The congregation of Faith Wesleyan Church in Fayetteville, N.C., recently invited the community to join with church members for a human trafficking awareness walk to raise awareness about the issue.

“The Wesleyan Church is very involved with the human trafficking position,” said Kim Fox, a church member who volunteered with the walk. Fox said Faith Wesleyan held a small human trafficking awareness walk last year. About 50 members of the congregation walked laps around the church’s property.

“It has been brought to light in our congregation and in our community that it is something that is here. We have had issues in our own area that have come to light,” said Kim.

To further support the cause, Faith Wesleyan Church makes donations to Emma’s Home. Established in 2012, Emma’s Home is a safe house in Durham where youth and female victims of human trafficking can heal and restore their lives.

The church also contributes to The Fayetteville Dream Center. The faith-based, nonprofit organization serves people in Fayetteville and the surrounding areas. One of the center’s main objectives is to combat human trafficking by partnering with national and statewide organizations such as; 5 Sparrows, NC Stop, SCTNow and others “to end this injustice and rescue people from captivity,” as stated on the center’s website.

“It’s one of those things that we have heard of happening in foreign countries, but it actually has happened here,” McClendon said.

McClendon said that, recently, one of her parishioners had a raid take place near the person’s home, and it was discovered that human trafficking was taking place.

Members from the congregation carried the church’s flag, along with banners and signs noting the cause.

Members of Faith Wesleyan Church believe the walk will not only raise awareness about human trafficking, but encourage the community to be more proactive in helping those in need.

Full article posted in the Fayetteville Observer, October 29.