Gospel for Asia Addresses Scandal of Slavery and Human Trafficking

Recently, January 2018 was declared as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

Gospel for Asia deals first hand with the scandal of slavery and human trafficking by helping our field partners who minister among the poverty stricken in Asia, where over two-thirds of the worlds human trafficking victims reside.

The 2016 Global Slavery Index estimates that 45.8 million people are living in some form of modern slavery. Over 30 million reside in Asia. Five countries are home to 26.5 million men, women and children trapped in the grips of slavery and human trafficking.


Another source estimates 36 million victims worldwide, with 23.5 million in Asia.

Regardless of the exact number, any number of this magnitude is scandalous.

Many of the tens of thousands to whom Gospel for Asia ministers are victims of this scandal or of its results.

“The United Nations estimates that some 64% of human trafficking in Asia is for forced labor, servitude and slavery, while 26% is for sexual exploitation . . . In Asia, 36% of trafficked victims are children.”

The effects of slavery and human trafficking include destitution, poverty, humiliation, hunger and lack of access to nutrition and education.

The irony of the scandal is that, while millions suffer from its impact, others profit from its perpetuation.

Gospel for Asia understands that we cannot prevent slavery and human trafficking. Neither can we sit idle and do nothing. We, too, believe this is a crime against humanity and that it should be recognized and dealt with as such. That is clearly a governmental responsibility. But rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar’s does not absolve us from rendering unto Christ what is Christ’s.

Jesus said that while He was in the world, He was the Light of the World. When He has preparing to leave, He told us that we are now that light as we let His love shine through us.


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