Two hundred years ago, on 25th March 1807, the British Parliament voted for a Law that was to have a massive effect all around the large and far-flung British Empire. The new law prohibited British ships from transporting slaves anywhere. The Abolition of Slavery Act was the work of decades of hard work and sacrifice by a small group of committed Christians (led by William Wilberforce) in the face of enormous opposition. The Act went a long way to ending the slave trade as it was then known, something which a further Act of Parliament sealed a few decades later.

 

Yet as we celebrate this anniversary, slavery has not disappeared. Far from it.  Over 600,000 people are traffiked across international borders each year and many millions more are enslaved in poverty, caught up in conflicts and trapped in fear.  In many ways the problems are as signifcant as they were for Wilberforce.  The opposition too can be just as strong, although the opposition of 2007 doesn't always look like that of 1807 - apathy is often the biggest hurdle to overcome. 

 

As we commemorate this 200th anniversary, Emmanuel Church, like thousands of others across the UK, will be looking at how each of us can make a difference to the millions still caught in slavery.  There was plenty more information at our special service on 25th March - the sermon for which can be downloaded HERE, also here are five practical ways each of us can make a difference:

 

1.  SIGN UP...

Get involved by signing the declaration of people against people traffiking. This will help a key group, Stop the Traffik, demonstrate the strength of feeling around the world as they deliver the petition to the United Nations and governments.  Sign up HERE. 

 

2.  PRAY...

Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to ... set the oppressed free."  God longs for people's freedom.  Pray that the minds of the oppressors will be changed and their lives turned around.

 

3.  LEARN MORE...

...about specific projects around the world that are trying to bring freedom to the enslaved.  Just a few of them are noted HERE - many organised by groups which as a church we have a specific prayer and financial link with.  Also, the dad of Phil Sheppard, a member of Emmanuel, has written a book on the slave trade.  For more information click HERE.  For more information on what happened two hundred years ago, why not go and see Amazing Grace - a new film about the life of some of those involved.  It's now on general release and you can watch the trailer HERE.

 

4.  TELL OTHERS...

The more people working for freedom, the less people will be left in slavery - it's simple maths: more people = less slavery.  Tell your friends, tell your relatives, tell the checkout person at Tesco, tell readers on your blog, tell neighbours, tell strangers.  The more the merrier.  Once you've told everyone you can, invite them to one of the national or regional events to raise even greater awareness.  There's more info on the Set All Free or Stop The Traffik websites. 

 

5.  EAT CHOCOLATE...

Half the world's chocolate comes from cocoa grown in the Cote D'Ivoire, in Africa.  12,000 children have been trafficked into cocoa farms in Cote D'Ivoire. When we buy chocolate we are being forced to be oppressors ourselves as we have no guarantee that the chocolate we eat is 'traffik free'.  Why not eat only chocolate that is guaranteed to be 'Traffik Free' such as Divine, Green & Black, Maya Gold and those listed on the Stop the Traffik website.  Some of these 'Traffik Free' chocolates are available from the Emmanuel Fairtrade stall.

 

 

The Lord Jesus made it clear His role was to bring freedom - both tackling the injustice which leads to physical slavery, as well as offering each of us a spiritual freedom from all that binds and restricts us - this spiritual freedom coming  from a renewed relationship with God.  Our prayer for 2007 is that more people may know the physical and spiritual freedom that Jesus offers and that we may all do our part in making that a reality.  This will also be our theme for Easter this year.  For more information on this go to www.easm.co.uk/easter.  Also, all are welcome to our new Alpha Course at West's Cafe (a short course exploring what life is all about) - more details at www.easm.co.uk/alpha