FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 14, 2008
www.terranovachurch.org

Journalist To Share Firsthand Experience of the Modern-Day Slave Trade
E. Benjamin Skinner, author of A Crime So Monstrous, to speak at Terra Nova Church

Troy, N.Y. – You may have thought that slavery ended with the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment, but the slave trade is alive and well: today there are more slaves on the planet than at any point in human history.

To help raise awareness and support for the modern-day abolition movement, Terra Nova Church in Troy is hosting a lecture by journalist E. Benjamin Skinner, author of the critically acclaimed book, A Crime So Monstrous: Face-to-Face with Modern-Day Slavery. Skinner will speak Sunday, Sept. 21 at Terra Nova’s 10 a.m. and noon services in Revolution Hall on River Street in Troy.

“The Capital Region has deep roots in the abolition movement, from its ties to the underground railroad to the rich activist history of Troy’s Liberty Street Church,” said Ed Marcelle, lead pastor of Terra Nova Church. “While people in this region may come from a range of faith traditions, political points of view, and socioeconomic circumstances, the issue of human trafficking is universal. Everyone should sit at the table to discuss how to end this. It should make us angry. It should make us act. We decided to give key voices on the issue a platform at Terra Nova. Ben Skinner’s firsthand experience will open our eyes to the injustice being perpetrated on millions of our brothers and sisters around the world.”

To understand the breadth and depth of the modern-day slave trade, Skinner spent four years visiting a dozen countries where slavery flourishes. In A Crime So Monstrous, he tells the story of individuals who live in slavery, those who have escaped from bondage, those who own or traffic in slaves, and the mixed political motives of those who seek to combat the crime.

“Much like 19th-century abolitionist accounts of slavery in the United States, his book is meant both to inform and to enrage — and it succeeds on both counts,” wrote Denise Brennan in the Washington Post. U.S. Senator John McCain said that Skinner “does a great public service by exposing the massive scope of human trafficking in the world today.” And from the other side of the political aisle, former President Bill Clinton described A Crime So Monstrous as “rigorously investigated and fearlessly reported,” praising Skinner for making “crucial strides toward closing this shameful chapter in history.”

Skinner’s book will be on sale at the Sept. 21 event, and a portion of the proceeds will go to benefit Love146, a non-profit organization that works toward the abolition of child sex trafficking and exploitation through prevention and aftercare.

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Journalist To Share Firsthand Experience of the Modern-Day Slave Trade
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Though Terra Nova Church is a relatively new faith community, the congregation has been a strong supporter of the modern-day abolition movement. In the fall of 2007, Terra Nova partnered with local churches, businesses, artists, and media to host Abolition Week — a series of events and activities ranging from a screening of the film “Amazing Grace” to a special concert by singer/songwriter Derek Webb. In addition to the Sept. 21 Skinner lecture, other abolition events are being planned for 2008 and beyond.

[Note to editors: E. Benjamin Skinner and Ed Marcelle are available for interviews in advance of the event. For details, Contact Matthew Miller, 518-369-2000, matt@terranovachurch.org.]

About Terra Nova Church
Terra Nova Church is a community of roughly 250 Christ followers intent on discovering fresh ground together. Our goal is to share the ancient truths of Christ in a culturally relevant way through teaching, music, art and media. Terra Nova Church meets in Revolution Hall on River Street in Troy, N.Y. on Sunday Mornings at both 10 a.m. and noon. The Terra Nova Gallery can be found three doors down from Revolution Hall at 409 River Street, where the church’s office and education space also are located.

Contact:
Matthew Miller
Terra Nova Church – Community Extension
matt@terranovachurch.org
518-369-2000(mobile)
518-691-9220(fax)