Where do we start?

Start out with a problem as big as human trafficking (HT) and you quickly get inundated with data and advice. Step back. Focus. Prioritize. What is it you yourself need to accomplish?

All of a sudden it feels like everyone is getting on this bandwagon. Like me and OCCV. Other organizations have been at this issue for a while now and even more are rolling up their collective sleeves. Some think they are called to organize everyone else. I’m inclined to shy away from those kinds of folks. I’ve often noted that the Spirit is quite capable of getting folks organized without a lot of human intervention – as each person does his or her part.

There’s the key, each one doing his or her part. Ditto with groups and organizations.

I’m in this issue through the Oregon Center for Christian Values, an advocacy group, which means we focus on pushing for legislation and educating the general public in Oregon on concerns we feel are crucial that Christians should be concerned about. Like human trafficking right in our own backyard.

So, as the human trafficking subcommittee of OCCV, our first task is to do our homework. As a researcher, I like to start my homework by asking questions. I have five:

1. How extensive is the HT problem on our local level and what forms does it take?
2. What are the causes of the local HT problem and what can be done to fight those causes?
3. Who is already involved in doing something about the local HT problem and what are they doing?
4. What else needs to be done?
5. Of this “what else”, what should we in OCCV be doing?

I’ve been asked to serve with Brian Colbourne of Salem as the committee’s co-chair, particularly to gather the needed data. Then on October 19, we as a subcommittee will meet to make some recommendations as to where as OCCV we should focus our priorities. Since we are an advocacy group, we are particularly looking to see what, if any, legislation we can get behind for the next Oregon legislation session this coming February.

Basically the role of our team in the next few months boils down to these steps:

1. Study resources on HT, including books, other print and online materials, organizations, government officials and other personnel to develop a thorough picture of the problem.
2. Survey the existing HT problem and the work of existing groups fighting HT in Oregon.
3. Analyze all this data and determine what else needs to be done.
4. Pray and determine what shape our role should take in the coming months.
5. Advocate by a) educating, b) pushing for changes in laws or new laws or funding, c) recruiting personnel (volunteers, etc.) and d) raising funds as needed.

When I look at all this, it sounds so sterile, so non-emotive. But I remember what my friend, Dick Foth, has often said, “Do what you can do.” (Emphasis on “can”.) Reminds me of Paul’s words in Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart.” That includes all the mundane but necessary stuff like tracking down vital data and figuring out what is going on and why.