Anti-human trafficking conference to be held in Connellsville
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Human trafficking can occur in any community of any size in any state in the nation.
And that’s one of the reasons why a church in Connellsville is hosting the Anti-Human Trafficking Conference later this month.
In his involvement with an international ministry, Brian Higbee, pastor of City Church, became aware that human trafficking knows no borders.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. It can happen in any community and involve victims of all ages, races, genders and nationalities.
Higbee became involved with Joel Thornton, president and general counsel of One Voice International, which is fighting to eradicate sex trafficking.
An international human rights lawyer from Georgia, Thornton has been engaged in international human rights law since 1997 and said the anti-trafficking conference in Connellsville is the third to be held in the past four months, preceded by similar forums in Texas and New York.
Thornton said the conferences are a way to start anti-human trafficking task forces at municipal and county levels in churches, and expand to regional levels where people can learn about sex trafficking and become involved in combating it.
Thornton said many community churches already are involved in activities that help reduce the vulnerabilities that, in part, create victims of sex trafficking.
“Helping to feed or clothe the poor, help addicts, education in school,” Thornton said. “It’s all just the little things people can do.”
Thornton noted the average age of a sex-trafficking victim is 14.
Along with the conference at City Church, Thornton said they plan to meet with local government officials, law enforcement and other first responders to discuss the issue and possibly set up training to recognize the signs of human trafficking.
Thornton said his organization would raise money to cover the cost of training if needed.
Higbee said local interest in the conference is greater than he anticipated, based on the response of local government leaders and churches that are planning to send representatives to the event.
Higbee, a speaker at the previous conferences in Texas and New York, said his focus is a spiritual one, and to also seek solutions on what can be done to help victims cope with their trauma.
In addition to Thornton, speakers at the Connellsville conference will include Higbee and Pastor Charlie Coker, the senior leader of Identity Church in Deltona, Fla., where a fourth conference will be held.
“We’ve had incredible feedback from those who want to get engaged in the programs,” Thornton said.
The Anti-Human Trafficking conference will be held at City Church of Connellsville, 206 N. Pittsburgh Street, at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 and 10 a.m. to noon, 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 24.
The conference is free and open to anyone interested in attending.
For more information on City Church of Connellsville, visit citychurch.us or call 724-628-0700; for more information on One Voice International, visit onevoiceinternational.com/.