Nates Notes

It is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in our nation and around the world. It damages and ruins hundreds of thousands of innocent lives every day. It separates children from their parents and lands them in the clutches of some of humanity’s worst monsters. The aforementioned tragedies stem from the sick, detestable world of the sex trade — humans selling other humans for sexual exploitation. To some people, the life of a human being has a price. And within the time it took you to get to this point in the article, one child’s price was named and purchased.

Fortunately, there are some devoting all they have to ending this evil. And one documentary put on full display the lengths one man is willing to go to put a stop to the sex trade.

The Evangelical Press Association hosted a screening of “The Abolitionists” April 6 at their annual conference. The documentary follows the journeys of Timothy Ballard, a former special agent for the Department of Homeland Security and Criminal Intelligence Agency (CIA). During his time serving our country, he was assigned with addressing crimes with emphasis on children. He used what he learned in the CIA and Homeland Security to ignite a movement of his own. Thus, Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) was born.

According to ourrescue.org, Ballard founded O.U.R. in 2013. With a team composed of former CIA agents and Navy SEALs, Ballard’s organization mobilizes to rescue children and prosecute their captors.

I was blessed with the opportunity to see the film a month before release. As I sat in front of the screen, I really did not know what to expect. Honestly, I knew this nightmare existed, but I had no idea how real it truly was. But once the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, it became more real than it had ever been in my life.

“The Abolitionists” follows Ballard’s story and provides a close and personal view as to just how dark this world is. Viewers watched as Ballard and his team risked their lives to save others.

He said this film was made for one purpose — saving children.

The film features a team of experienced, seasoned producers such as Darrina Fletcher, Chet Thomas, and Academy Award winner Gerald R. Molen.

Molen, producer of titles such as “Jurassic Park” and “Minority Report,” likened this documentary to another one of his productions, “Schindler’s List,” because of the effect it may have on viewers.

When the producers were asked how we as an audience can help, Fletcher provided those in attendance with an honest piece of wisdom.

“At the end of the film, there’s an icon that says, ‘Everyone can do something,’” Fletcher said. “And its obligatory for you guys. Now that you’ve seen the film, you’ve been exposed to (the world of the sex trade). … Us telling you what to do is nowhere near as powerful as you deciding yourselves what you can do.”

The film will be in select theaters for a special one-night event May 16, according to its website. For more information on this devastating yet inspiring film, visit theabolitionistsmovie.com.

HAYWOOD is the
editor-in-chief.