Texas Border Business
AUSTIN, Texas – First Lady Cecilia Abbott today announced that the Governor’s Response Against Child Exploitation (GRACE) initiative will host the fourth annual Week of Prayer to End Human Trafficking from January 8 through January 14, 2024. The statewide interfaith week of prayer coincides with Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the state of Texas and serves as a call to action to the faith-based community to unite in prayer, learn more about human trafficking, and discern opportunities to prevent exploitation and support survivors.
“The Week of Prayer to End Human Trafficking is an integral part of GRACE’s efforts, bringing hope and healing to survivors of human trafficking,” said First Lady Abbott. “I invite Texans of all faiths to join us in prayer and action as we work together to put an end to this horrific crime.”
GRACE will launch the Week of Prayer to End Human Trafficking through a virtual interfaith event on Monday, January 8 at 7:00 pm on Facebook. The event will include remarks from the First Lady, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Commissioner Stephanie Muth, Child Sex Trafficking Team Administrator Janet Kasper, DFPS Human Trafficking Director Blanca Denise Lance, and survivor-leader and advocate Karla Solomon; a prayer intention led by Fountain of Praise Church in Houston Co-Pastor Dr. Mia Wright.
Daily Prayer Intentions for the Week of Prayer include:
| Monday, January 8 | Pray for all those currently being exploited to find safety and healing. |
| Tuesday, January 9 | Pray for all those who are vulnerable to receive the help, love, and support necessary to meet their needs and not fall victim to human trafficking. |
| Wednesday, January 10 | Pray for an end to demand and societal factors that normalize exploitation. |
| Thursday, January 11 | Pray for protection from online dangers and for caregivers to be equipped to keep their children safe. |
| Friday, January 12 | Pray for Texans to have the courage and skills to speak up and intervene when they see behavior that puts others at risk. |
| Saturday, January 13 | Pray for every child to have access to safe, supportive mentors and role models. |
| Sunday, January 14 | Pray for discernment on the actions you can personally take to prevent human trafficking. |
Launched in 2019, GRACE is a collaboration between the Office of the Texas First Lady, the Governor’s Child Sex Trafficking Team, DFPS, and a diverse group of faith leaders across Texas that works together to develop effective strategies to end human trafficking.
Governor Abbott officially proclaimed January 2024 to be Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the state of Texas. The Governor also issued a proclamation recognizing January 8-14, 2024 as the Week of Prayer to End Human Trafficking.
The First Lady encourages all Texans to wear blue on Thursday, January 11 in honor of National Day of Human Trafficking Awareness. Texans can use the hashtag #TXPraysToEndHT on social media to share their support for the Week of Prayer to End Human Trafficking.
Faith leaders providing the daily prayer intentions on Governor and First Lady Abbott’s social media pages include:
- Dr. Mia Wright, Co-Pastor at Fountain of Praise, Houston
- Susan Peters, Elder at Antioch Community Church in Waco and Global Director of Unbound
- Pastor Eddie Aranda, Senior Pastor at Grace Bible Church, Laredo
- Rabbi Neil Blumofe, Senior Rabbi at Congregation Agudas Achim, Austin
- Sophia Strother, Evangelist, Author, Advocate and Survivor Leader
- Pastor Mosley Hobson, Pastor at Greater St. John’s and New Zion Hill Church of God in Christ
- Dr. Gilberto Velez, Senior Pastor at Iglesia Cristiana Misericordia, Laredo
View the 2024 Participation Guide for Human Trafficking Prevention Month for additional ways to get involved.
