Hearing the voices of the silent

Those I am speaking of are the victims of human trafficking, or modern-day slavery as the mainstream media has named it. As I was there to share the freedom that is found in Christ and to witness God’s work in South Africa, I was confronted with the reality that 27 million victims in the world will never know freedom, life, or the love of the Father. I realized their cries often echo into silence, because there are few people working to battle one of the greatest human atrocities of our time.

I take comfort in the truth that God knows their pain and hears their cries. What I took from that experience is a challenge for me to give them a voice, to stand in the gap for 27 million lives and dare others to come alongside and lift them up in faith, hope and love.

Melanie, a student from Dallas Baptist University, served as a student missionary worker in South Africa. Her last name is withheld for security reasons, because she anticipates possible future missions service in a restricted area.