I wrote the book I wish I had. Three years ago I was broken hearted and stuck as I had no idea how I could effectively respond to learning that millions of men, women, and children are brutally held in slavery around the world and in my backyard. It was too much for me to process and I felt so alone in my heartbreak. I felt stuck in my world of play-dates, soccer practices and grocery shopping.
The life I loved began to feel confining. I spent a period of time living life as if through molasses. At first I felt completely stuck. I couldn’t see how I could be the mom, the wife, the woman I thought I should be AND make any kind of difference in the freeing of slaves. Then I began to move, although at first very very slowly. I educated myself, I prayed, I cried, I reached out to people who I thought might give me something to do or who, at least, I thought would understand how I was feeling. I slowly began to realize I had a response and that my response was needed in freeing people from slavery. I didn’t feel very powerful and my responses were not very grandiose, but I began to see that they made a difference. I began to see my responses were needed. I began to see that others like me were needed.
You are needed.
Refuse To Do Nothing: Finding Your Power To Abolish Modern Day Slavery is the book I wish I had three years ago. It is a practical manual to what modern day slavery/human trafficking is and how to respond right in the busyness of your life to make a difference. It is the first steps in becoming a modern day abolitionist.
The countdown begins. The manuscript is written, turned in, edited, revisions made, more edits, and then all in the hands of my publisher. The book will be officially ready for purchase at The Justice Conference (http://thejusticeconference.com) at the end of February 2013 and available online and in bookstores March 2013.
Thankfully I have not done this alone. I wrote this book with friend, activist, and author Shayne Moore (author of Global Soccer Mom). We are fortunate enough to have a publisher that cares as much about this issue as we do. InterVarsity Press is our publisher, and I was completely humbled last week when I went out to Chicago to meet with the team who will be handling the marketing of this book and learned that everyone I met had actually taken time to read the book in its entirety. I knew that my editor read it, but did not imagine that the entire team who will have a hand its distribution had also read it. I am deeply grateful.
There is no silver bullet to fighting the bad guys who profit from the enslavement of others. A silver bullet is not needed.
You are.
There is something for each person to do. There is a response, an action required of all of us.
Refuse To Do Nothing.
