Awaken Human Trafficking Awareness Event
Shining the spotlight on human trafficking, Calvary Chapel Reno-Sparks, NV, is hosting the Awaken Human Trafficking Awareness event on October 27, 2023, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. Guest speakers include Melissa Holland of Awaken, a faith-based organization in Reno that assists victims of sexual exploitation.
Phil McKay, lead pastor of CC Reno-Sparks, feels this is an issue Christians must engage in, and this conference is an opportunity to equip the church. "I am excited about this event because I believe it will shine a light of truth about a dark subject that our community needs to know about. My prayer is that God will use this time to really speak to our hearts about what we, His people, need to do as we seek to live for Him in our time,” Phil stated.
Falling under the larger umbrella of modern-day slavery, U. S. law defines two primary forms of human trafficking: sex trafficking and forced labor—both being described as “the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or labor against their will.” Child sex trafficking is a form of child abuse that occurs when a child under 18 is advertised, solicited, or exploited though commercial—in exchange for money, food, drugs, or housing—sexual activity.
“Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.” Isaiah 1:17
For the last 12 years, Melissa Holland, Awaken co-founder and CEO, has come along side women and girls transitioning out of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE). As part of Awaken’s mission to increase awareness and education surrounding CSE, Melissa will present the issues behind the rising statistics and what her group is doing to effect change in the lives of those victimized by this dehumanizing trade.
According to sources, an estimated 40.3 million people are victims of human trafficking worldwide, and the U.S. is #1 in the world for sex trafficking. Bringing awareness to this dehumanizing and criminal trade, Calvary Chapel Reno-Sparks, NV, is hosting the Awaken Human Trafficking Awareness Event on October 27, 2023, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
Nevada Statistics*
Nevada is #1 in the nation for sex trade
63% higher than the next state of New York
Average prostitution entry age, 13 years old
More than 1 out of 10 prostituted persons is too young to buy alcohol
1 out of 3 adolescents on the street will be lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home
Trafficking women is the 2nd largest global organized crime today
Per capita, removing tourism, more women are sold online for sex in Reno than Las Vegas
Only state to allow brothels
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
Melissa Holland co-founded Awaken in 2011 after working with women affected by commercial sexual exploitation. She holds a Masters in Marriage Family Therapy and strongly believes in responding to God’s call to seek justice for the oppressed.
“Nevada has legalized prostitution for over 50 years; women and children have been born and raised in a commercial sex trade legitimized by the state,” Melissa disclosed. In states like Nevada, sex traffickers take advantage of the grooming work—decriminalizing the industry—and are flocking there, imbedding themselves into the community. Through the work at Awaken, Melissa has witnessed how the Lord, through the renewing of His Word in their lives, has broken the generational chains that accompany victims of CSE. “The Lord has worked on our hearts, not just to end trafficking and stop the trauma, but to see a lineage of freedom that happens through these women and their children, so that generation is transformed to start a whole new process of living a life free of trauma and harm that happened to the generations before them.”
Doors open at 6 p.m. and local pastors are encouraged to start things off at the pastors’ round-table discussion with a Turning Point USA representative. Worship by Vertical Music will open the event at 7 p.m., with speakers to follow.
This free event requires registration; tickets may be found at calvarychapelreno.org/awaken,
Click here wakenjustice.org/about-nevada to learn what this organization is doing to restore the lives of those affected by commercial sexual exploitation.
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