“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captive and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

— Luke 4:18-19

YOUR FREEDOM OFFERING CHANGES LIVES.

The Church of the Nazarene is active in many countries where people are vulnerable to human trafficking. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) supports local churches in anti-trafficking efforts that range from prevention and education to protection and rehabilitation.

Your Freedom Offering changes lives! On Freedom Sunday, you can give to a Freedom Offering, which will go to support church-led anti-trafficking ministries that are changing lives.

Gifts given to the Freedom Offering in the past have supported the opening of new projects that are offering freedom to victims of human trafficking and helping prevent the trafficking of at-risk children and youth. Your gifts this year will allow NCM to support new projects as well as the continuation of ongoing anti-trafficking work.

Mumbai Drop-in Centers. In December 2016, a Nazarene church in Mumbai, India, opened two drop-in centers in a red-light district. There are now 75 children who come to these safe spaces away from the streets for education, nutrition, psyco-social support, and nurturing. The center has also reached out to 150 women and girls who are involved in prostitution through counseling, life skills training, vocational courses, and referrals. They have identified 65 who are open to new alternatives, and there are several women currently on a path to leaving the brothels!

Moldova Mobile Intervention Clinic. In Moldova, the Nazarene church runs a mobile clinic that is actively working to get girls and women off the streets. They build relationships and help victims of sexual exploitation by providing hopeful alternatives, including new vocational opportunities, medical care, and psycho-social support. There are currently several women who are exploring faith through the church’s coffee house ministry, and the church is walking alongside one woman who recently came off the streets to seek a new life.

Moldova Freedom Business Incubator. Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe. The church is partnering with a transition home for orphaned teens who are at high risk for being trafficked. The church is working with several of the young women to create businesses so that after finishing high school, they can provide for themselves and won’t be vulnerable to exploitation due to poverty.

Preventing Trafficking of Children. In countries including the Philippines, Ukraine, and Armenia, the church is working to protect children and youth through education and advocacy geared specifically toward preventing them from becoming trafficking victims.

Church-Based Prevention. In countries including the Philippines and Democratic Republic of Congo, targeted trainings and awareness programs are equipping local congregations to prevent trafficking in their communities. The goal is to expand this work extensively.

Include “Freedom Offering/ 124463” on your check, or click on the Donate Now button below.