This weekend I finally was able to go out and watch the movie, “Sounds of Freedom.” To say that it was hard to watch is an understatement. It was gut-wrenching to realize just how many sick individuals are exploiting God’s children but what can I do? These pedophiles are deranged in their way of thinking and we are foolish to think it only happens somewhere else, in another country or even in another county. It happens right here in our county and state. These pedophiles prey on desperate children by offering empty promises, gifts for affection and financial assistance to those who are homeless or runaways.

Oklahoma currently ranks 26th in human trafficking. Two forms of trafficking are sex and labor trafficking. Many times these children are groomed over a period of time on social media platforms by potential boyfriends or friends. Predators may be family members, family friends, acquaintances or complete strangers.

The “Sound of Freedom” is based on a true story of Tim Ballard, who spent more than a decade working as a Special Agent for the Department of Homeland Security, where he was assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. He deployed as an undercover operative for the U.S. Child Sex Tourism Jump Team and worked daily trying to catch the individuals who bought sex tapes made by these pedophiles.

Finally, he founded the controversial anti-trafficking organization Operation Underground Railroad, or OUR, to start rescuing the victims. Through his organization Ballard has now rescued 3,800 victims and even adopted two children.

Ironically, the movie was finished in 2018 and was scheduled to be released by 20th Century Fox in 2019. However, Disney acquired Fox and the film was shelved until it was picked up by Angel Studios in 2023. Sadly within these past five years, sex trade and human trafficking has increased at a dramatic rate. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics a total of 2,198 individuals were referred to the U.S. Attorneys for human trafficking offenses in 2020, a 62% increase since 2011.

Children account for half of the victims of human trafficking. The average age a child is trafficked for commercial sex trade is between 11 to 14 years old. Victims are often exploited even at younger ages from 4 to 8 years of age. Those at highest risk are unhoused youth, migrant workers and those with substance abuse or survivors of other forms of past violence. Many sex traffickers literally lure their victims by providing basic survival needs.

After watching this movie and reading sobering statistics for hours I pondered what can I do to save just one child? How can I do something that makes a difference? Though I know I won’t be going off into the jungle to reach a child sold into slavery in Columbia, how many homeless do I see every day right here in Muskogee and McIntosh County who search for their basic needs to be met?

Sadly enough, before and after watching this movie, I watched homeless people crossing my path. One boy I even commented on as we pulled into a restaurant to eat and he crossed the street. “That’s somebody’s baby boy right there. Why is he filthy and wandering the streets? What happened? Where is his family?” He disappeared as quickly as we had seen him. I literally felt the urge to go find him and offer him some dinner. So why didn’t I? I’ve helped others before, why didn’t I go find this child? Was I too busy with my own family trying to hurry to eat and go watch a movie? A movie that now convicts my heart for not doing something when I could.

According to the 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, on any given night in 2022 More than 30,000 people under the age of 25 experienced homelessness on their own as “unaccompanied youth.” The lucky ones (57%) found shelters while the rest did not.

Most of these homeless (91%) were between the ages of 18 and 24. Did you hear me, 18 to 24?

My God these are our babies! One professor studying the homeless issue estimated that there could be more than 120,000 homeless youth in Oklahoma. As a mom of a 27-year-old son and a 33-year-old daughter, this is heartbreaking to me and quite frankly, it’s unacceptable.

At the end of the movie, the actor, Jim Caviezel, who played Tim Ballard, sent out a message to share tickets with others to come see the film, “Sound of Freedom.” He stated that the children who are rescued from trafficking are the real heroes, not just his character who rescues them. He also stated several times in the movie “God’s children are not for sale.” That phrase now resonates in my soul.

God’s children aren’t for sale. They shouldn’t be sexually exploited. They shouldn’t be hungry or homeless in the street like poor dogs thrown out to suffer their fate. They shouldn’t wander aimlessly looking for hope when we hold that hope in our hearts. As I cried last night, dispirited by the plight of others, I asked God what can I do to save just one child? How can I make a difference in this doomed and dejected world? Then He whispered, “Just do something.”