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Monday, September 10, 2012

Let My People Go by Kathi Macias



“Let My People Go!” 
by Kathi Macias 

The term “human trafficking” or “trafficking in persons” (TIP) often draws raised eyebrows and skeptical expressions—until statistics are laid out to show that approximately 27 million people are enslaved today, whether for the purposes of slave labor, prostitution, or involuntary organ “donations.”

The Salvation Army has made the rescue of those enslaved around the world their number-one goal at this time, holding seminars and conferences to educate people and to garner support from various individuals and organizations.

The United Nations describes TIP in this way:
“The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.” 

In a nutshell, human trafficking is modern-day slavery, and it is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. It is currently tied with the illegal arms industry for the second largest criminal industry in existence, with the drug industry being the only one to edge it out.

Oh, I know. Most people naively believe that human trafficking happens only in faraway countries—Thailand or Cambodia, perhaps. True, it does occur there at a tragic rate. But it also takes place right here in the United States daily, to such an extent that some states are instituting task forces to try and stop it. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot promises that their new task force “will take an aggressive stand against human traffickers, who have turned Texas into a hub for international and domestic forced labor and prostitution rings.”

Another myth about human trafficking is that it only involves adults. Millions of children around the world are crying out in pain and terror over the heartbreaking error of that statement. According to Wikipedia, trafficking in children may come about as an “exploitation of the parents’ extreme poverty. Parents may sell children to traffickers in order to pay off debts or gain income, or they may be deceived concerning the prospects of training and a better life for their children. They may sell their children for labor, sex trafficking, or illegal adoptions.”

Can there be anything that grieves the Father’s heart more than the forced enslaving of people made in His own image—by others bearing that same divine imprint? I believe each time anyone becomes aware of such evil and cries out against it, that cry is spurred by the Father’s own pain. If ever the Church needed to be involved in helping to right a human wrong, it’s now. Human trafficking must stop! And each of us who names the Name of Christ must ask the Father what He wants us to do to help make that happen.

In my case, that includes writing about it—every chance I get, including blogs, letters, articles, and a new fiction-based-on-real-life “Freedom” series: Deliver Me From Evil (Fall 2011); Special Delivery (March 2012); The Deliverer (Fall 2012). Will you pray for these books to be effective in reaching people and calling them to action? And will you also pray and ask God what you can do to answer His heart cry of “Let My people go”? Millions of enslaved human beings around the world are depending on you to respond.


[1] www.humantrafficking.org, “News and Updates,” April 5, 2010.

***Kathi Macias (www.kathimacias.com; www.boldfiction.com; www.thetitus2women.com) is the award-winning author of nearly forty books, including the Golden Scrolls 2011 Novel of the Year and Carol Award finalist, Red Ink. A popular speaker at writers’ and women’s conferences and retreats, Kathi lives in Southern California with her husband, Al.



The Deliverer picks up just months after Special Delivery leaves off, continuing with the stories of Mara, freed from slavery but still struggling with scars and memories from the past; Jonathan, attending Bible college but strongly drawn to Mara, despite her past; and Lawan, having escaped the brothel in Thailand and miraculously reunited with her younger sister in the US and adopted by the same family. Will Mara be able to move past the pain and hatred that bind her, even if it means traveling back to the place where her parents betrayed her and sold her into sexual slavery? Will she allow The Deliverer to set her free—once and for all?




Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored nearly 40 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences. She won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) and was the 2011 Author of the Year from BooksandAuthors.net. Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband. Her newest release is The Deliverer, the third and final book in her “Freedom” series.

You can find out more about Kathi or contact her via her website: www.kathimacias.com.
Follow Kathi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/alandkathi
Like Kathi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathi-Macias/75996188045

Pre-order a copy of The Deliverer from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596693088

Pre-order a copy of The Deliverer from Christianbook.com: http://www.christianbook.com/3-the-deliverer-kathi-macias/9781596693081/pd/693081


Thanks to Pump up your Book Tours I have a copy of Kathi's book The Deliverer for giveaway.  I will be posting my review of Kathi's book in two weeks (9/24) I'm in middle of reading it right now.  Of course it is another good book you won't want to miss.  So for this giveaway I want you to leave me a comment telling me if you've ever read any of Kathi's books?  if so which one(s).  This is mandatory before bonuses go into effect.  Be sure to fill out the rafflecopter also because that is how I'll draw the winner.  Make sure you leave a way of contact too.  This giveaway is open to US residents only and you must be 18 years old or older.  I'll leave this giveaway open til the end of the month.  Draw a winner on Oct. 1st. 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

HURRY TODAY (9/24) 

and TODAY ONLY

CSS is giving away a complete set of THE FREEDOM SERIES by Kathi Macias (all three books - Deliver Me From Evil, Special Delivery, & The Deliverer) on September 24. you must post a comment on their blog to enter at http://christianspeakerservices1.wordpress.com/.






books

4 comments:

Cheryl said...

Thank you for hosting Kathi today. This is an amazing, powerful series of books. I just finished this last one and all I can say is, wow!

Good luck to all who enter.

Cheryl

traveler said...

I read the book Red Ink. Memorable and special. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

I haven't read any yet but, I'd like to start.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

karenk said...

i have kathi's other novels in this series...thanks for the chance to read her latest one

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com