Modern slavery is happening on our doorstep, and we have the privilege of raising our voices in prayer to a God who can do “infinitely more than all we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). He loves every single human being. And His message of hope is one that brings FREEDOM. So we ask you to stand with us and pray for freedom – for those trapped in modern slavery, as well as for those who are committing this evil. We also ask you to pray for our teams, working in the UK as well as globally, that we would be equipped and empowered to bring freedom here on earth.

Please pray for the expansion of our work as we design and build strategy to help more victims become survivors. Rescue is only a small part of our work; it’s the restoration process, physical and psychological, that requires long-term, trauma-informed interventions. In the UK that focus is on our team of specialists as they walk hand-in-hand with those most needing help and support, to find all the support they require in order to overcome their suffering. In Uganda and Ethiopia that focus is on our Lighthouse shelters where we provide care and support for children, many who have been exploited through sexual exploitation or labour exploitation. We believe in the kingdom model of restoration and this is why we try to reintegrate as many children we can back into their families. A lot of these families had given up hope of ever seeing their child again and are overcome and overjoyed to be reunited with them. In the U.S. our focus is on our investigation work, finding those who have been trafficked and hidden away and who need us to find them and bring them back to a place of safety. Job 12:22 – He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light.

Please pray for heavenly resources. It’s no easy task funding a global operation with so many demands on finances. Please pray for a release of funding that allows us to plan ahead and build out the requirements we need to put in place to make measurable and impactful change. Philippians 4:19 – And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Please pray for our work that reaches out into businesses and corporate entities, that we will find favour and support and that by influencing the influential in society we can mitigate the risks of slavery in supply chains and product tainted by exploitation.

Play pray for the safeguarding and protection of all our staff. Often our work takes us and places us in locations that have degrees of vulnerability and risk. In fact, we say that ‘where there is vulnerability there is almost certainly exploitation’. As we go into places of risk to help those most vulnerable, please pray that God’s hand of protection will be upon us, that He will set our path straight and that he will go before us. Isaiah 45:2-3 NIV – I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.

Hope for Justice holds a weekly online prayer session on Wednesday evenings (UK time). Anyone who wants to pray is welcome to join. Just email pray@hopeforjustice.org to request the meeting link.