The release of the film, Amazing Grace in theatres this week and the
book of the same name have caused renewed interest and awareness about
slavery around the world—especially in Sudan where it continues
to this day.
We’ve brought you many reports on this issue throughout the years.
During the 1990’s, I met and interviewed several redeemed slaves
in Sudan and some young students of Colorado school teacher Barb Vogel
who raised money to redeem Sudanese slaves.
One high school student I met in Oregon told me he felt a burden to
redeem slaves. He took the money he had saved up to buy a car and redeemed
Sudanese slaves instead.
Great, excellent to see Americans get involved to help liberate someone
they don’t know half a world away.
Numerous reports have surfaced over the years challenging the legitimacy
of Sudanese slave redemption. The Washington Post said some redeemed
slaves weren’t slaves but, “people gathered locally and
instructed to pretend they were returning from bondage".
The Post suggested a fraudulent slave redemption market had been created
in Sudan by groups involved in slave redemption.
I heard these stories in Sudan and once asked Christian Solidarity
International’s John Eibner if CSI’s efforts had actually
created a demand for slaves--where Sudanese would be bought and sold
just because Westerners were paying money. He said no, because if a
market had been created, then the price for each slave would go up.
The going rate has remained at about $50 per person over the years.
So, should Christians still be involved in Sudan slave redemption
in 2007?
When asked that question, I tell people I have made 20 trips inside
Sudan during the past 14-years and each time when I asked village elders
and church leaders what Christians in the West should do to help the
Sudanese, I was told to pray, to bring more Bibles, more medicines and
to help the people with farming tools and seeds so they can be more
self sufficient. Not once has anyone suggested that we need to be more
aggressive in helping to redeem slaves.
I believe each of us should pray and ask God what he expects us to
do individually and collectively to help people in bondage—whether
in Sudan, India, Cambodia or elsewhere.
He will give some of us a burden to redeem slaves. He will send others
to places like Sudan to spread the Gospel and introduce people to Christ.
Perhaps that’s the best solution because when God’s spirit
is poured out on a nation, there are no slaves, no need for slave redemption.
He sets us free. (John 8:36)
For more, see CBN.com's Amazing
Grace special section and A
Modern Day Teen Abolitionist