By Jenna Funkhouser
“I don’t know about you, but I have a few books on my shelf on the subject of trafficking that have remained unread because I know I’ll be wrecked all over again like the day I first heard about this growing issue and I don’t want to go on that journey alone. So will you come with me? Absolutely no commitment and anyone is invited, we just want to create an open space to discuss, grieve, and pray together.”
These were the words Stephanie Bestland wrote to invite people to join her for the new Adorned in Grace Book Club which launched this summer. The group, which meets at the Raleigh Hills Bridal Shop, has been gathering for the past four months to discuss David Batstone’s book, Not For Sale.
Why A Book Club?
“My main reason for wanting to start the club was because I have half a dozen books on my shelf about trafficking and slavery I have collected throughout the years and I haven’t read a single one. I just kept putting them off because they’re such hard reads, even though I knew it would be greatly beneficial to become more informed about these issues,” says Stephanie.
The book club started after a passing comment that Kathryn McIvor, Adorned in Grace Volunteer Manager, made about one of the ways she would like to see the store space being used during non-business hours to continue their mission of raising awareness. Stephanie, an Adorned In Grace Bridal volunteer, decided that it could be a good way to get more involved and step up to be an agent of change.
The group, which has met for the past four months, currently consists of other bridal shop volunteers, although Stephanie says she would “love to see it grow so we have more perspectives and experiences being shared.”
“I hope all of this is increasing our awareness, personal connection, and conversations outside of the group around the issues of trafficking,” she says. “I know it has for me. It has been so helpful to discuss these atrocities together, and to know we don’t have to bear the burdens of guilt and horror alone.”
The group has focused not only on raising awareness, but maintaining a space for grief, lament, and deep discussion together. “I’ve been trying to encourage the idea that we don’t have to jump right away into action and how we can help; that there is value in sitting in the discomfort and grieving together. I am certainly no expert on what this looks like, but I’d like to think we’re learning together,” says Stephanie.
“It has been so helpful to discuss these atrocities together, and to know we don’t have to bear the burdens of guilt and horror alone.”
A book club might seem like a small step of action – but that is exactly why it is so powerful. Adorned in Grace is all about ordinary people coming together with their small steps of action, and together creating enormous change. When we wake up to the realization that we have the agency to make a difference, a ripple of transformation has begun.
Happy members of the Adorned In Grace anti-trafficking book club. We are always looking for new folks to join us!
Inspiring New Confidence
“I know I definitely didn’t consider myself an abolitionist before the book, but it’s challenged me as well to not sell myself short and take seriously the impact I can have,” says Stephanie. “The issues are huge and overwhelming, but I encouraged everyone to just take one action step, whether that’s financially supporting one new anti-trafficking organization, becoming more intentional about learning to spot trafficking around us, or choosing to solely purchase clothing and jewelry from fair trade companies.”
“I hope the others have been as inspired as I have to take that action step and be bold, for I don’t believe this is just another issue we can choose to ignore. It’s THE issue and we all have a part to play.”
“A book club might seem like a small step of action – but that is exactly why it is so powerful […] When we wake up to the realization that we have the agency to make a difference, a ripple of transformation has begun.”
After wrapping up their first book this month, they are planning to start a second one, In Our Backyard: Human Trafficking in America and What We Can Do to Stop It, by Nita Belles. If you would like to join them, contact Stephanie at info@adornedingrace.org.
Says Stephanie: “I think this quote from the conclusion in Not for Sale pretty much sums up why we need to be talking about it and why I’d love to see the group grow:
“I believe in the power of individuals to save the world. Social movements take root and blossom when enough individuals take personal action. When you tell yourself that there is nothing you can do to arrest the global slave trade, you underestimate your own potential and abandon hope for those trapped in captivity.”
We couldn’t agree more.
Interested in starting your own anti-trafficking book or movie club? Check out our recommended book and DVD lists here!
