September 26-28, 2008 is The Salvation Army’s 3rd Annual Weekend of Prayer for Victims of Sexual Trafficking. This weekend was an initiative of the Canada & Bermuda Territory in 2006, and has since become an internationally-recognized call to prayer from the General of The Salvation Army. Sexual trafficking is one of the great social evils of our time, and as a Salvation Army we are committed to abolishing this form of the slave trade and caring for trafficked people. We believe this can be done through prayer, prevention and awareness raising, as well as rescue and restoration of trafficked people.
We encourage you to:
- Mark your calendar.
- Use the materials provided (see downloads below).
- Partner locally.
- Educate yourself and others.
- Pray and fast specifically about this issue.
Letter Writing Campaign
As part of the Weekend of Prayer and Fasting for Victims of Sexual Trafficking 2008, Salvationists in Canada & Bermuda Territory are writing letters to fellow Salvationists in Bangladesh, India West, Liberia and Mexico. These letters will go to the women in these four territories, thanking them for educating their women and girls about trafficking, and showing support for their work.
Here’s what to do:
Using the letter template provided (
black & white or
colour) or one you write yourself, enter the date and select one of four territories listed below that you want to support. Print the letter and and sign it as an individual or have all members of your group sign it (i.e. corps, Bible study, band, youth group, women’s group, Sunday school class). Put the letter in an envelope, address it to the correct Territorial Commander, attach appropriate (international) postage, and mail it. Continue to pray for the women, men and children of that Territory.
We chose four Territories who are actively involved in the fight against sexual trafficking. These are the addresses to use. For more information on what type of anti-trafficking work they are doing, click
here.
Bangladesh Command
c/o Lieutenant Colonel Ethne Flintoff
Salvation Army, Command Headquarters
GPO Box 985
Dhaka 100
Bangladesh
Liberia Command
c/o Lieutenant Colonels Peter and Jessica Dali
Salvation Army, Command Headquarters
PO Box 20/5792
Monrovia
Liberia
India Western Territory
c/o Commissioner P. Mary Rajakumari
Salvation Army, Territorial Headquarters
PO Box 4510
Mumbai 400 008
India
Mexico Territory
c/o Colonels Olin O. and Dianne Hogan
Salvation Army, Territorial Headquarters
Apartado Postal 12 - 668
Mexico 03020
D.F.
Other ideas for commemorating the weekend:
- Organize a prayer time at your workplace and church.
- Make this an issue of prayer at youth group/home league/prayer group/Bible study/camp/singing practice/etc.
- Invite a guest speaker to come address your group/corps (i.e. a client or staff member from a women’s shelter or a person from The Salvation Army or another organization who is passionate about this ministry)
- Partner with other churches or local law enforcement or similar non-governmental organizations to commemorate this important weekend
- Organize a prayer walk in your community or in an area of town where trafficked people might be
- Organize a 12 hour or 24 hour or 30 hour fast as a group
- Raise awareness of sexual trafficking in your community
- Write letters to women in other countries to support them in their fight against sexual trafficking
Downloads
Please make use of the following downloadable resources: