“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”
Isaiah 61:1-3, NIV
Dear Praying Friends,
The average age of entry into the sex trafficking industry in the U.S. is 12-14 years old. The Columbus Dispatch recently reported that Ohio officials estimate that at least 1,100 minors are being trafficked in Ohio and another 3,000 are at risk. Recent data has shown that Ohio is ranked fifth in the nation for human trafficking cases, with a rate of approximately 3.84 victims per 100,000 residents, totaling around 450 cases per year.
Besides trafficking, another type of bondage gripping Ohio is the opiate epidemic. This public health crisis takes 12 lives each day through overdose deaths in Ohio. First responders and law enforcement feel they are fighting a losing battle as family after family rips apart. Statistically, Ohio has seen a slight decline in overdose deaths, but we are praying for an end to this epidemic as it is fueled by the powerful and deadly fentanyl invasion.
Men, women and children are being held captive all around us in the darkness of the sex and drug industries. We must share the heartbreak of our heavenly Father for those who perpetrate this oppression and for those who are oppressed. Father God, we ask you to give us a holy outrage against these evils! Ignite in us a spirit of intercession to cover our state, warring against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
The good news is that many Christ-centered nonprofits are leading the way in holistic recovery and transformation. We know from personal experience the power of Christ to transform lives. As the Church, we can march forward with the hope we have that surpasses any substance or experience this world has to offer.
We know, Lord Jesus, that you desire to set the captives free! We look to You for our deliverance. Pray with us this month for freedom over all those bound in the chains of trafficking and addiction. We are asking God for tangible evidence of answers to these prayers by seeing a dramatic decrease in overdose deaths and trafficking in our state. Click the link for our PDF prayer guide on this topic.
Blessings to you this April!
Ursula Kemp
Pray for Ohio
As you pray into this topic, click here for our monthly PDF prayer guide.
