Home > Outreach Ministries > Human Trafficking > What is the Covenant doing? > Covenant World Relief

Covenant World Relief

Covenant World Relief and Human Trafficking: a report from DIrector, Jim Sundholm:

The Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), Department of World Mission (DWM) and Covenant World Relief (CWR) have been involved in human trafficking for several years. One of the tributaries that formed the ECC was a women's Bible study group who determined to "buy" children off the auction block in rural Sweden and take them into their homes as "free persons." The grandmother of one of the Covenant forefathers, David Nyvall, was one of these amazing women of faith.

In addition the DWM has been very connected to getting girls off the streets in Thailand (Bangkok) for several years and on occasion CWR has assisted that ministry. In 1997 CWR became involved with slavery working with our new ECC churches in Ethiopia and Sudan. Three years ago CWR became active with our partner World Relief out of Baltimore and their thrust into anti-trafficking and anti-slavery ministry. We continue in that partnership through them in a new ministry called FAAST (Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking.) This work is based in Sierra Leone which has a very high incidence of trafficking. A big challenge in communities is writing new laws, educating police departments and training and educating communities. When children are found without such systemic supports, our hands are tied. CWR is presently connected to programs in India, Sudan, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Viet Nam.