Last week, the Not For Sale South East Asia Pacific Forum was in Manila, Philippines and so was I.
I went to the forum because I thought it would be insightful and educational. I was hoping to bring back a deeper understanding of the landscape of human trafficking in South East Asia with insight into how I could play a part in stopping it. . . . and for the most part my expectations were unmet, but that is okay, because one man’s story made all the difference in the world to me, and made the whole conference worth it in one small testimony.
Here is how it went:
The first round of speakers talked about how their organizations were “attacking the business model of traffickers” by intercepting their “supply” aka young girls being sold into prostitution; or forced laborers, during the transit phase. The things they said and the things their organizations are doing are really impressive, but there was one question that was biting at the back of my neck, which was never answered. So during the Q&A time I posed my question:
“This morning we have been talking about attacking the “business model” of human trafficking . . . Well, we have heard from some amazing organizations doing amazing things, but when I think of “business” I think Supply and Demand; so far we have only heard examples of what organizations are doing to stop the supply. But what about the demand?- the men buying sex, the people using and abusing domestic servants? Is there anyone out there doing anything to curb the demand for human trafficking?!”
The MC was really exciting by my question and called to the stage one tall, Philipino man.
“Hello, my name is _________________. I am a business man and I used to own 14 hotels here in Manila. These hotels were for sex tourists, they were my only customers. One girl per room and men would come and rent a room and girl for an hour or two or a night. I met the Lord in 1992. In 1993 I was on the path to expanding my business and opening more hotels. But the Lord told me not to. So I didn’t. Then in 1998, the Lord told me to close all 14 of my existing hotels. At the time I was grossing over 2 million dollars per day in sex tourism from my hotels and my girls. But when the Lord told me to close them all, I knew I had to be obedient and do it. So I did.”
At this point in the conversation the MC tried to direct the conversation away from Jesus and more towards the man’s improved business ethics, and how he could still be a prosperous business man without the work of sex slaves, and tried to ask him about how we could strategically attack the demand. But the man would not be deterred; he continued right on with this his testimony.
“No, sir, I believe you are mistaken. It truly is only possible with a complete heart change through a relationship with Jesus Christ, that any human trafficker would be willing to give up their lucrative business. And it is only through a relationship with Jesus and changed heart, that men will see that they are destroying the lives of women and stop buying sex!”
So there you have it. One man grossing over 2 million a day, gives it all away in obedience to our Lord Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. What we do has value. Giving Jesus to others changes lives, and can ultimately stop human trafficking if we as Christians are bold to step up and preach the gospel of the Kingdom, the gospel of grace, freedom, and new life.
Keep praying.
Keep bringing the Light into the darkness.
Change. Is. Possible.
