A BISHOP, a footballer, and a Christian rock band have endorsed a tour that seeks to highlight the scourge of human trafficking, it was announced late last month.
The Churches Against Trafficking tour is being organised by the charity One By One, and will visit churches around the UK.
The campaign has been endorsed by the Bishop of Dover, the Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin; a Premier League footballer, Junior Stanislas; and the members of the Northern Irish Christian rock band Rend Collective.
Bishop Hudson-Wilkin said on 29 March, when the tour was announced: “Every human being is created in the image of God. Every person deserves not only our respect, but our care and protection — especially those who are most vulnerable in our world.
“I am delighted to support Churches Against Trafficking. Together, we must continue to strive for the flourishing and freedom of all of God’s people.”
Mr Stanislas, who plays for AFC Bournemouth, said: “It’s our mandate as Christians to reach the lost and the broken. I’m delighted to lend my voice along with many others across the Church to see freedom come to those who are held captive.”
The drummer of Rend Collective, Gareth Gilkeson, said that the charity’s work combating the “evils of human trafficking” had become important to him.
The founder and chief executive of One by One, Becky Murray, said: “There are now more people in slavery than ever before — and it will take far more than one charity to stop this. We need the backing of every Church, every politician, and everyone who has a voice. If we all play our part, we can begin to see an end to exploitation and see freedom come to many lives across the world.”
Part of One By One’s anti-exploitation work involves running a safe house in Pakistan for children who have been forced into bonded labour at brick factories. The charity’s website says that the programme has so far rescued 85 children from this form of modern slavery.
Dates for the Churches Against Trafficking tour, which begins this month, are available on the website (onebyone.net). The tour will conclude in October with a reception in Parliament.