Could God Be Calling You to Bring Hope into Places of Injustice?
When we think of slavery, many of us probably picture something from the history books. Yet the uncomfortable reality is that modern slavery and human trafficking are still happening across the UK today – often hidden in plain sight.
People can find themselves trapped in exploitation through forced labour, domestic servitude, criminal exploitation, sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse. Very often, vulnerability, isolation and lack of support are part of what allows that exploitation to continue.
As Christians, this should matter to us.
Throughout Scripture we see God's heart for justice, freedom and those who are vulnerable or oppressed. We worship a God who sees people others may overlook, who cares about injustice and calls His people to bring hope into difficult and broken places.
Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with Hope for Justice, a charity working to prevent exploitation, identify and support victims, and help survivors rebuild their lives. One of the things that really struck me was their belief that the local church has a unique role to play.
Churches are embedded in communities. Through our workplaces, schools, neighbourhoods and community projects, we come into contact with people from all walks of life. We may be better placed than we realise to notice vulnerability, recognise when something doesn't seem right and help people access the right support.
But responding doesn't mean we all need to become experts - sometimes the first step is simply learning.
Closer to Home Than We Might Think
Modern slavery can be much closer to home than we imagine. Exploitation can sometimes be hidden within sectors such as construction, agriculture, hospitality, cleaning, car washes, nail bars, care work and other forms of low-paid or temporary labour.
That means some of us, simply through our jobs, communities or everyday lives, may be in a position to notice when something doesn't seem quite right.
Could You Spot the Signs?
You don't need to be an expert, but knowing some of the signs to look out for could make a real difference.
Take a look at the Spot the Signs poster. You might be surprised by some of the indicators – and perhaps consider whether there are people in your workplace, profession or community who would benefit from knowing about them too. Of course, noticing one of these signs doesn't necessarily mean someone is being exploited.The important thing is becoming more aware, knowing what to look for and knowing where to go for advice if something concerns you. If you do have concerns, don't put yourself or someone else at risk by intervening directly – seek appropriate advice and support.
Sometimes the first step towards making a difference is simply learning to notice what we might previously have walked past.
Could This Be Something God Is Stirring in You?
At Kerith, we don't want to start ministries simply because we discover a need. There will always be more needs than we could ever respond to. Instead, we want to pay attention to where God is already stirring passion, gifting and calling within our church family.
Perhaps you've always had a heart for justice issues. Maybe you work, or have worked, in education, social care, healthcare, law enforcement, community work or another setting where you've encountered vulnerable people. Or perhaps you've simply seen stories about modern slavery or human trafficking and found yourself thinking, surely there must be something we can do?
If that's you, we'd love to start a conversation.
It may be that God is already beginning to stir something in you around modern slavery and exploitation – and rather than deciding now what that needs to become, we'd love to create space to explore it together.
A Simple Place to Start…
One way of doing that could be to gather a few people and work through Hope for Justice's Modern Slavery Awareness Course together. It's a four-session, video-based course designed for churches and small groups, that helps us better understand modern slavery. It combines engaging 20-minute videos with participant handouts and a Leader’s Guide to keep things very simple. You will explore biblical principles that inspire action, learn to pray effectively, recognise the signs, and take practical steps to bring freedom.
With our autumn small groups starting soon, this could be a great opportunity to explore the issue together. You could do this within an existing group or gather a few people who share an interest in the subject.
For those wanting a shorter introduction, Hope for Justice also offers Spot the Signs training, helping people recognise possible indicators of modern slavery and human trafficking in everyday situations.
Neither option is about signing up for a major commitment or agreeing to launch a new ministry! It's simply about learning, discussing, praying and discerning together.
AND you don't have to work out how to do this on your own. Our Site Coordinators and Revive team can provide the materials you need, talk you through the resources and help you think about how you could get started with a small group.
So, What Could Your Next Step Be?
If something in this has caught your attention, you don't need to know where it will lead; perhaps just take one small step.
Pray – ask God whether this is something He is drawing your attention to and what, if anything, He might be asking of you.
Find out more – have a look at the Hope for Justice website, HERE - explore their resources and learn a little more about modern slavery and exploitation.
Gather a few people – you may already know others who share your interest. Why not have a conversation and see whether they'd like to explore it with you
Start planning – consider using the autumn small group term to work through the course together. We can help you access the materials and get things set up.
Keep discerning – you don't need to decide at the beginning what this should become. Learn, pray, and see where God leads - that could look different for different people. It might lead to greater awareness and prayer. It could mean equipping people within particular workplaces or professions to spot the signs. Perhaps a small group of people develops a passion to explore something further. Or it may simply mean that more of us become aware of an injustice that can so easily remain unseen.
Right now, we're simply asking: has God already placed a passion for this issue in the hearts of people at Kerith?
If modern slavery, human trafficking or wider justice issues resonate with you, we'd genuinely love to hear from you – feel free to get in touch with your site Revive team or drop me an email to: sarah.hardy@kerith.church
There's no pressure, no predefined ministry to join and no expectation that you have to know what to do about it - just a willingness to explore. Because some of the most significant things God does through the Church don't necessarily begin with a programme or a strategy, sometimes they begin when ordinary people notice something that moves God's heart and simply say: “God, is there something You're asking me to do?”
Let’s see where God leads,
Sarah