Long before this year’s surprise faith-based hit movie Sound Of Freedom shone a light on the dark world of human trafficking, one Christian ministry has been fighting to combat the atrocity for more than a decade.
The Tim Tebow Foundation formed in 2010 by devout Christian and former NFL star Tim Tebow has helped rescue 2,000 victims and bring more than 500 traffickers to justice. It recently launched the UNKNOWN campaign, to raise A$1.5 million dollars to help save more innocent children. It claims more than 50,000 unidentified children are on a global law enforcement database of exploited victims.
CBN News quotes Tim Tebow as describing human trafficking and child exploitation as two of the greatest evils the world faces today. “Children around the world are suffering, many from the very people who are meant to protect them. [This abuse] is an evil that has been hiding in the darkness of our communities, our homes, and the internet for too long and it’s past time we exposed it to the light. Those [victims] are all boys and girls that are made in the image of God,” he recently wrote.
According to his foundation, the US hosts more child abuse websites than any other nation. To demonstrate the extent of the scourge of child trafficking, it underlines that those websites produce more than two videos or images every second. It also shares cases where law enforcement agents have tracked down criminals through the sound of a chirping bird in a video background and an amusement park wristband on a child. One offender was sentenced to 100 years in prison.
Tim Tebow is regarded by many as the greatest player in the history of America college football. He starred for the Denver Broncos during the 2011 NFL season. He became famous for “Tebowing” — kneeling on one knee in prayer as he gave thanks to God during a game. He was born to Baptist missionary parents in the Philippines despite his mother suffering severe pregnancy complications after contracting amoebic dysentery and being urged to have an abortion. The 36-year-old has been an active pro-life campaigner throughout his life.
Since his sporting career tapered off over the past decade, Tim Tebow has dedicated himself to his foundation. Its website says its heart is ‘to share the Gospel with as many vulnerable people as possible to help them know their inherent value as children of God.” The four main areas of focus are– Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation; Orphan Care and Prevention; Profound Medical Needs; and Special Needs Ministry.
Sound Of Freedom opens in Australia next week.
