PREVENTING CHILD
EXPLOITATION
THAILAND IS THE WORLD’S LEADER IN CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING.
BUT BELIEVERS IN THAILAND AND BEYOND ARE BANDING
TOGETHER TO EMPOWER KIDS AGAINST ABUSE.
Gary and Paula Hays
C
hildren weren’t on our radar when we first
followed God’s call to missions in 2005.
However, we came to see them as the key
to accomplishing the Great Commission to make
disciples of all nations.
Psalm 78:4 challenges us to “tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord” (NIV). In 2007,
God led us to a strategy of partnering with local
churches in Thailand to empower children against
trafficking, abuse and drugs; the country is the
world’s leader in child sex trafficking. This strategy
has led over 161,000 non-believing Thais to Christ.
More than 16,000 are adults.
Children are taught in slums, Buddhist schools
and villages how to protect themselves from
exploitation. They also learn how Jesus can
be their ultimate protector of body, mind and
soul—and their best friend from now through
eternity. We not only are working to prevent
a problem today, but also to eradicate it for
16
F O U R S Q U A R E Leade r
tomorrow by raising up a generation that knows
and walks with Jesus. After all, the root of the
issue is ultimately spiritual.
Our thinkSMALL ministry has recently grown
to eight nations in Asia, Africa and beyond. Since
2007 more than 390,000 people have come to the
Lord through “child empowerment” outreaches
and adult workshops. More than 84 percent of
them have entered discipleship.
This year, we plan to relocate to the U.S. to also
bring this ministry to North and South American
churches who have expressed the need to reach,
protect, empower and mobilize the youngest
generation for Jesus.
God can do far more than seems humanly
possible if we will simply say yes and trust Him to
show us the next steps.
Gary and Paula Hays are ordained Foursquare pastors and have served in
Thailand with Foursquare Missions International since 2005. Written with
Andy Butcher.