As I write, tens of thousands of men are preparing to swarm the Super Bowl. Not only will the stadium be packed to capacity, but thousands of vendors, volunteers, cleaning crew, law enforcement and the like will be ready to serve the masses.
But there are other preparations taking place…to serve the dark side of the Super Bowl. This much testosterone in one place is accompanied by a surge in the demand for sex for hire. Women, Men, Teenagers, and Children … right now… are being transported in from all across the country, and all across the world to fill this insatiable demand.
The desires of men, who give no thought to the shattered lives being left in their wake. After all, they didn’t break her in. They didn’t lie to her. They just believed the lie that she likes it, or wants to be there with them. They are not there for the scolding water and endless scrubbing that never washes away the shame of his touch. They did not see the tears and bruises and blood it took to break her in to become the compliant ‘willing’ vessel that sits at the edge of the bed. They don’t see her empty pockets and the piles of cash in the hand of her pimp.
I am often asked “Is it still considered Human Trafficking if it’s the persons choice?” Choice? That’s a funny word. Is the 15 year old from a dysfunctional home who falls in love with an older guy whose web of manipulation, lies, and abuse culminates in her being hired out for sex an issue of choice? What happens when she ages from 15 to 19. Now 4 years into the business, but an adult. Is it her choice now?
But she tells the client she likes it.
She tells the cops no one is forcing her.
She tells herself he loves her.
80% of women in the sex trade were sexually abused as children, so when they fall prey to pimps, this vile life feels normal. Their bodies are not their own, but they never were.
There is so much for to unfold in helping you understand the wide variety of ways a beautiful, precious 5 year old girl can fast forward life to find herself with no money, no identity, no hope… in a dirty hotel room servicing 20 men per night. But the men hardly care about the how or the why.
For now, I leave you with this plea….. This year, as you sit watching the Super Bowl, please pray for the men. Its so easy to pray for the women we see as victims. But even if every girl were freed today, tomorrow, they would go out to get new girls because the demand would still be there. As long as there is money to be made in the sale of women, women will be sold. The only way to stop this cycle is at the root… The Hearts of Men. Pray that God would transform their hearts and minds and bring the sex trade to its knees. Pray that God would heal the hurts, destroy the lies and reveal His deep love to these men who are trapped in the snare of their own lusts.
I hope you will join me this year as you ‘root’ for your favorite team… lets get to the ‘root’ of the problem of sex trafficking…. the hearts of men.
