotional feels overwhelming. What to wear, who to hang out with, homework, parental pressure, peer pressure. It’s big. For some young people, though, they also have to wade through neglect, and sexual and physical abuse. And for some of those, the allure of living on their own, getting away from it all, is too high and they run away. They escape—but where they end up is even more a prison than they’ve ever experienced before.

Every day, approximately 1.3 million runaway, thrown away, and homeless youth live on the streets of America. Children, both boys and girls, are solicited for sex, on average, within seventy-two hours of being on the street. Some of those are drawn into formal prostitution—from which escape means beatings and sometimes death. There’s a lot of money in sex trafficking—and pimps don’t want to lose their investment.

When I wrote my novel, Jasmine, I was trying to imagine what life for a young woman who’d survived that life might be like—the things she’d have to overcome, and what she might be doing if she’d escaped. In my novel, Jasmine takes up the plight of the runaway, the homeless young women, and tries to save them from their situations—from themselves. She yearns to give them a hope for the future.

My novel is a work of fiction. But if you’ve never thought about the statistics and lifestyle of those kids on the street, you’ve probably hoped for someone like Jasmine. The good news is, those people DO exist. And they can help. They are the hands and feet of Christ, reaching out to the broken, giving them a safe place to live and setting their feet on the path of complete restoration.

Please donate to the Portland Rescue Mission’s Shepherd’s Door at http://www.portlandrescuemission.org/lp/2013lp/jasmine/   (designate women and children’s recovery) and at Door To Grace http://www.doortograce.org/. Both of these incredible ministries aid in rescuing, healing and restoring.

Author April McGowen

April McGowan loves to read and write inspirational fiction. Her novel, Jasmine, releases digitally in June and to paperback in September. She and her husband, two children, and her ‘mews’, Spookers, live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. April is a member of Oregon Christian Writers and American Christian Fiction Writers. When she’s not writing, homeschooling her two children, or playing board games, you might find her at her drum kit, imagining she’s on a world tour. Hey, it could happen. Follow her blog at http://aprilmcgowan.com

Partnering With Price of Life: Employing Music and Arts in the Fight against Human Trafficking

Partnering with Price of Life: Employing Music and Arts in the Fight Against Human Trafficking

From the Price of Life IndieGoGo campaign:

Imagine you’re a college student.

You hear about human trafficking - 27 million people enslaved in this day and age – and it breaks your heart. You want to do something about it but what can you do, you’re just an ordinary student?

But your campus club or church also wants to make a difference. You work together to plan awareness events. You’re inspired by art and music about seeking justice. You connect with other campuses across your city getting involved. And suddenly you think hey, maybe I’m just one student, but I can do something.
You get your friends, your family, your clubs, your church excited, and all these people cobble together their small offerings and together you engage over 10,000 students at campuses across New York City about human trafficking and raise over $150,000 to support organizations fighting it.

Even though you’re “just college students.”

And suddenly Restore NYC, the only housing for international survivors of sex trafficking in the Northeast US, can offer safe haven to more recovering women. Suddenly Nomi Network can fund a new project, teaching job skills to survivors and at-risk women. Suddenly World Vision and its Cambodia network can provide 1000 kids with school uniforms, making them instantly less vulnerable to being trafficked.

All because a couple (thousand) ordinary people did just a little something.

Pretty cool image, right?

And just like “just students” can do a big something when they work together, so can we, even though we’re “just artists,” “just moms,” “just computer nerds.” It doesn’t matter who you are: you have something valuable to make a difference.

Putting it all together and starting to make that difference: that’s our vision.

Who Are We?

We are a team of students, artists, and ordinary people from across the US, using what we have to fight human trafficking. We’re a small part of a big campaign called the Price of Life Invitational, spearheaded by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, along with World Vision and a diverse coalition of other organizations. The Price of Life is calling students to end one of the world’s greatest injustices, human trafficking.

We believe faith calls and empowers us to fight injustice, and we believe in building barrier-breaking partnerships toward seeking justice. We believe ending modern slavery requires teamwork & creativity. We believe students can make an impact. We believe in the power of the arts.

What Are We Doing?

The Price of Life involves programming in every field – business plan competition, events about law and health care, interactive art exhibits etc. Read more here.

We’re musicians, so we’re making music.

Our music compilation is a soundtrack for the modern abolitionist journey, music to expose darkness and inspire change. It features a variety of artists who believe in using their gifts to create beauty and truth.

Artists like rock singer-songwriter Janie Chu, who helped an Atlanta coalition create a PSA aimed at ending demand for child trafficking.

Artists like Andy Mineo, who helped CCNY students get over 100 members of the Price of Life team on their campus:

Artists like Jonny Rodgers, who wrote the music for an anti-trafficking commercial for earthquake-devastated Haiti.

In fall 2013, when Price of Life takes on New York City, we’ll sell the album to thousands of college students in NYC, and through the national networks of Price of Life organizations like InterVarsity and World Vision. We aim to raise $50,000 to support organizations fighting human trafficking: Restore NYC, Nomi Network, and World Vision.

 

Who is Contributing Music?

Here are some of our partners – most contributing new music you can only hear on Exposing Darkness. Click through to their music pages & check out their sounds – you won’t be disappointed.

Andy Mineo

Janie Chu

Jonny Rodgers

May 1, today, is the IndieGoGo campaign day for the musician Jonny Rodgers. Here’s a sample of his music to listen to while you visit the link below and donate to this cause.

<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/59635438″>Jonny Rodgers – Everything Is Yours</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user4493127″>Jonny Rodgers</a> on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a&gt;.</p>

Here’s the link to the campaign where you can donate any amount over $1:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/exposing-darkness-artists-bringing-trafficking-to-light

What We Need

We only need to raise $5000 because almost everything is donated: Music. Some studio time. Art and design.

The $5000 you invest in our project will pay for mixing and mastering, to provide the highest quality sound; marketing, to get the word out further; additional studio time; so artists contributing songs don’t have to pay recording expenses out of pocket.

Our campaign is hosted by Water Mirror Records, Inc., the record company behind singer-songwriter and abolitionist Janie Chu. Janie is the leader of this project and has rallied fellow musicians to the cause. Her company will collect Indiegogo funds and cover album costs.

What You Get

We know you’re giving because you believe in standing against human trafficking and making beauty from brokenness — not to get a prize. But we’re grateful for your participation, so we’ve worked hard to come up with some concrete ways to show it.

CAVEAT: One thing you won’t see much of: giving away the music itself. We’re giving you just about everything but the music, so next fall the music YOU make possible can support the cause we all care about.

Special bonus: We’ve got a variety of promotional supporters “owning” a day of the campaign, spreading the word as social media partners. You guys are awesome and get a special thanks. Want to add your name to this prestigious list? Sign up to help us support the campaign! 

Gratitude Gifts

Your gift helps prevent, rescue, and restore people trapped in modern slavery. Here are some ways we would like to say thank you. See descriptions to the right for more info.

Undying Devotion:
Let us thank you publicly for your stand for beauty in the face of darkness.

• All backers will be noted in a special section in the Price of Life website’ Abolitionist Hall of Fame.
• $15+ backers will be thanked in album liner notes.
• $25+ backers will be thanked in daily round-up shout outs on Facebook.
• $50+ backers may offer a dedication of up to 140 characters describing their motivation for fighting human trafficking.

Party for Freedom:
Connect with other art-loving activists & be the first to hear the abolitionist soundtrack!

• $10+ backers get first dibs on buying the album & free tickets to the CD release party (fall 2013), featuring performances by album artists, inspiring stories from people fighting trafficking on the ground, tasty eats, and more.
• $15+ backers also get free tickets to our preview concert (summer 2013) where select album artists will perform new works and old favorites.

Details TBA; we regret that we cannot provide alternate options for those unable to attend.

Get Inspired

• $15+ backers receive a free download of Dear John, a powerful song standing against trafficking demand, by the woman leading the Exposing Darkness team, artist-abolitionist Janie Chu.
• $25+ backers get a free digital download of Janie Chu’s entire album (on which Dear Johnappears), The Human Condition + an early digital download of select songs from the album.
• $50+ backers also get an MP3 of justice poet and spoken word artist Jonathan Walton performing works related to human trafficking.

Other Ways You Can Help

Can’t give money? That’s ok! You may not cash but you have a voice. We appreciate you spreading the news to your networks. Here’s how you can help:

• Sign up to be a social media partner and help us promote this campaign now.
• When the music is ready, we’ll seek your help promoting the album!
• Don’t forget to share this campaign with Indiegogo’s easy sharing tools.
• Join the Price of Life mailing list for monthly udpates on the broader campaign through Superbowl 2014.
• The fight against human trafficking needs all of us! Share your time and talent & make an impact through Price of Life.

No matter who you are or what you have to give, there’s a way you can be part of the movement to end human trafficking. Get connected with Price of Life here.

Is It Possible to End Slavery?

I’ve been wondering this for several months now, as I’ve put out books about modern slavery, worked to raise awareness, and supported organizations that work to stop this horrendous crime against humanity. Can we really expect to end all slavery?

As I’ve pondered this, I’ve come to the conclusion that I will work toward total abolition, whether or not it’s possible. I might not be able to help everyone, but if I help one or two who would otherwise have been subjected to slavery, or help restore someone who had been trapped by webs of deception, my work would be worth it. Who knows how many people that one person may help?

What good does raising awareness do?

It does lots of good, and here is why.

When people learn about what happens to modern slaves, many react with righteous anger and often with a visceral response. Such a strong response will cause people to have a paradigm shift, a new path of thinking, and they’ll remember. When they see a girl with too little clothing on a cold night, they won’t rush to blame her as willing participant. When they see a deeply discounted product that looks like its worth far more than what is charged, they may consider the small hands that were forced to make it. It’s a small beginning, but it’s a beginning.

If every person affected took a small step toward doing the right thing, such as befriending or mentoring a foster child, or buying fair trade, or listening to the cry for help beyond the scowl of bitterness, abolition may be within reach. We may not see the total end to slavery before Jesus comes, but that shouldn’t stop us from working toward it.

Have you ever wondered what God really feels about slavery?

The Lord also has a visceral reaction to it. Consider this from Isaiah 42:

Isaiah 42:13 The Lord will march out like a champion,
like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;
with a shout he will raise the battle cry
and will triumph over his enemies.
¹⁴ “For a long time I have kept silent,
I have been quiet and held myself back.
But now, like a woman in childbirth,
I cry out, I gasp and pant.

¹⁵ I will lay waste the mountains and hills
and dry up all their vegetation;
I will turn rivers into islands
and dry up the pools.
¹⁶ I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
    and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
 I will not forsake them.“

But be assured of this: there is joy beyond the weeping. It is possible to see people restored from this level of hurt and pain. People are working toward this right now.

Exodus Cry

IJM

Love146

Agape International Missions

Destiny Rescue

 

Novels I’ve written to raise awareness about modern slavery:

 

 

YOU can do something to stem the tide of human trafficking

Recently, Jada Pinkett Smith appeared before congress to urge the representatives to do more in their efforts to combat human trafficking here in the United States. Here is the link about this in the Huffington Post.

Now, I love this woman’s heart, but is it just celebrities and others of influence who can stand up to the issue of human trafficking? Or is there anything an ordinary person can do?

Here are a few things that anyone can do:

First of all, you can help by notifying Amazon to take down books that endorse human trafficking through sex tourism. Would you like to know how? Follow this link to Love146 Task Force page.

Second of all, you can visit ijm.org and get involved in any one of their Justice Campaigns. I’m doing their 100 postcard challenge right now (you’ll see it on the far right).

Third of all, you can pray. Every Monday evening, 8pm Central Time, Exodus Cry holds an international prayer meeting about this issue of human trafficking through IHOPKC’s prayer room. Every month they take a specific city and pray each Monday for abolition in that city. Mark it on your calendar and join in via webstream.

Fourth, you can give to any one of these organizations, or support one locally that’s setting up safe homes and working with kids at risk.

My YA book series, Revelation Special Ops, was written to raise awareness for teens. Books 1 & 2 are FREE today:

The Elite of the Weak

Pharmacia: Those Magic Arts

One of the most amazing things to me is that it was Jada Pinkett Smith’s daughter, Willow, who was the one to tell her mom about the realities of human trafficking. Willow is 11. Never underestimate the incredible influence kids can have.

Revelation Special Ops Book 2 – Pharmacia: Those Magic Arts

Are you curious about what happened to Matt?

Pharmacia: Those Magic Arts

Resurrected dinosaurs

atomic bombs

and

fragrant gold

are just the beginning…

Review of Deliver Me from Evil by Kathi Macias

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has doubts about whether human trafficking happens in the USA. In a clear, uncompromising way, Kathi Macias presents the truth about trafficking.

As a fellow writer on the subject, I applaud Kathi Macias. She never took the reader too far, nor did she give details in a disturbing or lingering way. At the same time, she told the realities of the situation without shrinking back from the truth. I also loved the way she never compromised from the goal: Abolition! No less. We raise awareness so others will join with us in this fight against modern slavery.

This book was difficult for me to read, because my heart mourns for each child who has to endure such awful abuse. But it was worth reading.

Interview with Jo Coles from Love146

On December 2, I will be releasing the YA novel, The Elite of the Weak. This novel confronts the issue of child sex trafficking.

Throughout November and December I will be interviewing people who work in the fight against this horrific crime.

Today I have Jo Coles with me to share about Love146 and their work to prevent child sex trafficking and provide aftercare solutions. Much of what you will read here is about the problem facing teens in the USA.

1. Tell me about Love146.Love146 works toward the abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation through Prevention and Aftercare solutions while contributing to a growing abolition movement.In September 2002, Love146 Co-Founders Rob Morris, Lamont Hiebert, Desirea Rodgers and Caroline Hahm went on an exploratory trip to SE Asia to determine how they could serve in the fight against child sex trafficking. In brothels they saw young children being sold for sex. In safehomes they witnessed the miracle of restoration as they sang and danced with survivors. From that first trip, the spark of abolition was ignited. The goal of this and subsequent trips was not to reinvent the wheel but rather to find out where the greatest needs were and how they could be most helpful in filling those needs. After 18 months of research, networking and other foundational work, Love146 became an official Public Charity in March of 2004 under the name of Justice for Children Intl.In October 2007, after a long examination of who we are as an organization, and as a group of people we decided to change our name. We took a long look at what sparked us, what motivates us, and what we believe brings about lasting change. That is when we decided to change our name from JFCI to Love146, and we have never looked back.

   It was in Thailand, where our co-founders encountered a child with the #146, that our work began. Our projects have since expanded to many areas of Asia, Europe, and the United States. The countries within which we work are among the predominant centers of the child sex trafficking and slavery industry.

   Slavery is still one of the darkest stories on our planet. But for us, the hope of abolition is a reality. Love146 believes in helping grow the movement of abolition while providing effective, thoughtful solutions. We believe in the power of Love and its ability to affect sustainable change. Love is the foundation of our motivation.

    

2. What spurred you to become an abolitionist?I kind of fell into abolition, I was working for a non-profit who focuses on at risk children, we encountered the issue of trafficking in Mumbai, India. Once we discovered how wide spread it was it was there was no going back.

3. Do you think there has been a rise in human trafficking of teens in the USA over the last 5-10 years?I’m not convinced that there has been a rise but I do think that the raised awareness has lead us to understand the issue more fully here in the USA. I’ve been shocked at how many older people have told me stories of exploitation they suffered as children, which was never acknowledged or dealt with.

4. What ages are most affected?Statistics say that the average age a minor enters prostitution is 13 years old, I’m sure that abuse starts much earlier than this in the process of minors becoming victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

5. What do you think is the best way to educate teens about the issues?I think making sure that they are aware of what trafficking looks like in the US, what the grooming process is and how they can protect themselves from this.On a wider issue I think improving standards in Group Homes, making sure that children in the Foster Care system are protected and generally making sure we are aware of children who can be vulnerable to trafficking is extremely important. Children who are runaways, throwaways or from difficult family situations need to be provided for and cared for so that they do not fall between the cracks.

6. What is the most important thing for teens to be wary of?I think someone who is trying to control you or to manipulate you. Also to look out for their friends sometimes it’s not easy to see that you’re being manipulated when you’re in the middle of it. If a teen thinks a friend is getting into trouble they need to tell someone to get help for them.

7. What do you think is the best way to educate parents about the issues?I think parents need to educate themselves; this can be easily done through the internet.Schools, faith communities and other community organizations can also play a role in this.

8. Are there safe houses in the USA?Yes there are Safe Houses designated to victims of trafficking in the US. The locations remain hidden to protect the children they serve, but there are two reputable ones that Love146 knows about. One is in the Chicago area and is a PROMISE safe house. This one is run by the Salvation Army. CAST LA (Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking) has a safe house in the Los Angeles area.
9. How does an abolitionist remain hopeful in the face of horrible statistics?I don’t know how every abolitionist remains hopeful but I believe in recovery and restoration and I focus on this aspect, I’ve seen the courage and strength that children can have and it’s a constant inspiration to keep going.