The Whistleblower. A Story about Human Trafficking in Postwar Bosnia

I watched last night The Whistleblower. Here is the trailer. 

It reveals the brutal and violent world of human trafficking in postwar Bosnia. The story was hard to watch—but I couldn’t quit watching. It had no satisfying ending—as this story should not have as long as there is still human trafficking.

Here is a review by the New York Times. As the review will point out, aspects of the story were undeveloped. It has graphic scenes that help us grapple with the terror and torture borne by victims of trafficking. 

It is a story worth watching, thinking about and discussing.

Lent 2012: Day 15

Journey to the Cross…and the Empty Grave

The last two weeks have started to change the rhythm and centeredness of my life. At a personal, interior level, my soul is more expectant of an encounter with Living God.

I sense a turning in my spirit from my own spiritual health to the well-being of the world. The coming of Jesus into the world, his teachings, his death and his resurrection put a stick in the spoke of the world’s structures. Not only spiritual powers, but world powers also were put on notice: your time has come to an end. If you persist in doing evil, if you practice only the politics of expediency, if you do not steward your opportunity for doing good in this world, you will be held accountable. End of story.

On a fateful day Luke tells us that Jesus “resolutely” turned toward Jerusalem. Enough was enough. The time for decisive action had come.

I’ve been watching some documentaries about about Auschwitz, the Sudan, Rawanda, Cambodia—all places of horrific killings. (And I am watching what is happening in Syria—a place of horrific killing.) A common denominator in the documentaries was that political powers did nothing, claiming issues of ” political expediency.” Another common denominator is the question asked afterwards, “Why did the church stand by?” “Why did pastors do nothing?” “Why did followers of Jesus do nothing?”

Great questions, right? What we know is that Jesus didn’t stand by. He threw himself, like a stick, into the spokes of the world’s structures. While his personal cost was enormous, that one act changed everything.

While all of this may sound melodramatic, i don’t offer it as such. I offer this observation as the most practical way of living, right now in 21st century material culture, for those who claim to follow in the ways of the One who, one day, turned “resolutely” towards Jerusalem.

Human Trafficking Day and the Church

I am a pastor (vocation). I am 54 years old (age). I have a doctorate in spiritual formation (passion). I am Caucasian (ethnicity). I am a follower of Jesus—which overrides everything else and explains why I am leading my church deeper and deeper into the movement to end the horrific evil of human trafficking.

January is human trafficking month. This month we are doing all we can to get as many Californians to sign the C.A.S.E. Act petition, which will put on the November California ballot a measure to make human trafficking the riskiest crime in California. 

Today is human trafficking day. Tonight people in our church will gather to pray for the end of this crime.

How did a Caucasian pastor, in his fifties, with passion for the contemplative life, become involved in the mission to end human trafficking? More importantly, how can you as a pastor get involved and lead your church into getting the light and love of Jesus into a place of utter darkness and evil?

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