Seed Life Foundation, an advocacy group that works to combat human trafficking and other forms of injustice, recently brought together Atlanta-area faith leaders, veterans, human rights advocates, and civic leaders for a conversation on global responsibility in the face of injustice.
The Aug. 14 event at Mountain View Baptist Church in Stone Mountain challenged attendees to consider ways “to help protect vulnerable people and confront injustice,” Seed Life CEO Sabrina Kirkland said.
The discussion approached that question through separate issues: human and sex trafficking, which is a central focus of Seed Life’s work, and the detention of a 95-year-old South Korean religious leader whose case, Kirkland says, is about human dignity and injustice.
“My responsibility as a humanitarian is injustice against people of all races,” Kirkland said. “If you don’t address injustice from someone else’s door, eventually it will come to yours.”
The August program, titled “The Responsibility of The Beloved Community,” was hosted by Seed Life and its Sex Trafficking Prevention initiative in partnership with Mountain View Baptist Church.
Human trafficking, protecting vulnerable people and preventing exploitation was the focus of the gathering.
The event also included a discussion of Lee Man-hee, founder of South Korea’s Shincheonji Church Jesus, who was detained by South Korean authorities in June on charges related to the country’s Political Parties Act.
Kirkland said the gathering was not intended to determine whether the allegations against Man-hee had merit. Instead, she said, organizers wanted to use his situation to discuss due process, religious freedom and human dignity.
“I looked at what happened to 95-year-old Chairman Lee Man-hee as a form of exploitation,” Kirkland said. “This event was not intended to determine the merits of his case. It was to dialogue around human dignity, regardless of nationality, religion or geography.”
Four community leaders spoke about Lee’s case, and attendees signed a statement calling for his release.
Kirkland said she intentionally invited community leaders who might be willing to speak out when they believe someone is being treated unjustly.
Kirkland said, Angelo Martinez, manager of Faith-based Relations at The King Center, tied her goal to the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and The Beloved Community.
“I wanted to make sure we brought community leaders who would take a stance,” she said. “Despite differences in belief, those of us who believe human rights and dignity should be preserved [have a responsibility to pay attention].”
“This is not something that only he is going through,” Kirkland said of Man-hee.
