2014 Readers’ Choice Award Winner
What can I do about human trafficking? What can my church do about slavery? The realities of modern-day slavery can seem daunting, and sometimes it can feel like we should leave it to the professionals. But fighting for justice is not something we have to outsource to others. Every Christian and every church has a part to play. Justice Awakening is a handbook for Christians who want to bring an end to human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Pastor and activist Eddie Byun provides biblical foundations for understanding God’s heart for justice and the oppressed. He offers practical, on-the-ground steps that any believer or church can take, from youth groups to men’s ministries, orphan care ministries to short-term and long-term missions. Discover what you can do to be part of the solution. And join God’s movement for freedom and justice for all. Includes discussion questions and prayer guides for group use.
Editorial Reviews
Justice Awakening is a handbook for Christians who want to bring an end to human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Korean pastor and activist Eddie Byun provides biblical foundations for understanding God’s heart for justice and the oppressed. He offers practical, on-the-ground steps that any believer or church can take, from youth groups to men’s ministries, orphan care ministries to short-term and long-term missions.
Light Magazine Canada, June/July 2014
The crime of human trafficking is the worst kind of injustice and yet its ubiquity makes it seem impossible to overcome. Byun provides a handbook for those who seek to bring an end to modern-day slavery, providing biblical foundations for the fight against injustice and offering practical steps any Christian can take toward ending human trafficking.
Relevant Magazine, May/June 2014
Pastor Eddie Byun shows us that it is the job of the church to tackle injustice, oppression and the brokenness in our world. He is proof that individual Christians and local churches can transform lives and entire communities by preaching and demonstrating the whole gospel.
Richard Stearns, president of World Vision US, author of Unfinished: Believing Is Only the Beginning
The church has a mission to battle evil in every generation as the salt and light of the earth. Our God is a just God; therefore, not being in opposition to evil is to be in agreement with it. To date, only parachurch organizations have been actively involved in the proclamation of the justice of God, but now, more and more evangelical churches are taking on the message and mission of the justice of God. Onnuri English Ministry has been committed to such a justice mission for several years now. They are obeying the call to share the gospel in fighting against the evil and unjust enterprises in Korea and the rest of Asia. As the lead pastor of Onnuri English Ministry, Pastor Eddie Byun has dedicated himself to working for the righteousness of God’s kingdom in turning the tide against the evil and injustices in Korea’s society, in particular sex trafficking, which the Korean church has been neglecting. Based on his conviction of the role justice places in missions, this is a precious book that will encourage people to join this good kingdom work. I consider Justice Awakening a blessing from the Lord. I sincerely pray that, through this book, many Christians will come to join this fight and bring freedom and justice in our generation.
Rev. Joshua Jae-Hoon Lee, senior pastor of Onnuri Community Church
This is a fantastic resource for the church! The biblical narrative makes it clear that worship without justice is a stench in the face of God. At a time when there is more slavery than ever before in history, Pastor Eddie calls the church to engage in the fight to set people free from everything that enslaves them. His words are timely, powerful and echo the very heart cry of God. Pastor Eddie offers the church very practical ways to rescue the oppressed and in doing so to communicate in very authentic, visible and effective ways what it means to really know God.
Daniel Walker, author of God in a Brothel
Pastor Eddie Byun couldn’t be any clearer in his message to the church. The church needs to be relevant and a key to their relevance is to be leaders in the fight against modern-day slavery. That’s loving your neighbor as yourself and that is the heart of Jesus!
Jeremy Affeldt, pitcher for the San Francisco Giants and author of To Stir A Movement
With an anchor in biblical theology, Pastor Eddie Byun’s passion for people’s lives is evident as he brings his personal experience of seeking to live Jesus’ heart for justice through the abolition of the modern-day slave trade to the pages of this book. This is the practical handbook for all churches who seek to live justly yet don’t know where to start.
Tara Teng, Miss World Canada 2012
Justice Awakening provides both the blueprints and the foundation for the church to ‘rise up’ and build an effective, God-focused justice ministry to ‘end human trafficking.’ It educates and encourages, confronts and challenges–and then provides practical, down-to-earth, do-able action steps. This book is a gift to the antitrafficking movement. Thank you, Pastor Eddie, for this much-needed resource. Justice Awakening is a must-read for Christians!
Becca C. Johnson, licensed psychologist and director of US aftercare, Agape International Mission (AIM)
Fighting human trafficking is one of the greatest challenges of our generation. But where should churches start if they want to make a difference? Pastor Eddie Byun lays out not only the biblical mandate of bringing justice to the oppressed, but he also describes both spiritual and practical ways that a church can help. Pastor Eddie is a great man of God who is addressing this issue on the frontlines through his church in South Korea, and Justice Awakening is an essential resource for any church leader who wants to bring hope and justice to those ensnared in human trafficking.
D. Michael Lindsay, president of Gordon College
Sex trafficking is the new form of slavery in our time. Pastor Eddie Byun exposes this brutal evil and gives a biblical call to justice and practical steps for the Church–God’s instrument for healing and justice in our broken world.
Dennis P. Hollinger, president and Colman M. Mockler Distinguished Professor of Christian Ethics, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Tears of passion and resolve flowed from my eyes as I read Justice Awakening. This important book articulates the way our heavenly Father teaches and inspires us to reveal what’s in his heart. It resonates within us to press on as we fight to find and free slaves. This book is a critical journey through God’s direct instructions to the church about justice and human trafficking. For Christ alone is the head of the church and our king from whom we all receive our assignments and orders. Thank you, Pastor Eddie, for crafting such a great tool for the body of Christ!
Carol Hart, cofounder and president of ZOE International
Justice Awakening is a wake-up call for the church to rise up and take her rightful place on the frontlines in the fight for freedom and justice for the oppressed. This book beats with the passionate heart of God and gives practical ways for us to be the hands of God to those who are enslaved. We need more books like this to equip and inspire the church. May the church respond with courageous obedience and lead the fight to end human trafficking and modern-day slavery.
Mike Bickle, director of the International House of Prayer of Kansas City
If you need a biblically sound, well researched and balanced treatment of the growing justice movement, this is it! Pastor Eddie Byun captures the issues clearly, refuses to compromise on the gospel, and provides practical and wise words of implementation to turn good intentions into life-changing impact. I ministered personally with Pastor Eddie in Korea and am honored and thrilled to recommend him and this excellent work to you.
Chip Ingram, senior pastor of Venture Christian Church and teaching pastor/CEO of Living on the Edge Ministries
In Justice Awakening, Pastor Eddie Byun provides an urgent introduction to one of the most brutal forms of violent injustice in our world today: human trafficking. But Pastor Eddie doesn’t just share what’s wrong with the world–he provides a road map to get active in making things right. His great passion for the church and for the most vulnerable people in our world fills each page.
Gary Haugen, president and CEO of International Justice Mission (IJM)
This book tells a story of God’s justice being done on the earth, showing hope that human trafficking can be stopped by a church who gains his heart for the oppressed. Justice Awakening contains many practical steps that can help the church to change the world and end modern-day slavery. This book is a must-read for those who feel we are not capable to fight this enormous task.
Philip Choi, Bank of Korea
I highly recommend this book for the church today. Its message is needed for our generation. Pastor Eddie is someone that I deeply love and respect, and this book is a gift.
Young-Gil Kim, president of Handong Global University
I was deeply convicted reading Pastor Eddie’s words: ‘Trafficking today is one of the darkest evils in existence. It is one of the most evil movements the world has ever seen. . . . The reason why it has become so enormous globally is because the church has ignored it and avoided this dark evil for far too long. It is time for that to change, beginning today.’ This statement says it all. Christians need to read this book, wake up and start getting involved for change.
David Sang-Bok Kim, president of Torch Trinity Graduate University
Pastor Eddie’s passion for God and for justice is contagious. After an awakening to the horrific reality of modern slavery, Eddie has dedicated his life to the abolition of human trafficking and oppression. His book is both visionary and practical, calling the church to fulfill its mission to care for the oppressed, the downtrodden and the forgotten. He paints a compelling picture of what it means to serve a God of justice, while giving practical and important resources for churches. This is an important and life-altering book.
Trace Bundy, instrumental acoustic guitarist
What I love about this book is seeing Pastor Eddie’s passion for justice, which flows powerfully from God’s heart for justice. I say ‘Amen!’ to his challenge for the church to be the ones leading the way to bringing an end to this injustice. He provides many practical ways for how the church can lead the way that are not only insightful but also very spiritual and very much biblical in approaching this sensitive issue. It’s not enough to be aware of this issue–it’s a call from the heart of God to take action and to help abolish slavery in our lifetime.
Michael Oh, executive director and CEO, Lausanne Movement
This is a great book! Pastor Eddie reminds us of the biblical standard for justice, but he doesn’t leave us there, lest we become self-righteous. He brings to light the complex issues that fuel the trade, but he doesn’t leave us there, lest we become puffed up with knowledge. He also challenges us to involvement, but he doesn’t leave us there, lest we feel overwhelmed. This book is a timely wake up call for the church to actively engage in the fight against human trafficking and the release of prisoners from its darkness.
Annie Dieselberg, founder and CEO of NightLight International
Whether your church wants to be educated about human trafficking, gain a biblical perspective concerning it or seek practical means to combat the evil, Justice Awakening is a must-read. Pastor Eddie’s church is on the cutting edge of fighting human trafficking, and in this book he gives the church proven methods to answer God’s command to stand with the oppressed and fight injustice.
Don Brewster, founder and director of Agape International Missions
Justice Awakening calls us to look at the dark places in our neighborhoods we would rather turn our eyes from. In the midst of growing our churches or the busyness of our programs, Eddie Byun reminds us of our responsibility to be a community of light and uncomfortable love. Justice Awakening is a plea to the church to love boldly and to love now!
Dave Gibbons, founder/CVO of Xealots.org
Everyone loves the idea of justice–until there’s a cost. But the truth is there’s always a cost to justice. Pastor Eddie calls the church to pursue justice, not because it’s trendy, but because God loves justice and hates injustice. This book walks us through the path of seeking justice.
Eugene Cho, pastor of Quest Church, founder of One Day’s Wages
So often when faced with the overwhelming evil of human trafficking we feel helpless and wonder what we can do. First step–read the book! Pastor Eddie provides not only a striking biblical demand for action but also the tools by which we can take those first steps and through which the lives of both the reader and the oppressed can be transformed. The embers of justice smolder quietly within the church. They are largely domesticated and frequently lack expression. This book is gasoline!
Brian McConaghy, founder and director, Ratanak International
The book that I have long awaited is finally here! Thank you, Eddie Byun, for creating a road map that weaves justice, prayer and biblical inspiration for those of us who aspire to follow the path of Jesus. Justice Awakening is written for individuals who want to do something significant to change the world. Read it as you ride along the bus toward freedom and justice.
David Batstone, cofounder and president, Not for Sale
Worldwide human trafficking is a modern form of slavery that negates justice and neighbor-love in the worst possible way. From Korea now comes a prophetic call to the church to move realistically to counter it. God give us ears to hear Eddie Byun’s word for our times.
J. I. Packer, professor of theology, Regent College
