HOPE RUN

I'm a few days late on this, but nonetheless grateful, amazed, humbled and hopeful.

This past Friday was Hope Run Kenosha, sponsored by Journey Church.  It was an event that raised awareness of human trafficking.  More than 1,000 people came out to walk or run for the cause.  THANK YOU!

While most of us know sex and labor trafficking is a problem around the world, many don't know it's a problem right here.  Estimates are that there are 2.4 million victims of sex and labor trafficking in the world today creating an industry worth 32 billion dollars.  Nearly every country in the world is affected by it, as either a point of origin, transit or destination.  Victims from more than 125 countries have been exploited.

Calls to the National Human Traffic Hotline have increased 250% from all 50 states.  Women are victims in 85% of sex trafficking cases; men in 40% of labor trafficking cases.  More than 100,000 young girls are caught in sex trafficking in the United States.  Boys are targets as well.

In 2011, three Milwaukee area men were sentenced to prison after beating a dozen children into selling sex to complete strangers.  This is human trafficking.

In 2012, authorities recovered six Milwaukee children from the hands of traffickers.

Recently, two men from Menominee Falls and Oak Creek, WI were charged after they forced a young girl at gunpoint to sell sex for money.  This is human trafficking.

A couple in Walworth County, Wisconsin was arrested for holding a 16-year old Waukesha, WI girl in a Janesville, WI home and prostituting her to men they had solicited on the internet.  This is human trafficking.

Fighting human trafficking shouldn't just be seen as the responsibility of the authorities.  Ordinary people can help tackle this crime by being aware and by making sure the plight of victims doesn't go unnoticed.  There are many ways you can help.

-- If you see something suspicious there is a National Hotline you can call.  Here's the number:

'888-3737-888'

-- Check out various agencies who specialize in awareness and action.  Some of them in our area are:

* P.R.O.M.I.S.E. Chicago and Anne's House --- www.salarmychicago.org/promise 

* EXPLOIT NO MORE Milwaukee --- www.exploitnomore.org

* 5-STONES Fox Cities --- www.5-stones.org

* STEPPING STONE MINISTRIES Waukegan, Illinois

-- Get involved with local government and authorities.

-- Open your home to foster children and orphans.  Those without a caring, loving family are particular targets for traffickers.

-- Stay in touch with the HOPE RUN KENOSHA FACEBOOK page for updates at www.facebook.com/hoperunkenosha

-- Pray.

This past Friday was Journey Church's very first HOPE RUN KENOSHA.  Hope plays a huge part in the human experience.  It gives us something to cling to.  I've spent a fair amour of time hoping for things.  I've hoped to pass my driver's test - I've hoped to get good grades in college - I've hoped for a great marriage.  But did any of those things happen because I hoped for them?  Or did I have to do something in order for the hope to be realized?

That's how hope is kept alive.  By doing something.

Margaret Mead said: 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.'

Lastly, here are the words of a song by Matthew West.  Perhaps he says it best:

"I woke up this morning,

Saw a world full of trouble,

Thought, 'How'd we ever get so far down?  

How's it ever gonna turn around?'

I couldn't bear the thought of people living in poverty,

Children sold into slavery,

So I shook my fist at heaven and said: 

'God, why don't You do something?'

And God said: 'I did.  I created you.'

If not us, then who, if not me and you,

Right now it's time for us to do something,

If not now, then when?"

Do something.

And be blessed.