She was known for her secrets. She was known for her clients. She was known for the way she led her life. She was an object suited only to entertain and known for nothing else. She was her business, trapped in the circle of abuse.
“Rahab was known only as a prostitute,” said Dr. Doug Gilmer, Advisor at the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking, located in Washington, D.C. “But God redeemed her life and made it one that tells only of His grace and great love. She was turned from a mess into an utter miracle.”
In commemoration of human trafficking awareness month, on Jan. 16, Gilmer presented to Asbury University’s student body a seminar. He highlighted the problem and pain of human trafficking in the past, now rapidly spreading into the near future.
“Human trafficking is the ultimate injustice. And it is not a problem that is going away, but continues to grow,” said Gilmer.
In a study done by the State Department and State.gov, respectively, it was estimated that a total of 27 million human beings were trafficked last year, 2023, while 27.6 million people are being trafficked at any given moment. In the United States, an estimated 14,500 to 17,500 women and children have been sexually trafficked each year within the last 5 years.
“Victims of human trafficking have no hope until someone can come along and get them out of that situation,” said Gilmer. “Their spirits are crushed, and survival is just day-to-day. They have no dreams, no hopes. And for victims living, it is just a means to an ultimate death.”
During the Jan. 16 seminar, Gilmer expounded upon the idea that in today’s world, far too many human beings are left without hope, such as Rehab once was, but there is hope.
“Every time Rahab is mentioned in the Old Testament, she is known as a harlot. But when we examine the life of Rehab, she has an intricate and unique plan in God’s great design,” said Gilmer. “Throughout the entire account of the book of Joshua, we see that every single aspect of her life had God’s hand on it. Rehab was known for all this, and yet she was redeemed.”
In additional recognition of this first month, Anna Jacobs, lead community engagement coordinator for Refuge for Women Kentucky, plans to hold a volunteer training seminar in the Shaw Collaborative Learning Center on Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., as well as an alternate time from 1 p.m. through 4 p.m.
“We fight until all are free,” said Jacobs.
“The answer to ending this, and all forms of exploitation, is in God’s Word,” said Gilmer. “And we have to be willing to demonstrate God’s love, just as He has demonstrated it to us. God’s supernatural love for us supersedes our own ability to extend grace, that which isn’t even ours to give.”