30 Days of Prayer
to Combat Human Trafficking
raise awareness
By engaging in daily prayer, we hope to bring attention to the pervasive issue of human trafficking, shedding light on the realities faced by victims and the importance of concerted efforts to combat this injustice.
WELCOME
Rapha is embarking on a campaign to raise awareness, foster prayerful reflection, and unite communities in the fight against human trafficking.
This is a “30 Days of Prayer to Combat Human Trafficking” guide designed to encourage individuals, churches, and communities to dedicate intentional moments of prayer for survivors of trafficking and for an end to injustice and abuse.
The purpose of this prayer guide is threefold:
inspire action foster unity
Prayer is a powerful catalyst for change. It not only connects us spiritually but also compels us to take tangible steps in our communities to prevent trafficking, support survivors, and advocate for awareness and community initiatives.
Regardless of when one joins the initiative, each prayer is a meaningful contribution to a collective effort. We invite you to join us at any point, understanding that every prayer matters and contributes to a shared vision of a world free from exploitation.
We extend a warm invitation to you and your community to participate in this prayer campaign. Regardless of the day you begin, your prayers will make a significant impact. We encourage you to share this guide with your friends, family, small group, and church, amplifying the power of collective prayer.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to come alongside us in the fight against human trafficking. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by the injustices of trafficking and exploitation.
Rapha International provides you with a tangible way to directly come alongside children who have experienced trafficking and vulnerable families who need protection. To help end trafficking
-one child, one family, and one community at a time-
you can:
Partner with Rapha International to support this longstanding mission to serve children who have experienced human trafficking and vulnerable children and families. Visit rapha.org/donate.
Advocate for Rapha with your friends and family. Visit rapha.org/advocate.
DAY 1
A PRAYER FOR Awknowledgement & Awareness
SPEAK UP FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES, FOR THE RIGHTS OF ALL WHO ARE DESTITUTE. SPEAK UP AND JUDGE FAIRLY; DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF THE POOR AND NEEDY.
PROVERBS 31:8-9
Globally, an estimated 50 million people are impacted by human trafficking every year. Of those, 1 in 4 is a child.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, today we acknowledge the gravity of the issue of child trafficking. Open our eyes to the realities faced by these vulnerable children and grant us the strength to face this injustice head-on.
We lift up the victims of human trafficking and ask for increased awareness in our communities. May your light shine on the dark corners where exploitation occurs, and may hearts be stirred to take action.
A PRAYER FOR
Rapha International’s
Mission
DEFEND THE WEAK AND THE FATHERLESS; UPHOLD THE CAUSE OF THE POOR AND THE OPPRESSED. RESCUE THE WEAK AND THE NEEDY; DELIVER THEM FROM THE HAND OF THE WICKED.
PSALM 82:3-4
Rapha International operates trauma-informed survivor care and prevention programs in four different countries around the world. Its mission is to end the trafficking and sexual abuse of children—one child, one family, and one community at a time. Rapha’s vision is to see all children living in sustainable freedom within safe communities.
PRAYER:
Father, bless the work of Rapha International. Strengthen their staff (US and International), provide resources, and grant wisdom as they strive to rescue and restore those affected by trafficking. May their efforts bring healing, hope, and freedom in the fight against exploitation.
A PRAYER FOR Protection for Vulnerable Children
HE WILL COVER YOU WITH HIS FEATHERS, AND UNDER HIS WINGS, YOU WILL FIND REFUGE; HIS FAITHFULNESS WILL BE YOUR SHIELD AND RAMPART.
PSALM 91:4
PRAYER:
Lord, we pray for the protection of vulnerable children worldwide. Shield them from harm, exploitation, and trafficking. May they find safety and refuge.
Strengthening Families
Strengthening families and providing children with access to essential services creates safety nets for children at home and in their communities. Those safety nets protect children from exploitation and create resilient communities equipped to protect and care for children.
PRAYER:
Father, empower families to withstand the challenges that make them vulnerable to trafficking. Strengthen family bonds and create environments where children can thrive. A PRAYER FOR
A PRAYER FOR Healing for Survivors
THE LORD IS CLOSE TO THE BROKENHEARTED AND SAVES THOSE WHO ARE CRUSHED IN SPIRIT.
PSALM 34:18
PRAYER:
Lord, bring healing to survivors of trafficking. Grant them the strength to overcome their past, and surround them with a supportive community that fosters love and understanding.
A PRAYER FOR Prevention Efforts
The purpose of Rapha’s Prevention program is to help strengthen families and communities and to promote the protection of children from exploitation and abuse.
When communities come together to prevent and combat the sexual exploitation of children, real change—sustainable change—takes place.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, guide Rapha International and other organizations in their prevention efforts. May they implement effective strategies to protect children from falling victim to trafficking.
A
PRAYER FOR
Education and Awareness “ ”
You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.
William Wilberforce
PRAYER:
Lord, inspire educational initiatives and awareness campaigns that help communities recognize the signs of trafficking. May knowledge empower individuals to be vigilant and proactive in preventing exploitation.
A PRAYER FOR
Support for Rapha International’s Teams
SO DO NOT FEAR, FOR I AM WITH YOU; DO NOT BE DISMAYED, FOR I AM YOUR GOD. I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU AND HELP YOU; I WILL UPHOLD YOU WITH MY RIGHTEOUS RIGHT HAND.
ISAIAH 41:10
Rapha International has almost 300 team members in the US and internationally, all dedicated to serving vulnerable and victimized children.
PRAYER:
Father, strengthen the Rapha International team working on the front lines in Cambodia, Thailand, Haiti, and the United States. Provide them with resilience, compassion, and resources as they strive to rescue and restore children.
A PRAYER FOR Rehabilitation Programs
Childhood trauma leads to poor mental and physical health, risky behaviors, and even early death. Childhood trauma interrupts developing immune, neurological, and cognitive systems, often causing permanent damage.
Angie Brower MSW, LCSW | Rapha’s Chief Clinical Officer
THEREFORE, IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, THE NEW CREATION HAS COME: THE OLD HAS GONE, THE NEW IS HERE!
2 CORINTHIANS 5:17
PRAYER:
Lord, bless programs that focus on the rehabilitation of survivors of trafficking. May these programs offer the necessary support, counseling, and skills training for a holistic recovery.
A PRAYER FOR Empowerment
of Families
Rapha works to keep families together and prevent the institutionalization of children in vulnerable communities. Rapha’s Community Workers assess the family’s circumstances and connect them to outside resources to assist with housing, health care, safe employment, and other needs. Rapha staff provide social and emotional support to families, and help them build a social network that promotes resilience.
Aryn Tanksley, MPA | Rapha’s Chief Development Officer
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, empower families to break free from the cycle of poverty and vulnerability. Provide them with opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and economic stability.
Advocacy for Stronger Legislation
Rapha partners with government agencies, international organizations, and other NGO’s to strengthen child welfare systems, laws that govern the intervention into trafficking, and criminal justice systems–which are all woven into the safety net for children around the world.
Rapha is honored to have a voice in this important policy work, advocating from a survivor-focused perspective on the global stage with the goal of protecting the vulnerable from exploitation.
PRAYER:
Lord, guide and inspire advocates and policymakers to enact and enforce laws that protect children from trafficking. May justice prevail and serve as a deterrent.
A PRAYER FOR Collaboration with Global Partners
LEARN TO DO RIGHT; SEEK JUSTICE. DEFEND THE OPPRESSED. TAKE UP THE CAUSE OF THE FATHERLESS; PLEAD THE CASE OF THE WIDOW.
ISAIAH 1:17
PRAYER:
Father, foster collaborations between nations and organizations. May global efforts be united against child trafficking, with shared resources and intelligence.
Rapha staff from Haiti at the Conference of State Parties Against Corruption in Atlanta, GA in 2023.
A PRAYER FOR Empathy for the Vulnerable
REJOICE WITH THOSE WHO REJOICE; MOURN WITH THOSE WHO MOURN.
ROMANS 12:15
PRAYER:
Lord, cultivate empathy in the hearts of individuals. Help us understand the pain of vulnerable children and motivate us to take compassionate action.
DAY 14
A PRAYER FOR
Strengthening Community Bonds
CARRY
EACH OTHER’S BURDENS, AND IN THIS WAY, YOU WILL FULFILL THE LAW OF CHRIST.
GALATIANS 6:2
In every community where Rapha operates a Prevention program, staff work to address community-wide and system level needs that impact children.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, strengthen the bonds within communities. Encourage unity and support among neighbors to create safe environments for all children.
A PRAYER FOR Technology Safeguard
It has never been easier for child sex offenders to contact their potential victims, share imagery and encourage others to commit offences. Children may be victimized through the production, distribution and consumption of sexual abuse material, or they may be groomed for sexual exploitation, with abusers attempting to meet them in person or exhort them for explicit content.
UNICEF
| 2022
ABOVE ALL ELSE, GUARD YOUR HEART, FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FLOWS FROM IT.
PROVERBS 4:23
PRAYER:
Lord, guide the development and implementation of technology safeguards to protect children from online exploitation and trafficking.
A PRAYER FOR
Healing Broken Systems
Rapha International serves women and children through Survivor Care and Prevention programs in four different countries around the world: Cambodia, Thailand, Haiti, and the United States. Rapha’s staff work directly with local communities to help instill change.
PRAYER:
Father, heal broken systems that perpetuate child trafficking. May governments, institutions, and communities work towards systemic changes to protect children.
A PRAYER FOR
Support for Survivor Care “
When Sopheary arrived at Rapha International she didn’t want to speak to anyone. She was afraid to trust people she didn’t know. Every day, Chhean, her house mother, would sit quietly with Sopheary until Sopheary decided that she could trust her. Soon, Sopheary began speaking a little. Sopheary can begin the hard work of healing because her housemother had the patience to wait for her to begin to trust again.
Theara | Rapha’s Cambodia Country Director
PRAYER:
Lord, we pray for the availability and sustainability of residential and non-residential survivor care services. May these services provide refuge, healing, and support as we walk alongside children rescued from trafficking.
A PRAYER FOR
Reintegration Efforts for Survivors
The ultimate goal for the girls served by Rapha is for them to be reintegrated safely into families and communities. Decisions about educational and vocational tracks are self-directed. Survivors are encouraged to explore their skills and aspirations regarding their future and to set reintegration goals accordingly. Rapha continues to serve survivors through diverse reintegration programs, including support for family resilience, education, and small business management.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, bless reintegration initiatives that provide security and economic empowerment for survivors and their vulnerable families. May these programs reduce the risk of exploitation.
DAY 19
A PRAYER FOR
Empowerment of Girls
“
Empowerment of and investment in girls are key in breaking the cycle of discrimination and violence and in promoting and protecting the full and effective enjoyment of their human rights.
United Nations Resolution 66/17
I PRAISE YOU BECAUSE I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE; YOUR WORKS ARE WONDERFUL, I KNOW THAT FULL WELL.
PSALM 139:14
PRAYER:
Lord, empower girls to pursue education, dreams, and opportunities. Break the cycle of vulnerability and exploitation that affects many young girls.
A PRAYER FOR Churches as Agents of Change
DAY 20
IN THE SAME WAY, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE OTHERS, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.
MATTHEW 5:16
Rapha gets its name from Yahweh Rapha - the God Who Heals. Healing is unquestionably a defining principle of Christian ministry, and healing with excellence should be a priority for the modern Church. During his ministry, Jesus healed countless people of physical and spiritual infirmary. In light of this, Rapha believes that the Church has a critical and defining interest in investing in holistic healing, including quality mental health care.
PRAYER:
Father, empower churches to be agents of change. Mobilize congregations to actively engage in prevention, support survivors, and be a beacon of hope.
A PRAYER FOR Government Commitment
THE RIGHTEOUS CARE ABOUT JUSTICE FOR THE POOR, BUT THE WICKED HAVE NO SUCH CONCERN.
PROVERBS 29:7
PRAYER:
Lord, guide governments in their commitment to ending child trafficking. May leaders prioritize the protection and welfare of children in their policies and actions.
A PRAYER FOR
Hope for Survivors
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, infuse hope into the hearts of survivors. Let them know that they are not defined by their past and that a brighter future awaits them.
Maya Angelou
A PRAYER FOR Networking with Organizations
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
Helen Keller
PRAYER:
Father, strengthen the networking efforts between Rapha International and other organizations. May collective efforts be more impactful in the fight against child trafficking.
24
A PRAYER FOR Community Education Programs
Education
is the most powerful tool which you can use to change the world.
Nelson Mandela “ ”
PRAYER:
Lord, bless educational programs that raise awareness about child trafficking. May schools and communities equip the younger generation with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves.
A PRAYER FOR Healing for Families
“ ”
PRAYER:
At Rapha, we believe that life looks like one of freedom, both physically and emotionally, and trauma focused therapy is a necessary part of that.
Angie Brower MSW, LCSW | Rapha’s Chief Clinical Officer
HE HEALS THE BROKENHEARTED AND BINDS UP THEIR WOUNDS.
PSALM 147:3
Heavenly Father, bring healing to families affected by trafficking. May they find restoration and support as they rebuild their lives.
A PRAYER FOR
Rapha International’s Impact
THEREFORE, MY DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, STAND FIRM. LET NOTHING MOVE YOU. ALWAYS GIVE YOURSELVES FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT YOUR LABOR IN THE LORD IS NOT IN VAIN.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:58
Rapha is growing in its capacity to reach families and communities beyond the Survivor Care campuses, while constantly working to ensure the highest quality services for the child survivors. As an organization, Rapha is working hard to promote trauma treatment and child protection in communities all over the world—including communities right here in the United States.
Rapha’s vision for children to live in sustainable freedom within safe communities can only be achieved when partners commit to that goal.
PRAYER:
Lord, bless Rapha International’s work and impact. May their efforts be multiplied, and may they continue to make a significant difference in the lives of children affected by trafficking.
A PRAYER FOR Awareness in Media and Truthful Messaging
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FRUITLESS DEEDS OF DARKNESS BUT RATHER EXPOSE THEM.
EPHESIANS 5:11
Awareness is just the first step at Rapha, there are two additional steps that lead people to become committed advocates for children around the world: 1.) a deeper understanding of human trafficking and 2.) practical ways to get involved.
PRAYER:
Father, guide the media to use its influence responsibly. May they shed light and truthful messaging on the issue of human trafficking, raise awareness, and inspire action against this crime.
A PRAYER FOR
Long-Term Solutions
LIKEWISE THE SPIRIT HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESS. FOR WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO PRAY FOR AS WE OUGHT, BUT THE SPIRIT HIMSELF INTERCEDES FOR US WITH GROANINGS TOO DEEP FOR WORDS.
ROMANS 8:26
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, guide efforts towards long-term solutions to eradicate human trafficking. May the root causes be addressed, creating a world where exploitation is inconceivable.
Rapha staff and friends discuss protecting the vulnerable at the International Conference on Missions in 2023.
A PRAYER FOR Community Engagement
ALL THE BELIEVERS WERE TOGETHER AND HAD EVERYTHING IN COMMON. THEY SOLD PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS TO GIVE TO ANYONE WHO HAD NEED.
ACTS 2:44-45
PRAYER:
Lord, inspire communities to actively engage in the fight against child trafficking. May individuals and organizations unite in a collective effort to eradicate this injustice.
A PRAYER FOR
Vision for a World Free of Trafficking and Abuse
HE WILL WIPE EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES. THERE WILL BE NO MORE DEATH OR MOURNING OR CRYING OR PAIN, FOR THE OLD ORDER OF THINGS HAS PASSED AWAY.
REVELATION 21:4
PRAYER:
Father, we lift up the vision of a world free from child trafficking. May your grace abound, justice prevail, and compassion reign, leading us towards a future where all children live in sustainable freedom within safe communities. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
