Love Protects.

"Love146 works toward the abolition of child sex trafficking and exploitation through prevention and aftercare. Love146 trains aftercare workers, multiplies safehomes, aids socioeconomic development programs in high risk communities and provides a voice for these victims of modern-day slavery." - www.love146.org

Through the words of Jared's and my pre-marital counselor and visits to the 146 website, this issue has become my heartbeat in the last few days. As believers in Christ, we are called to rescue the perishing and care for the dying - I cannot think of a better way.

Love146's website is a powerful tool for raising awareness about the issue of human sex trafficking and gives plenty of insight into other ways to research and fight against this international travesty. According to their site, around 1.2 million children are estimated to be trafficked per year. That's two children per minute. According to research conducted by the U.S. government, over 800,000 people are trafficked trans-nationally per year, not to mention the millions trafficked within their own countries. It is estimated that 80% of victims are women and girls, up to 50% are minors. Estimations reveal that approximately 27 million people are currently being trafficked around the world, the majority for sexual exploitation. Trafficking is one of the largest illegal markets in the world, second only to drugs. The total market value of human trafficking is estimated to be $32 billion, $28 billion of which comes from sexual exploitation.

American is not exempt. "The organization to End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking in Children for Sexual Purposes believe that 45,000-50,000 persons are trafficked into the U.S. each year, 15,000 of them are children."

An example of this? Craigslist's "Erotic Services" section is a frequently used utility for pimps and pornographers to market and sell children as prostitutes. (www.love146.org)

This is a world-wide issue. Really, it is deeper than world-wide. It is a battle in the spiritual realm, and there are ways we can fight it. Above and beyond all - pray in faith. If our hearts' break for these precious girls, how much more does their Father's in heaven?

I implore you to visit Love146's website and see how you can fight against this horrendous injustice.

"Love protects. Love defends. Love restores. Love empowers." - Love146

Visit the site, watch the video, be stirred and shaken.

Love.