Churches around the world call for an end to modern-day slavery

By Jade Batstone
TIP Press

When Harriet Tubman waged her historic fight against slavery in America, she relied on churches along the Underground Railroad to provide safe haven for escapees. Now, faith-based communities are once again acting to end slavery – creating a network of abolitionist churches across the globe.

On March 13^th, the first day of the Christian Lenten season, thousands of churches spanning five continents will unite in their dedication to fight the modern trade in human beings. Through worship, fasting and prayer, Freedom Sunday will rally people of faith to join an international movement confronting human trafficking.

Freedom Sunday is the brainchild of the San Francisco-based non-profit, Not For Sale (NFS). Focused on more than 30 million people around the globe who live in bondage and forced labor, NFS equips and mobilizes activists to fight modern slavery in their own neighborhoods and internationally.

“Not For Sale does not spend a lot of energy broadcasting what we do; we would rather inspire individuals about what they can do,” says Dr. David Batstone, one of three co-founders of the organization. “Forced labor and trafficking are a global problem. We need churches in communities all over the world to say, ‘Not in my backyard.’”

On March 13^th, Freedom Sunday, Batstone will preach at a 60,000-member church in Seoul, South Korea. The service will attract an abundance of media attention, with Korea’s largest religious broadcasting network – CGNTV – bringing the sermon to two million viewers inside Korea as well as an additional 150 worldwide cable channels.

Other key NFS leaders will take part in worship services in distinct hemispheres around the world. Executive director and co-founder Mark Wexler will worship in northern Uganda at a school for ex-child soldiers. NFS funds the Gulu project in partnership with the Jesuit Community. Meanwhile, NFS’s third co-founder, Kique Bazan, will be holding a prayer service on a beach in Peru with kids that NFS teams have rescued from trafficking along the coast of Peru.

“Who are you?” Not For Sale’s website asks visitors, responding with tailored resources and tools for any aspiring abolitionist – whether student or teacher, business leader or consumer. Those identifying as people of faith are invited to recruit their own synagogues, churches, mosques and temples engaged in local anti-trafficking activities.

Using a “church-locator” – an interactive Google map accessible through the NFS website – worshippers from diverse Christian denominations can find a participating Freedom Sunday church in their region. Churches share sermon notes, songs, bible studies, as well as fact sheets and other worship resources.

“We are one community, working together despite differences, to stand against the evil of modern slavery” says Kevin Austin, director of NFS’s faith-based programs. “In short, Freedom Sunday is a day for collective worship and action.”

Austin’s own denomination, the Free Methodist Church, has its roots in the abolition movement of the 19^th century; through Freedom Sunday they’re continuing their tradition of social-action.

“My denomination fought slavery back in the 1860’s then walked away from the issue because they thought it was over,” Austin explains. Last year the Free Methodist’s once again took up the call to abolition, pledging their 1,000-plus U.S congregations to participate in NFS’s first Freedom Sunday.

This year, Austin’s denomination joins a network of churches in over 40 different countries. Faith communities in the U.S, China, Australia, Thailand, Uganda, South Korea, Honduras, and Pakistan (to name a few) will use their worship services on March 13^th to create a platform for people of faith to mobilize for an end to the injustice of slavery.

“Freedom Sunday is all about using the worship experience as a catalyst for action,” Austin claims.

One spiritual act that unites Christians during the Lenten season is a fast, an ancient tradition of foregoing eating in order to focus on prayer. Many congregations participating in Freedom Sunday will fast on the 13^th, and pledge whatever funds they would otherwise spend on food that day as a donation to NFS’s global anti-trafficking operations.

‘Freedom for the captives’ is intrinsically linked to the Biblical story of the ‘exodus’ of slaves being held in Egypt. Hence, Not For Sale has created for Jewish congregations a parallel event, Freedom Shabbat, in April during the religious commemoration of Passover. Through their sermons and religious rites, rabbis and other leaders in the Jewish faith community champion efforts to abolish the modern manifestation of an ancient system of repression.

As these holy days become linked to social-activism, people of faith from disparate regions are inspired to end the crime of human trafficking. The commitment for justice born in worship centers in Bangkok and Managua, Cairo and Sydney, spills out to neighborhoods around the world, creating a dynamic network of modern-day abolitionists.

“It’s not just about singing songs,” says Austin in explanation of Freedom Sunday, “It’s about setting the prisoners free.”