07/30/2026
A note from our Founder/President, Mike Mercer, on this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, July 30, 2026:
"Today, July 30th, marks the 13th observance of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. This year's theme is “Trapped Behind the Scam,” bringing awareness to the latest brutal wave of trafficking offering lucrative overseas opportunities to otherwise unsuspecting victims.
When we first set up our Transit Monitoring operations, during Covid, we thought our entire focus would be on girls who were trafficked from one island in Indonesia to another, which had informed most of our work to date. As we expanded that work into the airport, it was at a time that seemed to catch the crossroads of the height of online financial scamming/loan scamming and trans-national job-recruitment scamming, the latter of which is a horrific form of trafficking.
When I was in Indonesia a few weeks ago, our Transit Monitoring team intercepted three young adults being trafficked to Iraq. They had the promise of high-paying jobs, high-end accommodations, and the excitement of an international adventure. They didn’t know that, had they boarded the plane, they would likely never have returned home.
While I’m thankful for these days that commemorate the cause and raise certain awareness, it simply makes me more thankful for those who have walked out this journey with us. On a “World Day of Anything”, I’m simply reminded that “God loves the whole world” and that He so loves us that He doesn’t bring condemnation but, rather, hope and life. I have to think, for God, every day is World Day Against Trafficking, along with every other kind of abuse and oppression; and we’re reminded that He doesn’t forget about anybody.
Mostly, I’m humbled that these days of global awareness are of no value if there isn’t at least a small group of persistently faithful people pursuing solutions every other day of the year. Thank you for joining us in the assignment. You make it meaningful and real.
In service together,
Mike
P.S. I recently joined our friends at the Love Justice Podcast to talk about the world's only human trafficking prevention strategy. Love Justice International works to intercept human trafficking at transit points as it's happening. It’s worth a listen, especially today, on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
In this eye-opening podcast episode, host Hannah Munn speaks with P...
