Exodus Cry - The Prayer Movement to End Slavery

Prayer Briefing

The FIFA World Cup tournament is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world. FIFA is composed of over 200 nations, 32 of which have qualified for the chance to compete in the month long tournament in South Africa. The 2010 World Cup will be the first to be hosted on the continent of Africa. More than 700 Million people are expected to tune into the finals in July. The South African government has poured billions of dollars into the construction of five new stadiums, enhancement of their mass transportation systems, and the beautification of its cities. The tournament will be held in ten venues across nine South African cities and is a historic opportunity for the world to witness and experience the beauty, culture and industry of the Republic of South Africa. More than 400,000 visitors are expected to arrive for the tournament, and pour billions into the economy.

But there is a darker side to this event—the demand for sex. Experts estimate that as many as 40,000 women and children will be trafficked into South Africa for the World Cup. Organized crime groups have brought women from as far as Thailand, Eastern Europe, Israel and the Philippines; there is little legal or judicial infrastructure in place to combat this issue. When the stadiums clear each day, thousands of fans will flock to the streets, bars, and clubs for the nightlife of South Africa. In this environment of celebration and sport prostitution and sexual exploitation thrives unchecked in the foreground.

Exodus Cry is committed to the abolition of modern day slavery, a work that is central to the heart of Jesus Christ. We have been praying and preparing for many months for the upcoming moment when South Africa would be placed on the world stage and its women and children on the auctioning block that is the modern day sex-trade. As part of the body of Christ, looking to the King of Glory, Jesus Christ, we see his mission in Luke 4:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

Jesus was commissioned by his Father to pursue the broken, oppressed, and enslaved with open arms of love and an offering of freedom. As Christ lives in us, we too, are anointed unto this work. Exodus Cry, in order to be the answer to our own prayers for the freedom and deliverance of Jesus Christ to be manifested in the streets of South Africa, is sending a team of intercessory abolitionists to contend, with boots on the ground, for an Isaiah 64 breaking-in of the Lord. This team will be partnering with the local prayer movement in cities across South Africa to intercede for speedy justice on behalf of the oppressed, raising awareness among fans on the realities of human trafficking, and reaching out to women in prostitution and sexual exploitation with the compassion and love of Jesus Christ that transforms and restores.

So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. Isaiah 59:19

As the praying church unites with the heart of God, as lovers of Christ boldly step forth into dark places, as weak voices are raised in a united cry for freedom, the Lord is hearing and acting on behalf of the ones He loves, the ones He fights for with a zealous zeal. The Lord is raising up a standard in South Africa that all will fear the name of the Lord and see His glory.

Scripture Focus

They have cast lots for My people, Have given a boy as payment for a harlot, And sold a girl for wine, that they may drink. – Joel 3:3

Ministries

Salvation Army and BeHeard ministries– these are the organizations that ExodusCry will primarily be partnering with in South Africa.

Prayer Points

• Pray that the fear of the Lord would break in on Capetown and the other cities in South Africa that are hosting world cup games.
• Pray that God would grant peace and unity to the ministries gathering in South Africa to combat human trafficking.