Human trafficking in Kansas *updated*

I’ve been meaning to write about human trafficking. The House of Prayer has begun to focus on praying against that as part of the life initiative (which covers praying for justice and for the ending of abortion). A recent news story spurred me to start writing.

Human trafficking refers to the buying and selling of humans into enforced labor or sex slavery. All ages, both sexes, and many races are victims of human trafficking. We often think of the slave trade as something historical; we speak of it in the past tense. But it is still running today—sometimes right under our noses.

The neighboring state of Kansas is one of the largest recruitment centers for human trafficking in the Midwest. Yesterday the FBI and police raided twelve massage parlors and four homes in Kansas: two in Olathe, one in Lenexa, one in Mission, and eight businesses and four homes in Overland Park. Those cities are just a short drive across the border. I’ve probably walked or driven past the massage parlor that was in the Metcalf shopping center, never suspecting what actually went on inside. Here’s a link to the news story and video: Authorities Raid Johnson County Massage Parlors (story and older video); new video.

We don’t know much information yet. Most likely the workers in these parlors and homes were sex slaves, forced to service many customers a day with no hope of escape. They are probably illegal immigrants lured to America by false promises of good work and a visa. They got neither.

I think they’re in protective custody right now. I wonder what will happen to them next. They don’t have any job skills and they are deeply affected by the degrading “work” they were forced to do. Where will they go and what will they do?

My prayer room team was talking about this news yesterday in briefing. It’s so encouraging to see the effect of our prayers. But we were wondering if there is some way the House of Prayer can aid these women. We’ve really taken on the burden of praying for the victims of human trafficking—and here we could have an opportunity to physically reach out and help some of them.

I’ll update as we have more information. I also will be posting more info on human trafficking in the days to come. If you subscribe to the prayer room web stream, you can participate in the 8 p.m. intercession sets on Thursdays (and I think Mondays). Benji Nolot is the prayer leader during those sets; he’s been focusing on praying against human trafficking for several months now.

*UPDATE*
The traffickers have been charged. Who knows if they had counterparts over in China, or if they were related to the girls they trafficked (which is often the case in human trafficking).