In areas surrounding Magnolia, three women have been placed in “safe houses” after being rescued from human trafficking in the past two weeks through the efforts of Pastor Kenny Martin.

Martin is a retired Houston Police Department (HPD) officer, pastor at the Upper Room Fellowship Church and founder of the Home of Abundant Life project.

While working with HPD, Martin encountered many women on the streets of Houston who were forced into modern day slavery known as human trafficking.

According to the U.S. State Department, human trafficking has many forms worldwide, such as forced labor, sex trafficking, child sex trafficking, debt bondage, child soldier and involuntary servitude.

In the 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report, the U.S. State Department reported that 12.3 million adults and children were brought against their will into the country, with 56 percent of those being women and children. Statistics show the trafficking industry is reported to bring in $32 billion.

According to Home of Hope, a local safe house, 200,000 children are at risk for being trafficked. More than 14,500 victims are trafficked into the U.S. from foreign countries.

In addition, Texas victims are promised jobs, false marriage which leads to bondage, sold in sex trafficking by parents or kidnapped.

Martin said Houston is the second largest hub for traffickers because of its proximity to Mexico. Ohio is the largest because of its border with Canada.

“One out of five sex traffickers bring the girls through Texas,” Martin said.

Martin explained that a challenge in bringing victims to safe homes is showing them who they can trust. Often victims begin to believe they actually owe debt or there is no one to help them because they are foreign or fear being abused or murdered.

Martin has lived in Magnolia since 1993 and started the House of Abundant Life project two years ago. Although his church has aimed to help victims and end trafficking since he retired from HPD in 1999, he is now in the beginning phases of opening a facility on the outskirts of Magnolia to help the women receive restoration and protection. The facility could house up to 140 people, he said.

“They need to be rehabilitated and need to know they can be set free,” Martin said. “We are trying to help them be productive.”

The facility would be able to provide specialty doctors and education. Martin would also help the victims return home or obtain citizenship. He would help them get a GED and Medicaid for those in need of medications.

Martin has begun work on a fundraiser, set for March 26, 2011, to help get the facility started. Martin approached Magnolia City Council at its regular meeting Dec. 14 and asked council to waive the cost of the Unity Park Pavilion for the fundraiser, a request members said they would consider.

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