My most authentic self expressed through clothing is this one dress I have – kaleidoscope colors with whimsical sleeves and a flow to it that’s perfect for twirling. It’s a dress where I feel most free, most alive, most like me. It doesn’t matter if I’m having a bad day, struggling to see my own beauty when I look into a mirror, or if I’m having one of those days where no outfit seems to feel right, I can put on this dress, and quickly all those lies subside. I am me again. I am reminded, through the colors and the flow and the beauty of this dress that I am God’s Beloved, made in the likeness of His image. In that moment, I can trade discomfort and insecurity for playfulness and joy.

And yet, somehow the most beautiful symbol of femininity has become a power to be wielded, a thing to be feared in this world. Instead, it has been one of the very things that has led to voices silenced and freedoms stolen. Somehow, putting on a dress bids an unwelcome invitation. This is the reality of human trafficking – it’s a taking of something that was never given. A manipulation of a very real and very beautiful, God-given, thing: human dignity.

Trafficking is a complex issue – one I am still learning about. There is not one simple reason or explanation, as it can take on many forms, but a dress became a symbol for a movement combatting trafficking as a symbol of freedom, power and dignity. It’s the flag of the Dressember campaign to reclaim and restore the beauty of what it represents (femininity and the freedom for women found in it) because women and girls across the world deserve to wear the clothes where they feel most beautiful without fear.

Over the last few months, this refrain kept floating around my mind as I sat with the realities of this broken world: this is not how it was supposed to be. I would cry out to God over various things with this simple prayer, and I would ask Him to show me what to do about the heartbreak. I would pray the Lord’s prayer and ask for the boldness to follow when He called me to something new.

These prayers are the reason I said yes to participating in Dressember this year. It was my yes to being a part of something bigger than myself. Of using my freedom for something meaningful and purposeful. If you haven’t heard of this campaign before, keep reading, and I’ll tell you all about it. But first, I want to emphasize the importance of knowing God’s voice and being obedient to Him. Of following Him wherever He leads because that’s how we see His kingdom come here on earth in the in-between.

When we say yes to God, we are saying yes to partnership with Him. Through this, we recognize we never have been, nor will we ever be, someone else’s savior. In Isaiah 43:11, He says I, I am the Lord, and apart from me there is no Savior. What we can do is stand in the gap. We can intercede. We can participate in Jesus’ restorative work, and we can point people to the Good Shepherd who guides them home. In fact, we are called to do all of these things.

So, how do we intercede? How do we stand in the gap? How do we lift the voices of those who have been silenced, and promote peace and freedom in this world? How do we participate faithfully in the mission of Christ? How do we love people well, and create space to not have all the answers?

What do we do when God breaks our hearts for what breaks His? How do we prepare for that kind of heartbreak?

Knowing that God hears our prayers, and that He gives wisdom, is a good place to start.

Called to Pray. Called to Act.

Recognizing and knowing that our efforts are not the make-or-break, determining factor of another person’s walk with the Lord is a helpful reminder too. We never have been, nor will we ever be, another person’s savior. And yet, our prayers matter. They matter a lot. We are called to pray and to act. As ambassadors of Christ in a hurting, broken, and messy world, we are called to point others to the One who satisfies every need and makes us whole again. Who takes our burdens and makes something breathtakingly beautiful from them.

Becoming an Advocate With Dressember

Over the course of my Dressember campaign, I asked myself these very questions. In doing so, I realized asking such questions gives way to…more questions, way more humility, and way less answers. Have you ever felt this way? The only question I was confident in answering over the course of that month was “what will I wear today” because as an advocate of Dressember, my decision was made. As a way to promote ethical, slow fashion, and to spark a greater conversation through said fashion choices, I didn’t have to worry or think about what outfit I would wear. Each day, I had a simple choice from a select few clothing items. 

If you’re not familiar, Dressember is a campaign pledge to wear dresses throughout the month of December in order to raise awareness about human trafficking worldwide. Dressember supports the work of IJM and the A21 Campaign, two global organizations fighting slavery and human trafficking worldwide. The genesis of this movement began with a hope to increase awareness of sex trafficking and women’s rights. In recent years, their efforts have expanded to other types of trafficking that affect women, men, and children across the globe. A21 states, “from forced labor and forced marriage, to child soldiers and domestic servitude – human trafficking takes a lot of forms”. Eradication is within reach, but without intervention, the cycle will continue. So, since 2009, thousands of men and women have participated in the Dressember campaign to raise support and awareness. Imagine what it would look like to see the complete eradication of human trafficking in our lifetime.

To understand the gravity of this issue, here are a few statistics:

Over the course of one year, human trafficking generates 150 billion USD in revenue, so to end it, it takes a lot of hands and a lot of voices. In an effort to stand in the gap, raise awareness, and link arms in solidarity with other advocates across the world for the 49.6 million trafficked, I wore a dress for 31 days. As any advocate will tell you, it’s so much bigger than a dress. It’s about livelihood, dignity, and freedom. Aspects of this campaign were certainly fun and get the creative juices flowing, but with every daily decision to put on a dress (even in 25 degree weather), there was great purpose, meaning, and urgency.

Forced labor, sex trafficking, and involuntary servitude are issues that feed off of darkness and the guaranteed silence of victims. Dressember, IJM, A21, and a handful of other organizations that focus on the rescue and restoration of trafficking victims focus on initiatives that shed light on trafficking operations that lurk in the shadows through four pillars: advocacy/education, prevention, intervention, and survivor empowerment.

While I began the month not having a strong foundational understanding of human trafficking, I learned a lot through participating (and know there is still so much to learn). Through my undergraduate studies where we frequented topics surrounding global human rights issues, I often remember feeling an overwhelming sense that there were so many issues in this world, there was so much to be done, and they were too big to make a meaningful impact as just one person. How could I possibly have a say? How could my decisions, my efforts, my participation matter? Instead of being a small piece to the puzzle, often I allowed the all-consuming fears that I had nothing to offer make me stay where I was, stagnant and complacent.

But the willingness to be the one, to be the first, is how Dressember started. It began with one woman, a fervor to see dignity restored among sex trafficking survivors, and a commitment to wear a dress every day throughout the final month of the year in 2009. 15 years later, and it’s an entire movement with thousands of participants.

Through Dressember, I was reminded: even a drop in the ocean has its own ripple effect. I may be just one person, but there are thousands of other “I am just one”s in the world that I had the opportunity to link arms with through this campaign to make an impact. While one may not seem like much, thousands of “ones” can make a pretty big dent. This year, fundraising exceeded a million dollars (and it’s not even finished yet). Our small acts multiply way faster than we’d think.

Our Advocacy Matters.

Our commitment to justice and righteousness matters (Amos 5:24). Standing up for the inherent dignity that is God-given matters. Asking questions and seeking answers, in humility, is vital. More than anything, fighting the urge to stay passive, comfortable, and complacent is crucial to seeing God’s kingdom come on this earth. God can’t do much through a stagnant, settled heart, but with a willing one? He can move mountains.

This is a way for us to reflect our Father’s heart: by pleading the case of the orphan and the widow. In Isaiah 1:17, it says learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. Obedience to this scripture is unavoidable as you begin to dive deeper into the issues of human trafficking…and as you allow that knowledge to drive you into action.

There Is Still Work To Be Done

So, amidst all this information and reflection, there is an invitation. An invitation to be a part of something bigger than yourself (which is how believers are called to live anyway). To let there be purpose in your own freedom. To use your voice and platform to create space for those who have been silenced. To offer up some of your resources, time and money, to contribute to something meaningful. Since January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, I wanted to continue my advocacy and fundraising efforts here…on my new! blog!

Over the course of this month, I plan to continue writing about some things I learned throughout my Dressember campaign with an effort to educate, encourage others to advocate, and continue my fundraising journey (link below). Why?

Our voices matter. Speaking up matters. Standing in the gap matters. 

We have a say. And it is within our power (it’s also our very purpose and calling to fight the good fight) to stop and say this is not ok with me. It is our responsibility to seek out the voices that have been muffled by injustice.

Often, I believe we ask the Lord to break our hearts for what breaks His without recognizing the time and effort required to do something about it when He does. This prayer is well-intentioned, but should be coupled with a commitment and devotion to being active in His mission when He does stir something within our hearts. Realistically, there are many worthy causes that bid our time and attention – because we are one person, we cannot chase after every single thing wholeheartedly. Find your one thing, and commit to it faithfully. Even if your beating heart aches to run after other ways to make this world look a little bit more like heaven, there is value in taking the time to learn about the realities of this world, and of the issues (like human trafficking) that do not delight the heart of our Father. You don’t have to devote your entire life to something for your contribution to be meaningful.

So, if you’re reading this, thank you. Thank you for taking the time. I have one final question (maybe two…or four) for you: would you keep reading? Would you allow this heavy topic to take up some space in your day to day during Human Trafficking Awareness Month? Would you pray for God’s kingdom come? Would you pray for restoration, rescue, and deliverance for the 49.6 million? Would you pray for the one?

A drop in the ocean may not seem like much, but a whole lot of little, seemingly insignificant drops have a wild ripple effect. Be a drop in the ocean with me. There is work to be done here. 

Stay tuned in these coming weeks for more reflection on my Dressember journey. In the meantime, if you are hoping to do some independent research, below are a few links of trusted sources for you.