The Defenders USA Archives - Page 7 of 12 - Shared Hope International

January 23, 2013 by SHI Staff

“HOPE” Through a Men’s Accountability Group

(Guest Post by Jon Bean of the MST Project)

I want to tell you about The Hope Campaign. The Hope Campaign is a men’s accountability group resource for men, many of whom may be coming to the understanding for the first time that something needs to change. Maybe they are involved with prostitution, porn, or other more illicit activities but they are starting to understand that this isn’t the way things should be. We want to connect with these men and help them process the rediscovery of hope. What sort of changes need to happen in order to draw near to God? What does a life of victory look like? Is there anyone that I can be vulnerable with about my story who won’t judge me and is willing to love me where I’m at while at the same time, lifting me up?

The Hope Campaign is based on our own experiences dealing with sexual sin, and how we were able to answer those questions and others that came up. We made the choice to walk away from that lifestyle and discover what it meant to live in intimacy with Christ rather than intimacy with darkness.

We learned to be open with others and talk about things like not being alone, removing the masks that we hide behind, and how we affect our connection with God, by choosing to connect with darkness instead. We have seen God work when we opened our hearts and He has worked through the lives of other men that we allowed to be a part of our lives. We trust God to use this material in the process of restoring these men to a place of victory and intimacy with Christ. Men who are restored and living lives of victory, will not want to return to the lives they were living. They will take the experiences that they lived in the past and use them to lift other men up, to choose not to victimize and exploit, but rather to protect and defend those that are most vulnerable. We know this because we have seen this happen in our own lives and hearts.

To learn more about the Hope Campaign, or men’s accountability groups, you can contact me at jon@mstproject.com.

January 16, 2013 by SHI Staff

Let’s Be Heroes – The Defenders USA

For those of you that don’t know, my name is Ethan Morrow, and since September I’ve been the Defenders Intern here at Shared Hope. I’ve been helping out with various things, running the Defenders Social media, and writing blog/vlog content.

As life often does, my life is moving in ways I can’t explain, and I’m feeling called to do other things now. That being said, this will be my last Defenders blog post for a while here at the Defenders’ office. I’m very sad that I have to leave, but I’ve learned a lot during my time serving here.

My time here has been filled with joys, sorrows, trials, and definitely some tears. It’s been so inspiring for me to see thousands of people gather together to make a difference and end the demand for human trafficking. My time here has shown me the beautiful power that exists in this world. Together, we can accomplish so much.

If I wanted to leave the Defenders with one message to all men out there, I would say this: brutality and evil doesn’t just cease to exist. Shared Hope is going to continue to work to create laws that end human trafficking, and we will continue to provide restoration and care for the victims of this brutal industry — and that is a beautiful thing. But, in my opinion, what a lot of guys fail to understand is the fact that we live in a supply-and-demand culture. If we, as men, do not change our lives and end the demand for commercial sex, someone will continue to provide the product.

Through laws that we pass, the number of women and children trafficked may decrease drastically, but if there is still a demand, there will still be a product. Over 100,000 children are sexually trafficked and exploited every year, and it is up to us to stop it. With our commitment and dedication, a brutal $9.8 billion/year U.S. business will cease to exist.

I’ve seen amazing things happen in my time here at Shared Hope, so I know that we as men can do this. Please, take your pledge seriously. Hold your friends accountable. Start an accountability group. Find a way to make your life a life that ends the demand for human trafficking. Men, we can save lives. Actually, I should say that men, we will save lives.

It’s been a pleasure working with the Defenders, and I look forward to working here again in the future. Men, together we can end demand. I’ll end my final blog post in the same way I ended my first blog post.

Let’s be heroes—let’s be Defenders.

January 8, 2013 by webdesigner

The Defenders: Start Spreading The News

The title comes from the lyrics from the song, “New York, New York.” No, I have not been to New York recently — but I have had several opportunities to spread the news about Shared Hope and the Defenders.

In late November I was at my physician’s office and his nurse asked what I have been doing that day. I told her I was making phone calls for Shared Hope and she inquired about what our organization did. I asked if she would be interested in learning more about Share Hope and she said yes. The next time I was in Portland, I took three copies of Linda Smith’s books and gave them to her to pass around their office.

New Year’s eve, my wife Patti and I were invited to play cards with three other couples all of whom attended the church I pastored. The subject of Shared Hope came up. I asked if they had ever read Linda’s books. They replied that they had not. I went to my car and gave each couple a copy of each book including a Defender’s pledge card. I will follow up with each of them and encourage them to take the pledge.

In the past several years it appears to me that more people in the social justice movement have become both aware and active in the fight against Human Trafficking. It seems to me that a week does not go by without seeing an article or TV clip in the paper and electronic media and hour-long programs on sex trafficking can be viewed almost weekly.

Recently I sat and watched three hours of continuous programming on sex trafficking. Because of this increase in public awareness, speaking out against about sex trafficking is easier today than it was several years ago.

Part of our Defender pledge is to become informed and raise awareness. Join me in spreading the News not just on ‘”old Broadway” but at every opportunity.

Ron Hart
Shared Hope International Chaplain
Former Defender Outreach Coordinator

January 2, 2013 by SHI Staff

A Season of Hope

Christmas is now behind us for another year, and new year is here. We as Defenders have assisted in making a huge impact in 2012. Many lives were saved, and many laws were passed to protect women and children in the US. This is incredible news.

To me, the new year is a time of hope and opportunity. This is a time where every person reflects on the past year, acknowledges that what is behind us has already happened, and that we have a new opportunity to bring new life and restoration. That’s why we have New Year’s Resolutions, right? New Year’s Resolutions show that the coming year is an opportunity to change; it’s a chance to make things different. New Year’s is a time of hope because the last year’s baggage is behind us, and we can move on with hope for difference and restoration.

As a fellow Defender, I’m excited for the next year. This last year was truly a great one when it comes to impact, but there is no reason why 2013 can’t be better. I have so many different ideas and hopes for the next year.

What if we are even more motivated than last year? What would happen if every man who has taken the pledge would seriously change his lifestyle so women and children are defended and the demand for commercial sex ceased to exist? What would happen if every man seriously took part 2 of the Defenders pledge seriously, and held their fellow men accountable?

For 2013, I picture a year where every Defender is an active one. I want every man to be committed to ending the demand for such a brutal industry. Men, we all know how brutal commercial sex can be. Why not take that brutality seriously, and truly follow the pledge you have taken? Hold your friends accountable. Take action. Abstain from commercial sex. At the Defenders office, we try to put together as many resources as we can to help each other out. Go to our Defenders Resource page, On this resources page, you’ll find information on the brutal commercial sex industry, you’ll find infographics, and you’ll even find a resource on how to start a Men’s Accountability Group. You’ll also find books, and lists of helpful organizations for you in your fight as a Defender.

So Defenders, this year I’m going to call you out. Together, let’s take 2013 seriously. Let us make it a year where Human Trafficking is ended because there is no demand for it. Share the pledge. Participate in community on our Facebook page. Hold your friends accountable. And most importantly, let your lifestyle end the demand.

New Years is a time of hope. It’s a time of reflection and a plan to change. This is my call to action. Take your identity as a Defender seriously. Together in 2013, we can bring about restoration and ultimately end demand.

December 26, 2012 by SHI Staff

Our History: The Beginning of the Defenders

From the Defenders USA archives:

Our History

We were looking around the table at each other in states of disbelief and shock at what we had just seen and heard.

We had been through a day where we had seen the actual bartering and eventual sale of a 15 year old by a trafficker getting $400 an hour for her body. He offered the human rights investigator 5 girls total to pick from, all between 14-17 years of age, this transaction captured on a button camera. Not in a foreign country, but in Atlanta, Georgia.

We heard that there are hundreds of thousands of young girls forced into the commercial sex industry every year. While many are photographed and sold at tourist destinations or to convention goers, most are sold to local guys traveling less than an hour from their own children and home, driven to satisfy there fantasy fueled by online pornography. We heard from the Cyber Crimes Unit of the FBI, as well as Homeland Security, alarming statistics of large numbers of ordinary men starting a secret life of pornography viewing that quickly inflames to using child pornography — then large numbers acting out their fantasies with younger and younger girls.

We knew we had to do something, but what?

We had learned a lot at the evaluation in Washington DC, but where do we start fighting back in a battle that is taking prisoners and leaving casualties of thousands of husbands, brothers, and fathers whose lives are destroyed from the aggressive pornography industry?

Shared Hope International was commissioned to co-host the U.S. Mid-Term Review on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) in America in order to evaluate best practices, gaps in current efforts, and challenges faced in the field. The Mid-Term Review was conducted in two stages. The first stage collected reports from the Justice Department, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services as well as 35 Non Government Groups around the United States with an analysis of their respective programs, funding availability, challenges, and perspectives on the issue. The second stage consisted of the conference held April 3-4, 2006 in Washington DC which brought together government agency representatives, law enforcement officials, academics, private industry representatives, and NGO leaders in a structured discussion of the trafficking, prostitution, pornography, sex tourism and supply and demand of children.

Founder of Shared Hope International, Former Congresswomen Linda Smith, noted that it became clear during the first stage survey collection that while there were numerous programs addressing the victims of commercial sexual exploitation and service creation for victims, there was a severe lack in two areas: Prevention and Demand. There was virtually no focus on deterring the client from entering the market.

It was then that Shared Hope International began gathering a core alliance of men from around the Country to explore how best to fight the battle of a growing demand for younger and younger girls. This demand is coming from ordinary American men.

Our first planning sessions were April 3-4, each evening following the daily work at the conference in Washington, DC. Shared Hope International invited us to listen in as experts from over 100 civil society groups and 4 government agencies gathered to discuss the threat and scope of child exploitation for profit in the United States. This foundation of knowledge on the issues surrounding commercial sexual exploitation such as child prostitution, child trafficking, child pornography and child sex tourism served as an impetus for action from The Defenders. This momentum sparked an intense debate on how this group of men could make any impact. The battle seemed too big, but at the end of the evening the question became, ‘What would you do if this was your daughter?’

And so the solution became clear – it is imperative that we impede demand by ‘DEFENDING AND PROTECTING ALL MEN’S DAUGHTERS’. Men are not living up to their natural role – the role of protector and defender. It was here that the concept of The Defenders was born – Calling on men to defend themselves, each other, and the children of America against the harms of the commercial sex industry.

The first set of goals identified by The Defenders were:

• To raise public awareness of the harms of buying sex, and of pornography use, to both the victim and the buyer or user.

• To encourage public discussion on the issue of how “normal” it has become to buy younger and younger children, as evidenced by the growing number of children being drawn into prostitution at age 11 and younger.

• To challenge civil society groups including faith-based organizations and churches to provide refuge and services to the victims and the victimizers, who both believe they are now totally unacceptable to society.

• To establish a website which links individuals to resources currently available and which connects people who want to join the fight.

• To make available the resources needed by a man who wants to help a friend or co-worker caught in the web of sexual exploitation, or to a man who wants to make a presentation on the subject to a group, or to get help himself.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9B9zHjUAAk’]

The Defenders planned to execute these goals by:

• Produce and air 60- and 30-second TV commercials to air on networks like CNN, FOX, and ESPN. Target: men 25-55.

• Produce and air 10 and 30-second radio spots.

• Create The Defenders website. Involve men in standing up to protect women and children. Discourage men from viewing pornography and using children and provide resources and help to those currently stuck in addiction and wanting help.

Each of us has taken the pledge and made a commitment to ourselves, each other and our nation’s children. We acknowledge that the battle is growing every minute and that this is just the beginning. Most importantly, we need you.

You can make the difference in the life of a child. Please join us and become a Defender today.

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