“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free."
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According to the National Institute of Justice, the United Nations defines human trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons by improper means (such as force, abduction, fraud, or coercion) for an improper purpose including forced labor or sexual exploitation. |
The most common forms of human trafficking are: domestic servitude; forced and bonded labour; sex trafficking; child labour, including child soldiers; and forced marriage.
About the Ragdoll Prayer Project
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The intention of the Ragdoll Prayer Project at St. Paul's is to inspire compassion and intercessory prayer for those caught in the web of human trafficking: locally in Kingston, nationally in Canada, and globally, and to invite the church to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to create social change in response to the global epidemic of human trafficking.
For more information about the Ragdoll Prayer Project at St. Paul's, please contact the Rev. John VanStone.
For more information about the Ragdoll Prayer Project at St. Paul's, please contact the Rev. John VanStone.
History of the Ragdoll Prayer Project at St. Paul's
In the fall of 2016, the clergy leadership team at St. Paul’s Kingston initiated a process for the parish to consider a new congregational mission: working against modern day slavery in the Kingston area and beyond.
During the season of Advent, Pastor Kris Michaelson and Assisting Priest Rev. John VanStone created bulletin inserts that offered broad scope statistics on this pandemic, and also provided information about the history of local work undertaken in response to human trafficking.
The congregation was then asked to prayerfully consider if St. Paul’s was being called by God to raise awareness and foster prayer against human trafficking in the year 2017. The response from the parish membership was an overwhelming “yes.”
St. Paul’s Annual Vestry 2017 approved a plan to undertake the Ragdoll Prayer Project (RPP) as a concrete way to contribute to the cause. The RPP is a ministry of Anglican Renewal Ministries, the mandate of which is to heighten the awareness of the severity of human trafficking, and in particular, contribute to helping child soldiers.
During the season of Advent, Pastor Kris Michaelson and Assisting Priest Rev. John VanStone created bulletin inserts that offered broad scope statistics on this pandemic, and also provided information about the history of local work undertaken in response to human trafficking.
The congregation was then asked to prayerfully consider if St. Paul’s was being called by God to raise awareness and foster prayer against human trafficking in the year 2017. The response from the parish membership was an overwhelming “yes.”
St. Paul’s Annual Vestry 2017 approved a plan to undertake the Ragdoll Prayer Project (RPP) as a concrete way to contribute to the cause. The RPP is a ministry of Anglican Renewal Ministries, the mandate of which is to heighten the awareness of the severity of human trafficking, and in particular, contribute to helping child soldiers.
Ragdoll Kits
Contents of a Ragdoll Kit
Over the summer of 2017, a team of 10 parishioners from St. Paul’s developed a Ragdoll Kit. The kits include a sewn Ragdoll pattern, decorations, material with which to stuff the Ragdoll, and literature about human trafficking. The Ragdolls are to remain faceless to symbolize the vulnerability of victims, who are often treated as disposable objects. Kits are available free of charge. If you would like to receive a kit, please contact Rev. John VanStone.
Workshop
On Saturday, October 28, 2017, over 30 people from within and outside of St. Paul’s attended the RPP Workshop. Also in attendance were the Rev. Kate Ann Folwell, Deacon of Christ Church Belleville, and Constable Kim Siemonsen of the Kingston OPP. While the sewn Ragdoll patterns were being stuffed and decorated, an interactive talk was presented by Doug van der Horden, a local expert on the plague of modern day slavery. He described the extent and seriousness of the problem of human trafficking locally in Kingston, and in Canada.
Sermon/Prayer Series
The Ragdoll Prayer Project Workshop was followed by a five week sermon series from October 29 through November 26, the purpose of which was to foster a deeper awareness of the scourge of human trafficking, and the vital need for prayer (with head, heart and hands) to combat this evil.
During this time period, more than 40 Ragdolls were on display in the church. Parishioners continued to sew, stuff, and decorate Ragdolls, adding to their number during the project. Themed special intentions were included during the Prayers of the People to engage the Holy Spirit in the work of combatting this evil. It is estimated that 35 million people worldwide are being held against their will today.
During this time period, more than 40 Ragdolls were on display in the church. Parishioners continued to sew, stuff, and decorate Ragdolls, adding to their number during the project. Themed special intentions were included during the Prayers of the People to engage the Holy Spirit in the work of combatting this evil. It is estimated that 35 million people worldwide are being held against their will today.
Service of Blessing and Sending
The Blessing and Sending of the Ragdolls took place at a special service held at St. Paul’s on November 29, 2017. At that event Rev. Rod Brant-Francis and Rev. Lisa Brant-Francis gave a presentation on aspects of human trafficking within First Nations communities.
Task Force
A Ragdoll Prayer Project Task Force has emerged at St. Paul’s to carry the work forward in prayer, and to assist other congregations with establishing their own Ragdoll Prayer Project to raise awareness, prayer, and action against modern day slavery.
Prayer Litany
We pray for an increased awareness of the scourge of human trafficking, that by your Spirit, more may be drawn into prayer and action to participate with Christ in setting the captives free. We pray to you Lord, Lord have mercy.
For those involved in exploiting others to gain money or power, that they may be convicted of sin and cling to the cross for redemption and restoration of life. We pray to you Lord, Lord have mercy.
For those working to put an end to modern day slavery, that groups of all kinds may find solidarity in the knowledge that our ultimate fight is with evil authorities and wicked spirits in the heavenly realms that have already been defeated through the blood of Jesus. We pray to you Lord, Lord have mercy.
For people of all ages coerced or forced into labour or the sex trade, that they may be consoled by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, and be liberated from bondage. We pray to you Lord, Lord have mercy.
For repentance of all that fuels human trafficking, that corporate and individual systems of pride, greed, depravity, and lust may be conquered by an in-breaking of the love of God the Father who gave His Son that His Kingdom may be released on earth as it is in Heaven. We pray to you Lord, Lord have mercy.
- Anglican Renewal Ministries
For those involved in exploiting others to gain money or power, that they may be convicted of sin and cling to the cross for redemption and restoration of life. We pray to you Lord, Lord have mercy.
For those working to put an end to modern day slavery, that groups of all kinds may find solidarity in the knowledge that our ultimate fight is with evil authorities and wicked spirits in the heavenly realms that have already been defeated through the blood of Jesus. We pray to you Lord, Lord have mercy.
For people of all ages coerced or forced into labour or the sex trade, that they may be consoled by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, and be liberated from bondage. We pray to you Lord, Lord have mercy.
For repentance of all that fuels human trafficking, that corporate and individual systems of pride, greed, depravity, and lust may be conquered by an in-breaking of the love of God the Father who gave His Son that His Kingdom may be released on earth as it is in Heaven. We pray to you Lord, Lord have mercy.
- Anglican Renewal Ministries