Bright Hope believes that equipping the local, in-country church is the critical element needed to combat human trafficking in India.
(Image, caption courtesy Bright Hope)
International (MNN) — Throughout the world, women are treated as less than human. Gender-based killings — practiced everywhere from China to the U.S. — kills thousands of baby girls before they take their first breath. In many of the world’s “developing” nations, mothers and wives do 75% of the household labor.
If girls and young women make it beyond the age of five, they face a myriad of dangers specifically tied to their gender: female mutilation, the risk of becoming a child bride, being sold and/or trafficked as a sex slave, etc.
The list goes on and on.
In light of our current series about women in leadership, that begs the following question: How can you develop women leaders if their basic rights aren’t even recognized?
KÓ“rin Primuth, CEO of visionSynergy and Board Member of Asian Access (A2), says not only is it possible, it’s key to growing God’s Kingdom.
“It’s a very critical opportunity,” Primuth emphasizes. “Basically, to develop a woman is to develop a family, a community, and a culture, because she is going to re-invest in her family, her children, and her community.”
(Photo cred: Asian Access)
A2 helps women recognize the skills God has given them, and then use those skills to tell more people about Jesus. But, they’re not the only mission agencies investing in an oft-overlooked people group.
“There are women who are trying to catalyze opportunities for other women to create ministries that encourage their development,” notes Primuth.
- Global Advance walks a similar path as A2: developing women in leadership.
- Mission India helps women find their voice by teaching them how to read and write.
- Gospel for Asia empowers women to reach other women for Christ.
- Food for the Hungry uses micro-loans to help women develop economic skills, thereby decreasing her vulnerability to traffickers and similar predators.
Click on the highlighted group names above to learn more about each opportunity.
Though our series has ended, keep praying for women — those in leadership, those who serve the Lord in silence, and those who don’t know about His love. Ask the Lord if He wants you to invest in programs, like those mentioned above, that are sharing the Gospel with women around the world.
