Trade As One

Joanna Johnson is a Christian who met us at The Freedom Summit about a month ago. She is a skilled writer who wants to share her experiences via our blog. If you’re interested in guest posting on our blog, email us at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The weekend of the Freedom Summit Conference in Mountain View, CA was the weekend I decided to commit to eating and drinking fair-trade chocolate only.
It was also the weekend I began to understand following Jesus in a completely new way.
Let me explain. I’m becoming increasingly aware of human trafficking, and its horrid grip on today’s society. When I attended ‘Abolitionist’ workshops that emphasized the importance of considering what I buy, I resisted a bit. I live on a tight budget, and much of the fair-trade products are on the pricier side.
But then I attended the Freedom Summit, where I heard Nathan George speak to guests about how Trade as One works with Hagar International in Cambodia, which employees 600 workers who have been rescued from slavery and abuse. I heard about the children both in fisheries and cocoa fields of Africa, forced to work for hours without breaks, and under brutal and sometimes violent conditions. I heard of the effort to make fair-trade a household name, and that this is already happening in the UK.

That’s when I thought, “Yeah, I could change my spending habits. Even if I start small, with just chocolate, it’s a start. What’s a few extra cents for a candy bar when I know it hasn’t come from the sweat and labor of a malnourished child? If I say I am a follower of Jesus, why not reflect that in the chocolate I buy?’
And so it began. Since then I’ve committed to buying solely fair-trade hot chocolate and chocolate bars.
But that isn’t enough, and that transitions into the spiritual unrest that I’ve been wrestling with. I have always believed in Jesus Christ and done my best to follow Him, but that weekend opened my eyes to the reality that my life as a Christian was too comfortable, devoid of the sacrifice and radicalism that defines the character of Jesus. Listening to speakers like David Batstone and Francis Chan, I realized my passion was shallow at best. I have since embarked on journey of re-discovering Jesus Christ, and am understanding that I am here to serve him through serving others. I’ve come away wanting to do more than just write about human trafficking. I no longer want to be on the sidelines; fat and happy in my church pew. I want the passion that Jesus had. I want a passion for others that hurts. The anti-trafficking movement is my opportunity. The Freedom Summit opened my eyes to the reality that something needs to be done, and I am one of those who needs to take action.

In the meantime, it’s good riddance to M&Ms.