noun · the exploitation of vulnerabilities for commercial gain
50 million people are exploited globally
through modern-day slavery.
Human trafficking is a
$150 Billion business.
Cases have been reported in all 50 states.
Those at greatest risk include:
Marginalized populations
Homeless populations
At-risk youth
The cyclically impoverished
Immigrants
Domestic abuse victims
Many in the anti-trafficking movement confirm that the local church is one of the few places where trafficking victims can be away from their exploiters.
How will you respond?
Partner With Us
We are dedicated to building a network of well-equipped churches capable of identifying and reaching the most vulnerable in their communities.
Our resources include exclusive members-only access to a variety of Let My People Go justice training materials. These are designed to help propel your justice and mercy ministry forward, and empower church leadership and members to understand and engage in outreach to the vulnerable.
Who We Are
Let My People Go is dedicated to building a network of well-equipped churches capable of loving those most vulnerable in their churches and communities.
Practically, this "love" is evidenced throughout the congregation as the church identifies, empowers, protects, and includes those who traffickers would normally target.
While any church can begin a ministry to the vulnerable, not every church can actually sustain this ministry overtime. For this reason, Let My People Go paces with each church as they aim to empower their congregation to care for the hurting in their respective communities.
Let My People Go is committed to empowering the local church to discover the unique mission to which God has called it.
Our Strategy
We long to introduce an innovative framework that is both congregational and collaborative, with the Gospel as its motive; offering training, support, coaching, networking and resourcing. In our approach, we are flexible and multi-faceted, empowering churches to identify those most vulnerable in their communities.
OUR FOUNDER
Raleigh Sadler
Founder and Executive Director
Since 2001, Raleigh Sadler has served in Christian ministry. Currently, he is the founder and executive director of Let My People Go.
His passion is to see the local church fight global injustices, like human trafficking, by loving those most vulnerable. He believes that the church should be leading the way in the fight against human trafficking because the Gospel frees us to pursue justice and mercy in our communities. With this message, he has worked with churches, universities, and other collaborative organizations around the country. He believes it is the responsibility of the church to love those who are at risk of exploitation. His most recent book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking (Broadman and Holman) is available now.
OUR ADVISORS
Corban Addison
Attorney; Activist; Author
Steve Biondo
President, Tim Tebow Foundation
Gerry Breshears
Professor; Author; Pastor
Larry Christensen
Cru City
Daniel Darling
Author; Director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Taylor Field
Pastor; Author
Kristin Keen
Co-founder, Sari Bari; Founder, Rethreaded
Chris Lim
Former Undercover Specialist; Author
Iryna Makaruk
Speaker
Diana Mao
President and Co-founder, Nomi Network
Kevin Palau
President, Luis Palau Association
Ben Skinner
Author; Journalist
Jacob Smith
Rector, St. George’s Parish; Co-founder, Mockingbird
Darryl Williamson
Pastor; Council, The Gospel Coalition
Emily Waters
Founder, TRuST Collaborative; Director of Human Trafficking Programs, The Safe Center Long Island
What We Value
Motivated by the Gospel
Let My People Go is motivated by the gospel of salvation and grace, not one of law or guilt. Only the Gospel is sufficient enough to motivate the local church to selflessly love those most vulnerable. We believe that the only way to love others in an enduring fashion is to rest in God's love for us, which is clearly articulated in the historic creeds of the Church.
Empowered to Empower
Let My People Go desires to empower vulnerable people to love other vulnerable people. With that said, we seek to empower the churches with whom we partner to effectively reach those most susceptible to exploitation in their communities. In turn, those most vulnerable are empowered – being brought from vulnerability to strength.
Compassionate on Purpose
Recognizing that we, as human beings, do not naturally drift into compassion, Let My People Go strives to be intentional and strategic – demonstrating compassion in all that we do. For this reason, we equip our church partners with the tools needed to create and implement a strategic approach that is both congregational and collaborative with the Gospel as it's motive.
Dignity
Let My People Go believes that every person has been made in God’s image and possesses inherent worth and dignity. With this as a starting point, we see our neighbors not as problems to be fixed but as people deserving of love and community. Each person deserves to experience empathy and freedom.
Freedom
Finally, Let My People Go is committed to freedom. By focusing on vulnerability, we can address human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation at a root level. We believe that the church is key to seeing human trafficking diminish—this us why we empower the local church to fight human trafficking by loving those most vulnerable.
In the Press
Sadler explains that clergy have a particular responsibility to mobilize and inspire our communities to care for those who are vulnerable.
Kate Taylor
The New York Times
...the Let My People Go movement challenges Christians to see people set free not only physically but also spiritually.
Diana Chandler
Baptist Press
“Everyone has vulnerabilities,” said Raleigh Sadler, executive director of Let My People Go. “If you address vulnerability you are addressing prevention, intervention – everything at once.
Sarah Grochowski
NY Daily News
How can the local church be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ if we aren’t being his eyes and ears, too? How can we love someone if we don’t even know they exist?
Raleigh Sadler
HuffPost