Bathed in Sunlight: A Bible Study on Human Trafficking

Thanks to you, our year has gotten off to an incredible start here at Uncaged. People like you helped us far surpass our fundraising goal to bring HOPE to hundreds of survivors in December! We know that these funds will unlock transformation for hundreds, even thousands of survivors.

Then, freedom fighters across the globe came together on January 11 for National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. We saw a wave of people standing up for survivors by wearing blue on social media. Like we say, human trafficking is run by organized crime, and now we are seeing the good guys get organized, too.

People like you are making these critical changes happen. Now, it’s time for us to seize this momentum and take even more steps to eradicate trafficking and unlock transformation for survivors. Which is why we want to offer you a gift today.

If you didn’t already know, it may not surprise you to hear that Uncaged is a faith-based organization. Our founder got involved in anti-trafficking efforts because she believe that everyone is precious in the eyes of God. She wanted to do something to make the world treat everyone as valuable and loved.

We have been doing a deep dive into the Scriptures to gain wisdom for the next phase of our work. After doing a deep dive for months, some key truths have surfaced. We wanted to share them with you, which is why we put together this bible study: Bathed in Sunlight.

Will you join us in listening to what God has for us in this next season? I know that together we can unlock transformation for hundreds, even thousands of survivors across the globe.

You can access the bible study here. If it’s meaningful to you, we hope you will share what you learn with us and with friends.

We hold the keys to freedom!

She Escaped. Then, She Helped Free 28 Others.

I believe in survivors. After working with over 100 courageous women and children just this year, I have seen that they are the key to bringing freedom to the captives. I have seen how bringing hope and restoration to one survivor can impact dozens, even hundreds more.

I think about Ramona. She was just 21 years old when her nightmare began. Her “boyfriend” invited her on a romantic getaway to Western Europe. Once they arrived, he sold her into slavery. She would be exploited for 2 years before making a narrow escape.

As soon as Ramona was out of her trafficker’s hands, she turned her attention to the fight for freedom. She went to the authorities and shared everything she knew about her trafficker. She cooperated with investigators. Our team was with her every step of the way.

Because of Ramona’s testimony and strength, the authorities were able to locate her trafficker. They arrested him and the entire ring that was connected to him. Even better, they found 28 other women and children who had been trafficked, too.

Thanks to Ramona’s courage, 28 precious souls have hope and healing today. Now, we are able to journey with Ramona to freedom and offer hope to these women and children, too.

Ramona was ready to fight for freedom. What gives her the strength to do it, after all she’s been through? Well, Ramona says it’s because she knows that there are people like you fighting with her.

“Knowing that I have friends and supporters around the world feels like a fresh glass of water on a hot day. I have been thirsty and hungry for healing. Now, I drink from the cup of freedom every day,” she told our team. You are one of those friends!

By supporting Uncaged, you have brought healing and practical support to heroes like Ramona. You are building an army of freedom fighters that can stand at her side. You are giving survivors strength and hope!

Will you invest in Ramona’s army today? Our team continues to support her physically and emotionally through our holistic approach. Your support and encouragement makes it possible.

Let’s bring hope and freedom to the captives!

The Rock

It was an early morning on warm summer day, and I was on a walking path beside the Chattahoochee River. As I walked, words rang in my ears, “children in cages."

Those words had been spoken into my life months earlier, and I was wrestling with God. Was He really asking me to step into this massive and scary world of human trafficking? He couldn’t possibly think that I had what it took to make any kind of impact. After all, there are over 40 million people enslaved. It’s a huge problem, and I’m way underqualified.

I had a million questions and doubts running though my mind. At the same time, I felt a deep and overwhelming heaviness, concern....maybe even a calling. What was this all about? Why couldn’t I shake those words? I was asking Him all of these questions.

And then my eyes fell upon a small rock. It was placed on the top of a brick column in a fence that separated the walking path from the river. I looked around. There wasn’t a soul in sight on this early morning. I walked over to the rock and took it in my hand. I saw that it had some words written in tiny handwriting. Beside the writing was some artwork.

I read the words:

UNLESS SOMEONE LIKE YOU CARES A WHOLE AWFUL LOT, NOTHING IS GOING TO GET BETTER. IT’S NOT.

I quickly put the rock back exactly where I found it. I was stunned. Maybe in denial. I rushed away, thinking "That can’t be for me. Nope, that’s crazy and definitely not for me.”

Yes, I was definitely in denial.

I continued my walk. My legs moved faster and faster. What was I running from?

The further and faster I walked, the more it became clear: that rock was absolutely for me. I walked for probably 30 minutes, wrestling with the idea that God was calling me into anti-trafficking work. It seemed unreal.

Finally, I turned around and headed back the way I came. I found myself hoping the rock was still there. I thought that if it were still there, if someone else hadn’t scooped it up, then I would know it was for me. If it was still there, I would know that He was leading me down the path of rescuing and restoring the lives of trafficking survivors.

My pace quickened. By the time I was 100 yards out, I was almost yelling inside, “Please, please let it still be there! I want to do it! I want to be part of something bigger than me! I want to change the world. Please!”

It was still there. This time as I read the words, they almost screamed at me.

UNLESS SOMEONE LIKE YOU CARES A WHOLE AWFUL LOT, NOTHING IS GOING TO GET BETTER. IT’S NOT.

Did you just read that? Do you get it? Unless someone like YOU cares a whole lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.

Friend, YOU have the opportunity to make things better. What does this mean for you? Is there a dream, a prompt in you heart? Is there a passion that’s taking over your thoughts? Is there an existing work that speaks deeply to you? Is there a way you can invest your time, talents, or resources to make this world better?

We're figuring it out with His help. The world, including human trafficking survivors, is counting on us.