“My attention was captured when Bono got on his knees and asked the stadium of wild Bostonians to pray with him for the people of Burma.” Writes Marisa, “In that moment I became acutely aware that somehow our agreement with heaven shifts and shapes the events and circumstances of earth. Bono then started into an Irish lullaby for the beloved and iconic leader Aung San Suu Kyi.  The stage began to fill with young people and each held her picture in front of their face.  My mind’s eye flashed to my exchange with an old Burmese woman this summer who had wept silently with me as she shared her desire for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release.  Whether in Burma or Boston, it is evident to me that the restless voice of liberty is quaking from every angle until the image of God is restored and justice is made known in the earth.

Early this summer a group of us had the privilege of going into Burma. Nothing could have prepared me for the collision with this nation and her people…  Today Burma is run by a military dictatorship that has suppressed the nation and it’s citizens at almost every juncture.  It has become home to some of the poorest and most exploited people in the world.  We saw first hand the effect of people trafficking in this nation, and God spoke to us profoundly.  The words of Aung San Suu Kyi challenged us…

“I could not, as my Father’s daughter, remain indifferent to all that is going on.” 

Athens, Georgia, USA

God moved as this community prayed 24-7.  An Asian massage parlor, which was believed to be a front for human trafficking closed down unexpectedly and a Mexican man was indicted and pled guilty to trafficking young girls from Mexico to Atlanta for prostitution.  Atlanta was recently described as the #1 destination for child sex tourism in the U.S.  It breaks the heart of the church to see such abuse. 

We’re thanking God for these victories and daring to believe that prayer was a small part in bringing them about.

Kansas City, Missouri, USA 

For five years, a bright red brick building right next door to the Kansas City Boiler Room has housed a porn shop called "Naughty But Nice”.  While it has been out of business for some time now, the building itself was raised to the ground the week after they prayed.  This destruction felt symbolic of God’s heart. 

The week after these US Communities prayed, it hit their national news that 52 children were rescued in a nationwide Sex Trafficking raid.  We are praising Jesus for the lives set free and are desperate to see more happen in the United States of America and the nations of the earth.

Reading, UK

Whilst the 24-7 Reading community prayed, a man from their area was arrested on suspicion of human trafficking for sexual exploitation and controlling prostitution for gain.  They thanked God as they read the headline “Arrests follow sex trafficking probe.” 

Groups in Stanford and Guildford also joined the Reading community praying in the UK. That week a major UK newspaper ran a front page report alleging that Human Trafficking was exaggerated.  Whilst the article was disturbing, it did give us some very specific issues to pray into.