“IAAM grew out of a small family soccer mission, ‘Using the World’s Game to Defeat the World’s Shame.’ The original motto of the soccer outreach summarizes where and how we began. Our motto made clear what we set out to do and how we planned to do it – reach men and women of all ages to share the truth about human trafficking and the commercial sex industry, offering something better instead; the human person as uniquely created by love for love, with an inherent dignity not meant for commodification or objectification.” (IAAM Playbook)
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
IAAM was incorporated as International Athletes’ Abolition Mission because of our beginnings in sports outreach and abolition mindset. Referencing the acronym as “I am” was a sort of rallying cry, harkening to Isaiah 6:8. Our work was through, with, and because of the sporting sector. Athletes were (are) at once a liability and a great resource. IAAM athletes, abolitionists and other volunteers addressed the demand fueling human trafficking related to the sporting sector at large.
IAAM was founded in response to the consumption of humans as a commodity in an immoral global market; to create an international “team” prepared to engage cultures in an effort to end injustice and claim Victory. Our soccer missions operated under the banner of VCW United (1 John 5:4)
From the beginning IAAM activity fell within three “Spheres of Influence.” The focus was to educate, serve, and support athletes and others in the field, domestically and internationally.
Educate
Serve
Support
To this day the Mission continues to work on the basics within our Spheres of Influence, while identifying and addressing contemporary attempts to degrade humanity and attack the dignity of individual persons.