01/27/2020

“Seeing” Your Neighbor article from enLIGHTen Committee of the SOS WELCA

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these (Mark 12:30–32).

I recently read a blog article written by Major Kellie Peabody of The Salvation Army. She reflected on this Scripture passage and its relevance for National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month. I thought she posed a great question:

When we look at human trafficking, we need to ask, “who then is our neighbor?” It is easy to think that it concerns someone far away on the other side of the world. We understand human trafficking happens in third world countries or faraway places. However, human trafficking is happening right under our noses. It is the college girl next door, the person at the nail salon, the gas attendant at the local gas station, the workers at the massage parlor, the women caught in pornography or at the local peep shows, the men and women cleaning houses next door, the girls on the streets, the foster child or runaway looking for a safe place.

Major Peabody went on to talk about how we have an opportunity to show love by “seeing” others. “Seeing” others could mean noticing things around you, being aware. “Seeing” others could mean looking at something differently than you have before, seeing another perspective. “Seeing” others could mean getting involved in combatting human trafficking in your community or supporting survivors in positive and healing ways. How will you “see” your neighbor today, right here in the Southern Ohio Synod?

• Attend the 11^th Annual Human Trafficking Awareness Day at the Ohio Statehouse on Thursday, February 27^th. More information/registration is available at this website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/11th-annual-human-trafficking-awareness-day-registration-86573398365

• Learn to recognize the signs of human trafficking. Recognizing potential red flags and knowing the indicators of human trafficking is a key step in identifying more victims and helping them find the assistance they need. Visit the National Human Trafficking Hotline for a list of common signs to look for: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/human-trafficking/recognizing-signs.

• Pay more attention when you are driving, getting gasoline, using a public restroom, picking up dinner at a fast food restaurant, or boarding a flight at the airport. Does something seem off to you? If you believe you may have information about a trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free hotline at 1-888-3737-888. Anti-Trafficking Hotline Advocates are available 24/7 to take reports of potential human trafficking.

• There are many, many ways to “see” your neighbor and learn more about anti-human trafficking efforts in Ohio. Did you know Ohio has an active human trafficking task force? Learn more at this website: https://humantrafficking.ohio.gov/.

It only takes one person to do something. One person CAN make a difference.

If you want to get involved in this work, please call me --

Kelley Scott, member of enLIGHTen Committee, shining a light on human trafficking, at 740/475-8498 or email me at kelleynotez@yahoo.com