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A man walked through the streets of Sierra Leone one evening on his way to church when he heard a muffled sound up ahead in the bushes, like a child trying to scream.
He usually walked another way to church, but for some reason, he had chosen a different route that evening. Later, he would look back and say with certainty that the Holy Spirit had led him to go that way.
The man pulled out a flashlight and beamed the light toward the sound, which was still a ways ahead. He could see there a trafficker struggling with two young boys, about eight or nine years old, his hands at their throats to try to keep them quiet.
The man on his way to church was Ezekiel, a project manager for Love Justice Sierra Leone. He’s been on the job for nearly two years now, and like many Love Justice field staff, his passion for justice is palpable.
He often works alongside the monitors he oversees, helping intercept people from human trafficking and seeing firsthand the destructive impact of poverty, unemployment, and the lack of education in Sierra Leone. “A country of promise,” he says—but one where these disadvantages make many people willing to believe false promises of jobs or scholarships, only to find themselves trapped in forced labor or sexual exploitation.
When Ezekiel’s flashlight exposed the trafficker—bringing to light the crime he was committing—he fled, abandoning the young boys. Ezekiel took the boys with him, retrieved his motorbike, and returned them to their parents. They were a long way from home.
The trafficker had offered the boys some object of value to persuade them to go with him, luring them away from the safety of home. It was, of course, a lie.
The boys’ parents, who had been searching for them, were greatly relieved to see them arrive on Ezekiel’s motorbike. The Muslim family listened as Ezekiel shared his testimony of God’s goodness. Moved by his words and the events of that evening, they chose to put their faith in Jesus.
It’s worth pointing out that this entire interception happened in Ezekiel’s free time. He was not on the clock at work, but rather on his way to church when God seemed to say, “This is the way you will bring me glory this evening instead—go help my little ones.”
From one intercept to hundreds
Ezekiel shone a literal light on evil that evening, but his team shines a metaphorical one every day as they fight the darkness of human trafficking and protect freedom in Sierra Leone.
Since starting in 2019, the Sierra Leone team has intercepted 1,196 people to stop them from being trafficked and helped arrest 28 suspected traffickers. Those numbers continue to grow month by month.
“Each of these cases doesn't just represent modern statistics,” said Ezekiel. “It's a life directed away from danger and away from possible exploitations.”
This team, which used to intercept around 20–30 people per month, has increased their impact this year, now reaching around 40–50 people per month.
“One of the foundational pillars that have caused it [the increase in impact] is first and foremost prayer. We engage in prayer. We believe that what we cannot do, God—the Holy Spirit—can lead us to do through prayers,” said Ezekiel.
The second thing he said caused the increase in impact is building a greater sense of teamwork. Everyone helps and supports one another.
“It’s a collective responsibility,” he said. “We've learned to motivate our frontline heroes and inspire them that this work is tedious, but you have our support, you have our backup, and the Holy Spirit is with you as you go out there in the field.”
(Pictured above: the team in Sierra Leone)
Battling corruption and setbacks on the frontlines
Of course, this dedicated team is not exempt from facing challenges. Sierra Leone commonly struggles with reliable electricity and internet access—something all residents deal with, but especially disruptive when working in such a serious context. The team has struggled with sickness too. And they must regularly deal with corruption from local authorities, who will accept bribes from traffickers to let them go. Ezekiel expressed a need for “radical accountability” in Sierra Leone.
“Most of the time, you have a case where they have arrested the suspect, and at the moment when you are there, they will take things seriously. But as soon as you turn your back, there will be some kind of compromise,” said Ezekiel.
This issue of local law enforcement failing to hold traffickers accountable through proper legal processes is something our teams have encountered in many countries. The surest way to counteract this, they’ve found, is by building partnerships with authorities, known as police liaisons.
The team in Sierra Leone has been pursuing a strategic partnership with the government and especially with police, but so far, progress has been delayed.
Still, Ezekiel is hopeful for his country.
“I believe our work is going to impact the country as a whole, the government, and the societies that we are working around—the entirety of Sierra Leone,” he said. “We are grateful to God for what he has been doing in Sierra Leone so far.”
Stand with frontline heroes like Ezekiel
We’re inspired by this team’s passion and faith, shining a light in their nation to pierce the darkness of injustice!
At Love Justice, one of our core values is to find the right people for this work—those with a brokenhearted anointing who care deeply about the work they do. When you give, you not only protect potential victims but you also help us fund these operations and passionate teams around the globe.
Give today to support faithful teams like this one so they can continue shining the light of justice in their nations!
*All data and statistics current at the date and time of publishing. Names and specific locations excluded for privacy and security purposes. Images (besides team photo) are representative.
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