Christian ministries are uniting for a key event in Birmingham next month to raise awareness among churchgoers about human trafficking and other forms of modern day slavery.

"The Stand," at Birmingham’s NEC, is an initiative of Hope for Justice, a movement of Christians dedicated to bringing about justice and righteousness.

“Justice issues are not just for Christians, but for all right-minded people on this planet,” said Gary Sloan, the director of Stand partner, Operation Mobilization UK.

OM has strengthened its commitment to social justice issues in recent years through its pastoral work with India’s oppressed Dalits. It now oversees 80 Dalit Education Centres across India.

“God has led us into this area of justice,” said Sloan. “When it came to The Stand, it wasn’t a long discussion to get involved. This is who OM is, proclaiming God’s Word, helping people and standing up for the oppressed.

“As we continue this journey, we look at Jesus in the synagogue and quoting from Isaiah in Luke 4:18 – ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.’”

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Featured speakers will include Operation Mobilization Associate International Coordinator and Chair of the Dalit Freedom Network, Dr. Joseph D’Souza, Director of the Message Trust, Andy Hawthorne, and Baroness Cox.

Top Christian artists, Delirious?, YFriday, thebandwithnoname and Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman will also turn out to support the event.