On Valentine’s Day, Paul McGovern at Crossroads Church (Fremont, CA) preached on love – but more than just loving our neighbor. He spoke about love for the human trafficking victim. He spoke of how we as believers should be involved in showing love to those who truly need our love and action. He shared about how a group right from this church felt so moved by the horrors of human trafficking around the world and in California, that they began a group to present a proposition for the fall ballot to strengthen human trafficking laws. This proposition will strengthen penalties for those who traffic humans and to mandate training of law officers so they can recognize victims and trafficking situations. It will also strengthen victim’s rights and provide seized assets and fines for human trafficking victim’s services. Pastor Paul then challenged his congregation to sign the petition, to be part of this fight for justice. As a result, over 260 signatures were collected over the 3 services. Pastor Paul will continue to encourage other pastors to lead their churches to do the same – because believers should care and be involved in ending human trafficking in California.
Lita Sample, California: Fran and I are responding to the big trafficking issues in California by changing the law through an organization that we helped start called California Against Slavery. California has really weak laws when it comes to human trafficking. A person could receive as little as 3 years in jail for trafficking an individual or a group of individuals. And, with good behavior, can be out sooner. This is much lower than penalties for rape and kidnapping. It is so weak that prosecutors will not use these laws to prosecute traffickers. So, we are currently working on an initiative that will be placed on this November's California ballot that will strengthen penalties. In addition, it will increase victim's rights, and it will mandate law enforcement training in human trafficking for all law officers in California. We're doing it grassroots style - by getting 1 million signatures. We are asking churches to join the fight by signing the petition. We are also asking students at universities to involve their campus. We are looking to community groups as well.
We are on facebook. We encourage everyone (inside and outside of California) to join our facebook page, then invite everyone you know to it. It will help give support, and it will get the word out through our network on what we're doing and how to support us.
In addition, please go to our website. There are resources on the site, including short videos that can be watched -- those involved in the fight. The website is
www.CaliforniaAgainstSlavery.org.
If you want to be involved or have questions, you can email me at
lita@californiaagainstslavery.org. Also, I am available to speak about issues concerning US trafficking and trafficking in California.
Lita Sample, California: For quite some time, our ESL class for Afghan women has been a great encouragement - not only to the women who attend, but also to those who teach -- including me. We have all grown into a community - sharing our families, our lives, our laughter and our concerns. I have found myself praying for them and for their needs, and as my father become seriously ill, they prayed for me and my family. I have had to miss recent classes due to my father's death, and being gone to be with my mom and family. When I returned, the women were so warm and concerned for me in the loss of my father. They spent a few minutes in the class praying for me. It was touching. It nearly brought me to tears. Class that day had sprung to a larger group. Fran and I divided into two classes - beginner and advanced, with Fran teaching the beginners. It was a busy class day.
Next week, we pick up our scrapbooking class. It's exciting - with 5 new women who have joined us and will be doing this for the first time. They will bring pictures from their families -- many pictures from Afghanistan. With financial gifts to the CBF Offering for Global Missions, we are able to provide scrapbooking books for the women, and with scrapbooking supplies that have been donated, we are able to provide some variety of paper and special cutting tools for their use. It is a real blessing for these women to share their stories through the pictures that they bring. It is a special connection that will last, not only on paper, but in their hearts.