Faith in Action: How Local Churches Are Leading the Fight Against Slavery

Slavery may seem like a relic of history, but for millions of children around the world, it is a daily nightmare. Set Free Alliance exists to end child slavery in our lifetime—and the local church is one of the most powerful forces driving that mission forward. Through partnerships rooted in faith, community, and compassion, churches are leading the charge in rescuing and restoring children.

The Biblical Call to Justice

From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture calls believers to defend the vulnerable and pursue justice. Proverbs 31:8-9 urges us to "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves," while Isaiah 1:17 commands us to "seek justice, defend the oppressed." For Christians, the fight against child slavery is not just a humanitarian effort—it's a gospel mandate.

Faith and social justice go hand in hand. When churches live out their faith in action, they reflect the heart of Christ, who came to proclaim freedom for the captives (Luke 4:18). This mission isn't optional—it's foundational to Christian activism.

Church-to-Church Partnerships: A Model of Christian Activism

Set Free Alliance's Church-to-Church initiative offers churches a tangible way to engage in the fight against slavery. Instead of supporting a general fund, congregations can "adopt" a specific home led by one of Set Free’s pastor partners. This means funding house parents, daily care, and emotional and spiritual support for the same group of 10-12 rescued children every month.

Due to a recent influx of rescued children, Set Free needs more American churches to commit to a monthly recurring gift of $680. Currently these are some of the congregations are involved in the church-to-church partnership:

• New Pleasant Baptist Church, Gaffney, South Carolina
• Greenville Community Church, Greenville, South Carolina
• Calvary Christian Fellowship, Taylors, South Carolina
• Hope Point Community Church, Spartanburg, South Carolina

The American church will be partnered with a specific home church in India, creating a lasting bond and relationship. This video explains how Hope Point Community Church is making an impact by partnering with Set Free:

Greenville Community Church’s Partnership Experience

Greenville Community Church (GCC) in South Carolina is one such partner. Pastor Michael Bayne explains the unique power of this approach. “Our church, through their giving, has a real investment in a real home with real kids. It bridges a gap in a different way than just giving to a nebulous fund. We know exactly where our home is, who the house parents are, and we can pray for them by name.” This level of intentional care fosters a deep, personal connection. It transforms generosity from a transaction into a relationship.

Mobilizing the Church: Awareness and Action

When churches see the reality of child slavery through the lens of faith, something powerful happens. Pastor Bayne, who recently visited the Set Free campus during a vision trip, shares, “There’s spiritual glue that happens when folks on our end can see, ‘Oh, my pastor met those kids.’ My prayers become very real.” His visit highlights another key element: testimony. When a pastor or church member returns from a trip and shares what they witnessed, the story becomes real for the entire congregation. It’s a moment of spiritual clarity—a reminder that the Church is a global family, united in purpose.

Inspiring Church Impact Stories

Through their Church-to-Church partnership, GCC funds a literal home of rescue and refuge—a gospel outpost where children from other faiths are safe, loved, and introduced to Jesus. “When we give, we’re creating a gospel outpost,” explains Pastor Bayne. “These are kids who have been abandoned and forgotten, and we get to say: we see you, we’re fighting for you, and Jesus loves you.”

During his visit, Pastor Bayne was able to respond to a very pressing physical need: a bathroom. He realized GCC’s partner church did not have a bathroom. So after a quick call to church elders, he provided around $3,000 to fund the construction of the facility, knowing it would make a huge impact to the health and safety of the children in the home.

And the impact is exponential. Not only are rescued children healed and equipped for life, but they’re also being raised to share the gospel themselves. The cycle of pain ends, and the cycle of purpose begins.

How Your Church Can Get Involved

Churches of all sizes can be part of this mission. Whether it’s adopting a home, organizing a fundraiser, hosting a prayer night, or sending a missions team, there are countless ways to get involved. “It’s not about us,” Bayne says. “We’re part of a global family. Set Free gives us the chance to bridge the gap, to not make ourselves the hero, but to make Jesus the hero—together.”

The required monthly gift to fund the holistic care for 10-12 rescued children living in a church home is $680. If your church is ready to take a bold step in faith and social justice, consider joining Set Free’s Church-to-Church program. Together, we can transform real homes, restore real children, and reflect a very real God who is still in the business of setting captives free.

Interested in learning more about church-to-church partnerships? Be sure to reach out to our Church Partnership Coordinator, Andrew at [email protected] to receive more information.

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