Sound of Healing
In the last few weeks, my attention has been drawn to a few eye-opening events and cultural moments that have spotlighted human trafficking and the objectification of women.
The first is the Sound of Freedom movie. I hesitated attending the movie because I knew it would be hard to watch…and it was. Within the first few minutes of the movie, I almost got up and left. The reason was a scene in which children are being photographed in a hotel room by a woman who is claiming to be a modeling agent. She is actually the trafficker. On the faces of these children, I could immediately see the faces of women we’ve served at Naomi's House (NH), women whom I know and love deeply. So often the women we serve were exploited as children and the movie made their actual experience all too real. I did stay, however, and am glad I did so. The movie told a story that will (and already has) inspired people to connect with Naomi’s House and begin serving in ways that will help survivors. I’ve told many people, NH has the opportunity to “stand on the shoulders of” Sound of Freedom…people are learning the scope of human trafficking because of this movie, how it impacts children, and why ministries like NH are so important. The movie’s focus was on children from Colombia, but the exploitation of women and children is everywhere—including all throughout Chicagoland. Which brings me to my next point…
Kane County Sheriff’s Department recently conducted a sting and arrested and charged five individuals with multiple felonies in relation to human trafficking for the purpose of prostitution (read more here). The St. Charles Police Department discovered a brothel in St. Charles which led to an investigation. Seven women were rescued and taken into protective custody. The details of what happened to the women after the sting, where they are all from, and how they became involved in this trafficking ring are all unclear. Multiple sources cite different details making the story difficult to follow. However, we were contacted by the Kane County State’s Department and our Reset services in Elgin have been made available to the survivors. What we do know is this:
Commercial exploitation happens in our communities, every day. This story was a reminder that brothels exist and that women are being forced to sell their bodies for sex.
DuPage County has the highest number of escort services. This implies that an incredibly high amount of sex is purchased in DuPage County. (source)
An estimated 4,200 to 5,000 individuals are sold for sex in a given month in Illinois. (source)
80% of survivors will return to the life due to inadequate services (source). It was shared with us that at least one of the victims from the Kane County sting has returned to the life of exploitation since the incident, and likely more will also return.
This brings me to the last event, the Barbie movie. I have little to say about the movie other than it does a great job showing how ludicrous it is to have a community that is run by either all women or all men. Without believing in the biblical value of partnership between men and women, the viewer can see how obvious it is to exploit or objectify other people. The movie goes to great lengths to show the ridiculousness of men and women not working together for the common good and how painful it is to one another when we disregard the dignity of God’s beautiful design in each one of us. Regardless of how we each feel about the Barbie movie, the community of NH and the love and support we all have for the women we serve agree on this: we need to stop objectifying women and girls. We need to end the buying and selling of sex. And we need to continue to offer hope and healing to survivors of exploitation so that they can flourish.
The vision and calling of NH is to promote and offer what we’re identifying as the “sound of healing.” Over and over we see women healing from the abuse of sexual exploitation and witness firsthand what it looks like to see families reunited and equipped with tools to never be exploited again.
When you partner with, volunteer with, and pray with NH, you are illuminating the sounds of healing. The sounds of people’s lives rebuilding after such abuse is the most angelic chorus. And just as we can destroy each other by human objectification and purchasing women and children for sex, we can also demonstrate healing and unity through providing resources and laying down the pathways to know God and be loved by God. He is the one and only Healer.
These moments are hot right now! Thank you for being a part of the sounds of healing!
Simone
Executive Director