Hidden in Plain Sight: The Evil of Human Trafficking (and What We CAN Do)
I live in an area filled with all kinds of trees. Despite popular perception, a tree’s root system can be between two and five times larger than what we see of the tree above the ground. Icebergs can also have this fascinating characteristic. Recently, Love 146, a non-profit that works alongside children impacted by human trafficking, used the image of an iceberg to illustrate the gap between what most people think human trafficking prevention looks like and what it can also look like. The most difficult challenges of human trafficking can be hidden in plain sight and exist just below the surface of our understanding.
Above the waterline —obvious things, we tend to focus all our attention on.
Raising Awareness
Calling a Hotline
Law Enforcement Interventions
Below the waterline - more complicated things that require much harder and deeper work.
Increased access to victim services
Passing legislation to reduce risk, support victims, and hold offenders accountable
Professionals responding to youth safety concerns
Social norms against violence
Mentoring
Ethical shopping and addressing supply chain exploitation
Healthy social connections
Listening to survivors
Workers understanding their rights.
Investing in evidence-based approaches
Increasing economic opportunities
Meeting basic needs
Safe and supportive schools
Holding online platforms accountable
Specialized services that meet the needs of all people
How can we bring more of these” below the surface” matters into the light during January, Human Trafficking Awareness Month? What actions could we take?
Pray
Use the list above as prayer prompts that you pray over every day in January. Ask the Lord for his creative solutions, wisdom, and provision for each of these challenges. The Anglican Freedom Network prioritizes prayer because it helps align our hearts and minds with the Lord’s priorities. Join the Anglican Freedom Network on Sunday, January 11th, for a 60-minute virtual prayer gathering at 7:30 pm ET. Register to receive the Zoom link.
Wear Blue
On Sunday, January 11th, wear blue and post a selfie on social media to draw attention to this topic, and include this tag: #WearBlueDay. The Department of Homeland Security says, “Stopping human trafficking starts with understanding it. Join us on January 11, 2026, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day (#WearBlueDay), to learn the facts, end the misconceptions, and start the conversation.” We all have a circle of influence, people who notice what we do or don’t do. More information about the blue campaign. Please share your selfies with the Anglican Freedom Network Facebook Group.
Mentor
Consider applying to mentor a vulnerable/at-risk student at a public school in your area. A small investment of your time could make a massive difference for a child at risk of human trafficking.
Partner
Seek out a non-profit organization involved in human trafficking prevention in your local area. How can you pray for the organization's needs? How can you donate to their efforts? How can you volunteer and provide support?
Shop Ethically
What if you could buy a gift or product and support efforts to fight human trafficking? Check out the list of businesses on Redemption Market’s site from Freedom Business Alliance(FBA). “FBA has defined 6 commitments of Freedom Business: a mission to end human trafficking, transparency and accountability, good working conditions, fair pay, healing centered workplace, and concern for external stakeholders that are doing good work that employ survivors and/or support anti-human trafficking efforts.” (per Redemption Market’s website)
Join the Anglican Freedom Network
The Anglican Freedom Network (AFN) is a group of concerned individuals and organizations dedicated to the cause of eliminating human trafficking and human slavery worldwide through collaboration, resource sharing, training, and prayer. We are building our team through our AFN webpage and our Facebook group. We are part of the New Wineskins Missions Network, a mission-mobilizing non-profit ministry that exists to advance the Kingdom of God to the ends of the earth. Working primarily through the Anglican Communion worldwide, New Wineskins facilitates collaboration and inspires mission engagement through resources, partnerships, networks, prayer, and mission conferences. Check out our Resource Page.
What ideas do you have to bring what is hidden in plain sight into the light? I would love to hear from you. Please email me:
As a recovering perfectionist with a love for coffee and tea, Anthea Kotlan has dedicated over a decade to serving her Diocese as a women’s ministry leader. Her desire to see women leaders receive training and encouragement led her to join the Women’s Leadership Network team under the Next Generation Leadership Initiative with the ACNA (Anglican Church in North America). She hosts a monthly online gathering for women lay leaders as part of her work there.
In 2015, her awareness of the problem of human trafficking led to the formation of a group at St. Timothy’s Anglican Church in Spring, Texas. This group met monthly for five years to pray. They also hosted various awareness events and partnered with Houston-area anti-human trafficking organizations to raise funds. Once a year, this group hosted a Prayer Service on Super Bowl Sunday, bringing people from multiple parishes and the local area together to intercede and worship.
Anthea writes, blogs, and speaks about soul tending and discipleship, with a focus on the Psalms, at www.antheakotlan.com. She is a proud mother to two incredible adult daughters, wife to a bi-vocational Anglican priest, and grandmother to three wonderful grandchildren. She serves on a church plant team with her husband at All Saints in Conroe, Texas.
