By Josie Keathley
Steady Till Sunset, an incredible ministry hosted by New Life Church, is devoted entirely to combating human trafficking within the state of Arkansas. The name is derived from Exodus 17, where Moses’ hands remained in the air in prayer, and as long as his hands were raised, Israel experienced victory. The founder of Steady Till Sunset, Kelsey Payton, felt the calling within her church to begin this ministry after her own individual journey impacting the human trafficking movement through visiting Germany and leading human trafficking interventions year after year. After returning home, Kelsey and the members of New Life Church that had been a part of the effort were passionate to make a change within their own community to combat the epidemic.
Members of Steady Till Sunset and volunteers from across Arkansas joined together on October 20, 2018 for the Walk for Freedom in Little Rock, AR.
The purpose of Steady Till Sunset is to: “pray for the end of human trafficking faithfully, support existing organizations who are combating human trafficking, mobilize individuals through various events and needs that present themselves, initiate awareness in Central Arkansas, and to connect and support women in the sex industry.”
Kelsey speaks to the epidemic at hand with the acknowledgment that there are in existence thousands of organizations aimed at fighting human trafficking but they “are becoming weary—from lack of volunteers, lack of encouragement, and lack of support. Steady Till Sunset exists to infuse these current efforts with energy, encouragement, volunteer support and more so these fighters can last long term and be refreshed. It also helps individuals within the church feel like one person really can make a difference in this global evil when we all work together.”
Steady Till Sunset not only tirelessly works to provide resources and freedom for individuals that are victims of human trafficking, but they also partner with other organizations that are working towards the same goal. The ministry to date partners with five different organizations/ministries:
- New Eyes – a local ministry that acts as a support for women in the sex industry
- A21 Campaign – A Global Human Trafficking Awareness & Restoration Ministry
- P.A.T.H. – A federally recognized rescue and restoration program for survivors of human trafficking
- The Arkansas Dream Center – A local non-profit organization that invests in the long-term prosperity of the inner city
- New Life Church Missions – NLC sends 2-4 teams of people per year to Germany for human trafficking rescue, rehab, and intervention training.
Through each of these partnerships, Steady Till Sunset provides resources, fundraising, and time to help each of these organizations contribute to the overall goal of ending human trafficking.
The Walk for Freedom was designed to “Abolish Slavery with each Step” and bring awareness to the global and local epidemic that is human trafficking.
Although the amount of effort required to end human trafficking is vast, Kelsey doesn’t seem daunting. She’s aware of the effort required but is also encouraged by the part that she and her ministry can take on. “When people think of combatting human trafficking, they frequently think of Liam Neisen’s character in Taken when he’s busting down doors with guns. Of course we need to rescue those who are already enslaved. What is even easier than that is keeping people from getting enslaved in the first place. Who can we PREVENT from getting into this? The local church member may not be able to bust down a door with a gun and carry eight girls out on his/her shoulders, but they CAN start conversations, spread awareness, and save others from getting into this scenario.”
Steady Till Sunset continues to impact the community through intervention, prayer, donation, supplying training, and many other means. The group meets as a whole once per month to delegate responsibilities, join in prayer, and join together at a community or awareness event to continually fight for change. Those interested in supporting their efforts can learn more about the ministry and donate by contacting Kelsey Payton via email (kelseybpayton@gmail.com), via phone (501-230-8883) or by visiting Steady Till Sunset’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/steadytillsunset/).