Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/1407686
20 | WheelsOfGrace.com | #57 Come join with us as we seek to break the chains of human sexual trafficking in the United States. Founded by "Doc" Nave and Diena Cannavino, BAT is a non-profit that educates, empowers, counsels and mobilizes members of the motorcycle community to make a difference in this age old war. Check out our Facebook page at BikersAgainstTraffickingFL or our website to learn how you can get involved and start making a difference today. 407-300-8971 Sexual abuse entered into my little life when I was five years of age. I can remember huddling under a bus that was parked in our yard with no clothes on. My little arms were wrapped around my legs. Being sexually molested and trafficked seemed to be the norm for my life. As I have reflected back upon that image, I knew that my abuse had gone back even further. Memories at the age of three that had me drinking beer and knowing about sex. I have no idea how I knew but I knew. I am now 55 years of age and in the years between then and now a lot has happened. Drugs, Alcohol, more Sexual Abuse and then a life spent trying to reprogram a brain that was set on fire at an early age. My father eventually ended up dying in Federal Prison as a convicted drug dealer and murderer and we even spent five years on the run after he escaped from prison when I was a kid. We went through three name changes as we escaped from Michigan and found our way living in a tent in Colorado, a small apartment with another family in Las Vegas and finally settling down in a 27 feet travel trailer in Miami. My dad was a proud member of the cocaine cowboys that ruled the drug trade in Miami in the late 70's and early 80's and is even featured in a book about homicide. All in all, great things to influence a child. NOT. I share this with you because fighting human sexual trafficking is a lifelong passion for me. I was a pastor and missionary, but nothing consumes me as much as helping a child or victim who does not have the ability to fight on their own. People need to be empowered and assisted to get out of the trafficked life and then the victims need to understand that there is hope, healing and renewal for each one NO MATTER what has transpired in their past. There needs to be healing from physical and emotional wounds and for those who were raised in a faith community there even needs to be healing in their faith relationship with God. I pray that we can make a difference, I strive to make a difference, I am consumed to make a difference and I seek to sacrifice to make a difference. I know there is hope because I can feel it flowing through my veins and if nothing else...I want to burn the idea of hope, healing, and renewal into the brains of everyone who is a victim so that they can move from victim to overcomer. Life has great potential but sometimes we have to fight to get there. Bikers Against Trafficking.org is an organization that seeks to fight for those who cannot. We seek to make a difference and we give you our word that every penny we raise goes towards fighting against the blight that is blinding our nation and world. Human sexual trafficking happens all around us. There are roughly 300,000 mainly young women and children trafficked into the United States for sexual From Doc's Heart purposes each year, some 40.3 million victims around the world. Over 150 Billion dollars is made from sexual trafficking. Traffickers build up a web of deceit in the mind of the victim, they are first placed in a "seasoning process" where they have to survive in a climate of sheer fear and terror. Their average age is 11-14. There are hundreds of thousands of victims that are United States citizens who are being held as sexual slaves. All around us, in most cities, every State and it does not matter if someone is religious, non- religious, gay, straight or whatever...sexual trafficking affects us all. Please seek a way to get involved. Either through us, through a local group in your area, but somewhere. Battle this scourge as together we can make a difference. We will be more than happy to speak at your event, school, church, club or wherever we can to make a difference and help people understand. Thank-you, Doc 20 | WheelsOfGrace.com | #57