Christian group warns against human cost of sex trafficking

The Red Light Campaign, a month-long movement dedicated to raising sex-trafficking awareness, will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Union Street Auditorium with an information and worship session.

The Red Light Campaign is made up of several Bloomington Christian organizations, as well as the IU Student Association. Steps of Justice, a national organization that works with local communities to help serve the poor and oppressed of the world, will be teaming with the campaign this week to help inform students.

“The goal is to educate and inspire IU students to get involved,” said sophomore and Christian Student Fellowship member Ransford Walker.
Steps of Justice will reinforce the campaign’s message of sex-trafficking
awareness.     

“They’re all about equipping people,” sophomore and Campus Crusade for Christ member Sarah Conlin said of Steps of Justice. “They give you small steps. A lot of little steps become a movement.”

During the hour-and-a-half event, Steps of Justice members will tell personal stories and show videos to raise awareness and teach about sex trafficking. The second part will consist of musical worship.    

“It’s such a unique opportunity to find out what is going on in the world,” Conlin said.

There are about 27 million people enslaved around the world, she added..  
Conlin was inspired to become involved with the campaign after she visited Rapha House, an organization devoted to combating child trafficking and sexual exploitation in Cambodia.

“You don’t have a choice but to be called into action,” Conlin said.     
She said the Rapha House, with its mission of protecting young children, was the most beautiful place she had ever seen.    

“It was the most heaven-like thing I have ever experienced on earth,” Conlin said.
Conlin is studying social justice with a focus on sex trafficking through the Individualized Major Program.

Chris Wilson became involved with Steps to Justice a year and a half ago.     
“We had a heart to travel and share with people what the different issues are,”
Wilson said.     

Steps of Justice tries to educate its audience about all forms of injustice, such as lack of water, along with issues such as human
trafficking.    

“A lot of it is surprising and heart-wrenching,” Conlin said. “They’re incredible people with a very unique message.”     

Wilson, his wife Jenna, Phil Cunningham, who is one of the founders of Steps of Justice, and his wife Amy travel the country to educate people about injustices in the world. In the fall, they traveled up the West Coast, and this spring, they will start in San Diego and head east.

Throughout the month, there will be various events at IU to promote awareness. The Campaign wanted to have all the events in one month to focus on the issues at one time, Walker said.     

“I feel like there hasn’t been a lot of info circulating about trafficking,” Walker said. “It’s a big problem in our world today.”    

There will be movie nights that feature films and documentaries that focus on sex trafficking.

This weekend, the campaign is having “An Evening of Justice and Worship,” a 24-hour prayer event from Friday to Saturday in response to the Super Bowl in Indianapolis. Thousands of women and children are predicted to be trafficked into Indianapolis for the Super Bowl, Walker said.     

“It opens the door and makes it easier for people to traffic people into the city,” Wilson said.     

On Feb. 18 in Alumni Hall in the Indiana Memorial Union, the campaign will have “A Night For Freedom Art Auction,” along with dessert, appetizers and two speakers. The proceeds from the event will go to Rapha House.     

Walker said he enjoys seeing students and organizations come together to fight sex trafficking.  

“You can’t stop it, but you can talk about it and pray about it,” Conlin said.