By: Hillary DeJarnett

The Salvation Army was one of the founding members for the Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking. Lisa Thompson, the former national anti-trafficking coordinator for The Salvation Army worked with key leaders in the anti-trafficking movement to build the FAAST partnership.

Joining The Salvation Army in the partnership are Freedom's Promise, The Global Center for Women and Justice, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Point Loma Nazarene University, Project Rescue, Rescue 1 Global, Rescue: Freedom, World Relief and World Hope International.

Since its inception, FAAST has helped develop Hands That Heal, an international curriculum to train caregivers of victims of trafficking. FAAST has also created a faith-based children's prevention curriculum. Both are available to The Salvation Army for use in the community.

Hillary DeJarnett, territorial anti-trafficking coordinator, said the members of the partnership ae discussing strategies for advancing its work and for strengthening community and collaboration among its membership.

FAAST recently hosted Pray for Freedom, a prayer service for victims of trafficking. The gathering was live-streamed to gatherings in eight cities across the nation and was also available online to anyone who wanted to view them. The prayer service highlighted prayer for orphans and widows, vulnerable children, traffickers and johns, frontline workers, church engagement, global partnership and more. Vanguard University and The Global Center for Women helped host the event.

"In the fight against trafficking, it can be easy to get into silos and feel isolated and discouraged in the trenches," said DeJarnette. "Being part of FAAST is an important part of The Salvation Army's fight against trafficking – it is a powerful way to stand together with our fellow abolitionists, share resources, encourage each other and unify our efforts. We are stronger when we work together."