Human Trafficking

Working to end human trafficking

Since 2005, Women of the ELCA has been actively working to end human trafficking. Some work on education and awareness. Others provide support to agencies helping women to leave or who have left human trafficking. Others still are working to change laws that criminalize the victims of trafficking.

At the Eleventh Triennial Convention (2021), the voting members adopted a resolution setting the four weeks prior to the annual NFL Super Bowl as a time of prayer to end human trafficking and called on women of this organization to engage in prayer. Download Daily Prayers, Worship materials and Toolkit for Church Leaders below.

To view this page in Spanish, please select the “Spanish” language button located on the top right of the page.

Para ver esta página en español, seleccione el botón de idioma “Español” ubicado en la parte superior derecha de la página.

Video

Watch this video from the Freedom Collective and discuss the issue of human trafficking in your church and fellowship group.

7 Daily Prayers | End Human Trafficking

Below are daily prayers for one week, lifting before God all those impacted by sex and labor trafficking. It includes prayers for those doing the harm, those in active situations of harm, those healing from it, for churches to engage, and for our response to indifference. Let us join together in prayer and in action, seeking transformation. Each prayer is accompanied by a verse from scripture that helped shape it.

Download Seven daily prayers in English

Download Seven daily prayers in Spanish

Worship Service Materials

This worship service provides a trauma-informed structure that lifts up the harm of trafficking in worship. Download the Confessional Prayer over Consumerism (Using the Beatitudes), A template for Prayers of the People, and view the list of suggested hymns and contemporary songs below.

Confessional Prayer over consumerism using (The Beatitudes)

A template for Prayers of the People

Suggested Hymns and Contemporary Songs

Hymns
1. Ask the Complicated Questions ELW 1005
2. Let Streams of Living Justice ELW 710
3. Healer of Our Every Ill ELW 612

Contemporary Songs
1. “God of Justice” by Tim Hughes
2. “Break Every Chain” by Tasha Cobbs Leonard
3. “Lord, Feed Your Children” (Gaither)
4. “Do Something” by Matthew West

Download the Toolkit for Church Leaders from Freedom Collective

Church Leader Toolkit from Freedom Collective

The Freedom Collective, a national agency that supports victims of human trafficking, provides informational resources for congregations. Download two short videos about sex trafficking and a Toolkit for Church Leaders below. These materials can be used by churches as conversation starters in Bible studies or within fellowship circles.

FINAL – Freedom Collective.mp4

the_freedom_collective_2025_final.mp4

Human trafficking is the exploitation of people through force, fraud, or coercion for labor or sexual purposes. It is a form of modern slavery that infiltrates every community and leaves lasting harm worldwide.

Download the Toolkit FOR Church Leaders

End Human Trafficking

Raise awareness to #endhumantrafficking

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Learn ways you and those in your community, church and beyond, can begin to put an end to human trafficking.

Human trafficking resources

Download a Facebook Cover photo

Designed to help your congregation understand the issue of child sexual exploitation and trafficking, “My Neighbor is Not for Sale” is a four-part guide for adult education sessions, youth groups and more. Produced by Cherish All Children, the resource can be used in congregations nationwide to learn about sexual exploitation and trafficking.

DOWNLOAD THE RESOURCE

Human Trafficking

Working to end human trafficking

Since 2005, Women of the ELCA has been actively working to end human trafficking. Some work on education and awareness. Others provide support to agencies helping women to leave or who have left human trafficking. Others still are working to change laws that criminalize the victims of trafficking.

National Human Trafficking Resource Center

Church Leader Toolkit from Freedom Collective

Raise awareness to #endhumantrafficking

Resource addresses trafficking, exploitation