Superintendent’s Wife No Longer in the Dark about Trafficking
Sep. 3, 2009
The light went on for Cheryl Mansell a little over a year ago.
That's when the wife of Greater Ohio district superintendent, Jeff Mansell, realized that human trafficking wasn't just an international problem in countries like Thailand or Cambodia.
She was appalled to learn it was happening in her own backyard, in Ohio's state capital of Columbus.
Cheryl read a story publicized by her local newspaper, The Columbus Dispatch.
"The rusty black Chevrolet crept slowly down West Broad Street until a stranger waved it to a stop. The man handed the driver $50.00 and climbed into the back seat beside a cute, young woman. Before sunrise, about 20 more strangers would do the same. Barely 18, she pleaded to the driver to let her go. Three other women, who had taken her in from the streets, introduced her to the man she didn't realize was a pimp. Soon, he was beating her and threatening to kill her and harm her family if she didn't continue prostituting in the back seat of that car. Two weeks earlier, she had been sitting in English and math classes at [a Columbus high school]. She left home after graduation to get out on her own, and the first people she met lured her astray. And just that fast, [the girl] was trapped in an ugly underworld with no clear escape. "I wanted out," she said. "But he told me they owned me now."
Cheryl was even more concerned when she considered the location of pick-up of the young girl.
"My church, Cypress Wesleyan, and our Greater Ohio District center are located just off West Broad Street," says Cheryl.
Fortunately, Ohio lawmakers have taken notice that human trafficking is rampant in their state and are taking action to combat the grave issue.
In December 2008, Bill Cohen, a statehouse correspondent for 89.7 WKSU (a radio station affiliated with Kent State University), reported "Ohio legislators have wrapped up work on a measure that increases the punishment for people convicted of human trafficking. The proposal makes it a first degree felony to force others into prostitution and to peddle them around as sex slaves."
According to Ohio state senator, Theresa Fedor, more than half of all victims are children.
"The average age of children entering into prostitution is between the age of 10 and 14 years of age. These victims are trapped and they suffer horrific lives in which they are repeatedly raped, beaten, starved, chained or locked up, and psychologically tortured," says Theresa.
Cheryl urges individuals to get involved in the prevention of human trafficking and the restoration and after-care of claimed victims.
"The Wesleyan Church has historically fought against slavery," she says. "We must continue."
To find out how you can be involved in the fight against human trafficking, visit www.wesleyan.org/ww or call 317.774.7974.
