SERMON OUTLINE: SADHNA

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SERMON OUTLINE

SADHNAIntroduction:

What was the last time you experienced an injustice?

• Trivial injustices: waiting patiently in a queue only for someone to cut in front of you, getting short changed etc

• Some of us will have experienced more serious injustices.

We have a visceral, intense reaction to even the most trivial of injustices – often one of the first complete sentences toddlers say is ‘it’s not fair!’ But we are made in the image of God – and God is a God of justice.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4 v 1

The book of Ecclesiastes gives a simple and painful picture of injustice.

This is the Biblical picture of injustice. This is the picture of someone who has power oppressing someone who does not.

Context:

There are plenty of examples of injustice in the Bible, from the oppression of the Israelite slaves in Egypt to the persecution of the early church. However injustice is still a reality for many in the world today.

• Nearly 46 million in slavery around the world – more than at any other point in human history

• Variety of forms: human trafficking, bonded labour, sexual exploitation, online exploitation

• Gender-based violence causes more injury and death of adult women than cancer, malaria, car accidents and war combined

One example is Sadhna, from India. Sadhna’s storyPlay Sadhna’s video or summarise Sadhna’s story in your own words. Her story is available below.

Sadhna’s story is not unique in India – although of the 46 million people enslaved today, around one third live in India.

So what do we do about this? If God is a God of justice, how does He feel about this?

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Scripture: Luke 4:14-22

• Crucial moment when Jesus transitions from his private life into his public ministry

• Often called Jesus’ ‘mission statement’ where he lays out what the Kingdom of God on earth will look like.

• Jesus can not only liberate us from our sin and shame, but also from real, physical slavery.

This is the way IJM understands the gospel, and it is thanks to that that Sadhna is free and safe from her oppressors.

Sadhna is just one person, but every time IJM rescues someone from slavery and pursues justice for them in the courts, it sends a message to the slave owners that slavery is wrong and justice will come. For example, after arresting only 100 traffickers in the Philippines over 4 years, IJM saw the number of children in the sex trade fall by an average 80% across the 3 offices we were operating!

Call to Action:

• I am just one person, but I too can have a big impact in the fight against slavery.

• God is inviting us to join in His Kingdom coming on earth: to free the captives and set the oppressed free.

There are two ways you can join this fight right now:

• Pray: Join the biggest move of prayer for justice that the UK has ever seen. Sign up as a prayer partner.

• Give: Give generously to the work of Justice. You too will help to bring about an end to slavery and to rescue millions of others like Sadhna.

Share the method of giving agreed with the Pastor

Pray.

• Pray that we would see those held captive, set free.

• God would reveal how He is calling us to bring good news to the poor, and how He can use us.

Allow a short time to reflect and listen to God

(If agreed with the Pastor allow a time to respond – if not ensure people know how to complete and hand in their response re prayer and giving)

Close.

KOLKATA, INDIA – A mischievous smile spread across 10-year-old Sadhna’s face as shecheckedoncemoreoverher shoulder, rolledup the sleevesofheroversizedmen’s shirt,andplungedherskinnyarmsdeepintothemudofherneighbour’sdrainedfishpond.Timewasoftheessence.

SiltstrainedthroughsmallfingersuntilSadhnafoundherprize—awrigglingsilverfishdeepin themud—andplopped it swiftly intoherwaitingbucket.Hernextdigmight turnupahidden snake,but she could toss thateasily into thebushes.With just a fewmoredives,she’dhaveafullcatchoffishandthebeginningsofatastymealforherparentsandlittlesisterbackhome.

“Fishingwasmymostfavouriteactivity,”shesaystodaywithabroadgrin.“Myfatherwouldwaitwiththeovenburningformetogetback.Iusedtocuddleupbesidehimashe’dcleanandcookthefishsowecouldhaveamealtogether…Imissthewonderfultimewehadinthevillage.”

Sadhnalooksbackatherchildhoodasatimewhenshewasn’tafraidofanythingatall.

“I was quite fearless inmy childhood days. Through this phase of life, I started getting scared ofpeople aroundme. Now I’ve learned to draw inspiration for these experiences and have becomefearlessagain.I’mnolongerscaredofanythinginlife.”–Sadhna*

Sadhna’s Story: Fearless Again Published May 2017

Brilliantgreenricepaddiessurroundedherfamily’ssmallhomeasfarasshecouldsee,andthenarrowpathwaysofhervillagewereshadedbymango,tamarindandcoconuttrees—fruitripeandreadyforalittlegirlwitharebelliousstreak.

(When a landowner refused to give little Sadhna a sample, she and her friends wereundeterred.“Ihatewhenpeopletellmeno,”shejokes.“Whentheownerwassleepingatmidday,myfriendsandIclimbedupthetree,stolethefruit,andranaway.”)

Asbeautifulasthesememoriesremain,however,Sadhnaknowsherchildhoodwasfarfromidyllic.Shesayssoberly,“ForaslongasIcanremember,therewereproblemsinmyfamily.”

Her parentswere gonemost of the time.Most days, they travelled two hours by bus towork in Kolkata; hermother as a housekeeper and her father as a rickshaw driver. Theystruggledtomakeendsmeetandarguedconstantlyaboutthefamily’spoverty.

Eachmorning,asSadhnaandherfriendswalkedtoschool,shefeltguiltyshewasn’thelpingmore.Sheremembers,“WhileIatemylunch,Ialwayswonderedwhethermymotherandlittlesisterathomehadanythingtoeat.”

ATragicTurn

In2010,ashockreverberatedthroughSadhna’sfamilythatchangedeverything:herfatherdiedsuddenlyfromdrinkingtoxiclocalliquor,andrelativesputpressureonSadhnatoholdeverything together.At just 11 years old, shewas required toperform theHindu funeralritualsandstartcontributingtothefamily’supkeep.

“IfeltlikeIwasleftallalonetotakecareofmyfamily,”Sadhnasays.“Atage12or13,agirldreamsofherfutureandherstudies,butIcouldn’taffordtodothat.Iwouldalwaysthinkhowtoprotectmyfamilyoreducatemyyoungersisterandtakecareofmymother…Ibrokedownattimes,butIdidn’tletmymothertakenoticeofthat.”

Sadhna left school and startedmaking and selling frayed coconut husks (used as packingmaterial)for30rupees(50cents)aweek,butitwasn’tenough.Soon,herfamilywasforcedtopackup their smallhutand seeknewopportunities inKolkata—sayinggoodbye to thefriends,thefruitandthefishingshelovedsomuch.

InKolkata,bothSadhnaandhermothertookworkashousekeepersfor12longhourseachday,andatnighttheymadepaperflowerstosellontheside.Shewasintriguedbythebigcity’s new sights and sounds, the new fashions girls wore, and the rougher way peopletreatedeachother.

(“You can get a lot ofwarmth in the villages,” she explains, “whereas in Kolkata, peopleseemtojudgeyounotbyyourcharacterbutbythethingstheycangetfromyou.”)

Afterthreeyearsoftoiling,shestartedaskingfriendstohelpherfindabetterjob.Agirlinherneighborhoodgaveherthenumberofawomanlookingforhousehelp.

AndfromthereSadhna’slifechangedonceagain.

ForcedtoFeelWorthless

At14yearsold,Sadhnametthiswomanatahouse inanordinaryneighborhood inKolkataand followedherinto a room full of strange men, beer bottles andcrushedcigarettepackets.

“Theladytoldmenottoworry,asIwouldgetanicejobwhere I would be able to earn a lot of money,” sheremembers—though she knew something was off: “Ididn’tliketheatmosphere,andIaskedthemtoletmeleave.They toldmetositandhaveaglassofwater…Idon’trememberanythingafterdrinkingthewater.”

She woke up hours later on the floor—disoriented,nakedandafraid.Herclotheswerestrewneverywhere.In quick succession, she learned that she had beenraped, that this apartmentwas operating as a privatebrothel, and that she was now their property. Shebegantocry.

“The lady threatened to exposeme tomy family andmyvillagers.Shesaidshekneweverythingaboutme,”Sadhna remembers shakily. She begged to leave untilthemadamrelented—insteadagreeingtocallherbackwhenever a customer wanted sex. “She told me thattwo men would be following me, and if I tried tocontact anyone she would get my mother and sisterkilled.”

Terrified, Sadhna toldhermother shehad foundawell-paying job as a housekeeper andhurriedlyconvincedthemtomovebacktotheirvillage.Forthenexttwomonths,shesleptathomeandtraveledonehourbackandforthtoKolkata.

At the house, Sadhna and two or three other girls she never sawwould be sold for sexseveral timesaday in three tiny rooms—“notevenbigenough fora singlebed”—hiddenfromanyonepassingbythehouse.Shesays,“ThosepeoplewereconstantlycallingmeupandthreateningmeofdireconsequencesifIdidn’tturnup.Theyevensentmentofollowme.Ihadnootheroptionbuttogobacktothem.”

PrivatesexestablishmentslikethishaveincreasedinnumberinKolkataoverthelastseveralyears.

Based from unassuming houses or apartments, pimps and madams arrange privatemeetingsbetweencustomersandthegirlsthroughsecretnetworks.Theyaremorehiddenthanbrothelsintraditionalred-lightdistricts,buttheyexploityounggirlsjustthesame.

At 14, Sadhna was being exploited by a private trafficking network. A powerful madam summoned her constantly to be sold for sex. Terrified and isolated, Sadhna says, “I had no other option but to go back to them.”

“Sheusedtotakemoneyfromthecustomersinfrontofme,andIhadtogowiththemevenif Ididn’twant to,” Sadhna laments. “Thecustomerswhovisitedmeat thathousedidn’tbehaveverynicelywithme.TheyweresobadIcan’tevendiscuss itnow…Ifeltworthlessandcouldn’tseeanywayoutofit.”

Sadhnawasn’tphysically trapped,but themadam’s threatsand thebarrageof customerskeptherboundbyfear.Shewastooscaredtorunand—becauseof thestigmaplacedonyounggirlswholosetheirvirginity,especiallylikethis—tooashamedtotellanyone.

Sheremembers,“Istruggledwithmyselfconstantly.Ididn’tknowifIcouldevercomeoutofthistrapandliveanormalgirl’slife.Ihadlostallhopeofgettingout.IfeltasifIhadnohopeleftinlifeandhadbecomeaworthlesshumanbeing.”

Theexperiencechangedher.Sheaddssorrowfully,“Afterthatincident,Istoppedlaughingormixingwithothers.Ifelttotallyisolatedfromgirlslikeme.IrealizedIhadwastedmylifeandcouldneverbeoneofthem.Ifeltasifitwastheendoftheroadforme.”

OutofDanger,andOvercomingFear

“I still remember the day the police arrived,”Sadhnasayswithrelief.

It was January 8, 2013, and she was with acustomerinoneofthetinyroomswhenofficersarrived at the house. Police and IJM staff hadbeen working for weeks to investigate themadam’s activities and the abuse that Sadhnaandanotheryoungwomanhadbeensuffering—andtheywereheretorescuethem.

As thecustomerranoutside,Sadhnaheardthemadam frantically begging not to be arrested,ashamed that anyone would find out she had been running a brothel. Having beenbrainwashedtoprotectthebusiness,Sadhnaalsobegancryingandclaimedshewasthereonherownvolition. ItwasonlywhenIJMsocialworkersreassuredhershewouldbesafethat Sadhna confessed the truth, gaveher statement to police, and followed IJM staff tosafetyatanaftercareshelter.

Followingtheoperation,itwasclearthetwomonthsofexploitationhadtakentheirtollonSadhna’sidentity.Gonewastheplayfulmischief.Gonewastheenergeticsmileandcarefreespirit. She thought, “I’ll never be able to trust anyone in life again…This has shockedmebeyond imagination. I stopped caring about anything in life. I had faced the worstexperienceofmylifeanddidn’tbotheranymoreaboutanythingelse.”

Itwasonly throughmeetingother survivors likeherselfat theaftercarehome—girlswiththesamebackground,thesamecrusheddreams,andthesamepainfulstories—thatSadhnabegantoopenupandaccepthelp.Slowly,shebegantoreturntothefun-loving,gregariousgirlsheoncewas.

Stock image: IJM has been partnering with authorities in Kolkata to rescue girls like Sadhna from sex trafficking since 2006.

“Ifoundoutthatsomeofthegirlshadtogothroughatoughertimethanmeinthepast,”she remembers. “In spite of these difficulties, they were trying to turn around and dosomethingworthwhile in life. That pushedme to think positively about the future ofmyown.Theymotivatedmetostartgoingtoschool,tolookaheadinlifeandtoforgetthepastliketheydid.”

In the aftercare home, Sadhna was able to re-start her education and get the trauma-focused counseling sheneeded to rebuildher self-esteem. She rediscoveredher talent inmusicanddancing,andlearnedhowtomanageherfeelingsoffearandanxiety.

“Our counselors have always tried tounderstand our concerns and have motivatedus,” she says gratefully. “What I’ve learned inthiscenter—if Ican followthemfor therestofmylife—I’llbehappyandsafe.”

APowerfulTestimony

Part of moving forward with her life, Sadhnaknew,would be closing this painful chapter byseeing the madam held accountable for hercrimes.

She remembers, “I was scared of going to thecourtinthebeginning,buttheauntiesfromtheshelter encouraged me to testify. I felt bytestifyingincourtIcouldsavethelifeofanothergirllikemewhowouldbeavictimifthisladygotawaywithoutatrial.”1

Sadhna attended court more than five timesover the next three years, each timehaving torelivethepainfulmemoriesofherexploitation.Now, she says, “Though I used to be scaredinitially,Idon’tfeelthatanymore.”

Staff from IJMandheraftercarehomebegan tonoticehowboldandcourageousSadhnawas becoming, and in January 2015 they asked if she would be willing to speak at atraffickingawarenessprograminanimpoverishedvillageinsouthernWestBengal.

“Iwasnervousinfrontofthecrowd,”Sadhnaadmits,“butwhenIsawyounggirlsjustlikeIhadbeen,Iknewmydutytosharesothatthesamethingwouldn’thappentothem.”

IJM’s Dona Kottackal saw a totally renewed Sadhna emerge—a girl fearless like she hadbeenbefore.Shesays,“Fromatraumatizedgirlwhobelievedshehadnootherchoicebut

1 May 2017: At the time of writing, the trial against this madam is still ongoing.

With help from IJM staff, like Anju Sherpa (above), and counselors at her aftercare shelter, Sadhna says she’s much more confident than before. She says, “Now I’ve got the courage to raise my voice if I see something wrong happening in front of me.”

exploitation,she’sbeentransformedintoayoungwomanwhoisnotonlyhealed,but isatoolofhealingforothergirls.”

(In January 2016, Sadhna was honored by IJM staff in Chennai for being an anti-humantraffickingheroinIndia,alongsidegovernmentleadersandmediahelpingtoendthiscrisis.)

SettingBigDreams

“I’mhavingagreattimerightnow,”Sadhnasmiles.

Today she’s a confident and vibrant 19-year-old, living in an aftercarehome for survivorsover18,withawholecommunityof friendsandachancetochaseherdreams.She lovesstudyingmathandcomputers,practicing traditionalHindidance,watchinghorrormovies,and making her friends laugh—even performing comedy routines in the shelter’s talentshow.

Whenshetalksaboutthefuture,though,herresolveisserious:“Mydreamistocompletemyeducationandgeta jobasa socialworker, tohear the storiesofothergirlsandhelpthem.”

Sadhna’salsoinregularcontactwithhermotherandhyper-focusedonseeingherfamilysucceed,adding,“Mymotheralsoworksveryhard.IlookforwardtothedaywhenIcanaskhertostayathomeandIcanlookafterhermyself.”

Inlate2016,theaftercarehomeagreedtotakein Sadhna’s younger sister to help her get aneducation and stay safe from trafficking.Overjoyedtobetogether,Sadhnasays,“Iwanttosupportmysistertocompletehereducation,sothatwhathappenedtomewillneverhappentoher…I’mreallygratefulto[mycounselors]tohaveallowedmysistertostayherewithme.”

Asshereflectstoday,Sadhnafeelsshehasalottoofferothersinhersamesituation.She’snoticedthechangesinherselfoverthelastfewyears,andshe’sreadytomoveforwardwithconfidence.

Sadhnasays,“Iwasquitefearlessinmychildhooddays.Throughthisphaseoflife,Istartedgetting scared of people around me. Now I’ve learned to draw inspiration for theseexperiencesandhavebecomefearlessagain.I’mnolongerscaredofanythinginlife.”

*ApseudonymhasbeenusedfortheprotectionofthisIJMclient.

Sadhna’s younger sister now lives at an aftercare shelter to help her stay safe and get her education. Sadhna says, “I want to support my sister to complete her education, so that what happened to me will never happen to her.”

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INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION is a global organisation that protects the poor from violence throughout the developing world. IJM partners with local authorities to rescue victims of violence, bring criminals to justice, restore survivors and strengthen justice systems.

Highlighted as one of 10 non-profits “making a difference” by U.S. News and World Report, IJM’s innovative work has been featured by the BBC, The Guardian, The Economist, The Financial Times, Forbes, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, National Public Radio, CNN and many other outlets.

All text and images © 2017 International Justice Mission.

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