NFL Tight End Fights to End Human Trafficking — He Explains Why
By Movieguide® Contributor
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry fights to end human trafficking when he isn’t on the field.
The athlete partnered with the International Justice Mission “to protect people in poverty from violence by rescuing victims, bringing criminals to justice, restoring survivors to safety and strength, and helping local law enforcement build a safe future that lasts.”
“I remember being at an assembly in high school and hearing about human trafficking. It shocked me and stuck with me,” he told Relevant Magazine. “When I got into the NFL and had the means to give back, I looked for organizations making a big impact, and IJM aligned with everything I believe in.”
READ MORE: TIM TEBOW TAKES DOWN PREDATORS: HIS MISSION TO ‘RESCUE AS MANY CHILDREN…AS POSSIBLE’
Henry’s faith in God compels him to work for change.
“I feel like God put me here for a reason,” he explained. “Why not allow Him to move through me in a way that lets other people learn about these issues and make an impact?”
“It’s crazy that in today’s world, there are millions of people — many of them kids — being held against their will,” he continued. “Thinking about my own kids ever going through that breaks my heart. If I can support IJM and help even a little, it’s worth it.”
Henry is involved with IJM’s Team Freedom, a group of “professional athletes ending slavery.”
“These athletes partner with IJM to use the global power of sport to protect people in poverty from human trafficking, slavery and other forms of violence,” Relevant wrote. “Since its inception, Team Freedom members have advocated for survivors, traveled internationally to meet IJM frontline teams, leveraged their influence to bring IJM’s work before hundreds of millions of people, and raised $20 million to rescue and restore people from slavery and violence.
“As professional athletes, we have such a huge platform,” Henry said. “Using it to draw attention to issues like human trafficking is important.”
READ MORE: WHY TIM TEBOW FIGHTS HUMAN TRAFFICKING: ‘WE NEED TO REACH MORE’
