Imagine. You're in the hold of a ship. Lying in a space six foot long and one foot four inches wide. You are chained and manacled. Six hundred others are packed in alongside you. It is suffocatingly hot. The stink of perspiration, human waste, and death is overwhelming, 
as are the shrieks of your fellow "passengers". Here you will lie continuously for two to four months, on the infamous "Middle Passage" from Africa to America. If you die, you'll be thrown overboard. And if you live, you'll be captive until death.
It was to end this slave trade that William Wilberforce, 18th century British statesman, reformer and Christian, campaigned vigorously throughout his life. Today it is 200 years since the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire. But has it really ended?
27 million slaves today
It is a fact: the slave trade is not over. According to amazingchange.com, there are 27 million modern-day slaves across the world. That's 27 million men, women and children trapped in bonded labour, forced labour, child labour, early and forced marriage, slavery by descent and trafficking. Half are children, and of these, there are 300,000 child soldiers involved in over 30 areas of conflict worldwide, some younger than ten years old. The chain continues.
How can you break this chain? Like William Wilberforce did, start with yourself, and the things that bind you up inside - sin. Then, like Wilberforce, you'll be free to really help others. (Find out more at antislavery.org or stopthetraffik.org )
Because you're worth it.
In 1740, a slave was seen as worth about £60.
How much is your life worth?
God thinks any human life - including yours - was worth His only Son's death. That's how much He loves you. "God loved the people of this world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who has faith in Him will have eternal life and never really die." (John 3:16)
"Redeemed." The word means "paying the ransom price for a slave".
All of us are born slaves to selfishness. The price to "buy" us back to God was the blood of Jesus. God gave, Jesus paid. Now, if we trust in Him, we can be redeemed, come to know God, experience His power and be made new.
Pray (talk to Him) like this: Jesus, I admit I'm powerless to change myself. I need You to come into my life, to pour in Your love, Your forgiveness and Your amazing grace. Please save and heal me. I freely choose to follow You for the rest of my life.
If you prayed like this, get in touch with some local Christians who can help you on the next step.
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email to the Jesus Army.
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