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1. Learn the facts about modern-day slavery, pray with others about what you are learning, and help your faith community become aware of the problem.

2. Petition your representatives in the U.S. government to make enforcement of anti-slavery laws a priority in relations with countries that tolerate high levels of forced labor.

3. Help pay for the investigative and legal advocates that slaves need to secure freedom and protection under the law.

4. Help pay to secure aftercare and rehabilitation services for the long-term restoration of former slaves.

The courageous story of William Wilberforce will be an inspiration to many this year—including many who may not yet share his Christian faith. No doubt many Christians will find in Wilberforce's life a powerful metaphor for steadfastness in their own particular ministries.

However, I imagine it would be quite a disappointment to Wilberforce if we looked past the millions of slaves in our world and found in his life only a metaphor for the zealous pursuit of what we are already doing. May we not only rediscover the story of Wilberforce, but also the joy of living it.

Copyright © 2007 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

March's Inside CT talks about what ordinary people can do to end slavery.

Other articles on slavery in the March issue of Christianity Today include 'Free at Last,' 'Amazing Abolitionist', and 'What Would Wilberforce Do?.'

The Amazing Change campaign includes a petition to end slavery.

Christianity Today's other articles on slavery and human trafficking include:

Red-Light Rescue | The 'business' of helping prostituted women help themselves. (December 29, 2006)

Child Sex Tours | The average victim is 14, and Americans make up 25 percent of the customers. (December 29, 2006)

Sex Isn't a Spectator Sport | Germany's World Cup pimping will fuel sex trafficking. (July 1, 2006)

Asia: Christian Women Combat Sex Trafficking | Christian women lead girls out of sexual bondage. (October 4, 1999)

Back From the Brothel | Thanks to brave ministries, prostitutes are still entering the kingdom. (January 2005)

Churches Rescue Thailand's Sex Tourism Workers | Protestants and Catholics work against $2.2 billion industry (November 1, 1999)

Fighting the other slave trade | Women against sexual trafficking. (Christian History & Biography, April 1, 2006)

We're Still Supporting Slavery | New efforts to stop U.S. troops from visiting prostitutes abroad are a good step, but let's not whitewash what's happening. (September 1, 2004)

The Dick Staub Interview: Francis Bok Is Proof that Slavery Still Exists | "After spending 10 years in slavery, the young Sudanese man is telling his story to the world" (October 1, 2003)

Finding the 'Real God' | An interview with a sex trafficking survivor (November 11, 2003)

Redeeming Sudan's Slaves | Americans are becoming instant abolitionists. But is the movement backfiring? (August 9, 1999)

Photo essays tell about slavery in Brazil and Britain (put the cursor on the photo for the victim's story). St Paul's Cathedral is exhibiting 'Slave Britain: The 21st Century Trade in Human Lives' until the end of March.

BBC has a special section on slavery today.

The US State Department links to recent news on anti-trafficking activity.

Robot camel jockeys are now being used to replace child slaves in the Arabian Peninsula, says Wired magazine.

Other news on modern slavery includes:

UN estimates human trafficking is on the rise | On a global scale, trafficking in human beings is an 8.5 to 12 billion Euros per year business. (ABC Online, Australia)

117000 Ukrainians Victims Of Human Trafficking | Ukrainian officials say low salaries and unemployment increase the vulnerability of the country's citizens to human trafficking and forced labor. (RadioFreeEurope/ RadioLiberty, Czech Republic)

Sex trade moves its modern-day slaves into the suburbs | Criminal gangs are moving sex slaves out of brothels and into private houses in an attempt to take the trade "underground" and avoid discovery by the police. (The Telegraph)

More CVP articles from Christianity Today and our sister publications are available on ChristianVisionProject.com.

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March 2007, Vol. 51, No. 3