Episode Details

Human trafficking often thrives in the shadows, hidden within complex supply chains and ordinary commercial activity. But Christian investors are discovering that their influence can help bring exploitation into the light.

Will Lofland, Managing Director of Faith-Based Investing at GuideStone Funds, joined the show today to explain how investors can encourage companies to identify forced labor, protect vulnerable people, and pursue meaningful change.

A Tragedy Hidden in Plain Sight

According to estimates from Walk Free, nearly 50 million people worldwide are living in modern slavery. More than 27 million are trapped in forced labor, including approximately 3.3 million children.

Those numbers can feel distant, but exploitation may be connected to products people use every day. Forced labor can appear deep within the supply chains that produce clothing, food, electronics, and other consumer goods.

Because these networks are complex, companies may not always recognize where exploitation is occurring. But that does not make the problem any less urgent—or remove the responsibility to address it.

For Christian investors, this concern is rooted in more than economics or risk management. It reflects the biblical command to defend those who are vulnerable:

“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” - Proverbs 31:8–9

Biblical stewardship is not passive. God entrusts His people with resources, relationships, and influence that can be used to pursue what is good and protect those at risk.

Moving Beyond Investment Screening

Faith-based investing has often focused on screening—seeking to avoid companies whose primary business activities conflict with Christian values. That can remain an important part of a values-aligned investment strategy, but it is not the only approach available.

GuideStone has expanded its work to include shareholder advocacy, which allows investors to engage the companies they own rather than simply excluding them.

This advocacy generally involves two primary tools: proxy voting and direct corporate engagement.

Through proxy voting, shareholders can vote on company leadership, policies, and proposals presented at annual meetings. GuideStone seeks to vote the proxy ballot for every company held within its investment strategies, evaluating each decision through the lens of faithful stewardship and long-term shareholder interests.

Direct engagement involves meeting with corporate leaders to discuss concerns such as child labor, forced labor, and online sexual exploitation. These conversations give investors an opportunity to ask difficult questions, encourage greater transparency, and help companies strengthen their policies and practices.

The goal is not merely to criticize companies publicly. It is to pursue constructive, solutions-oriented dialogue that protects vulnerable people while supporting responsible corporate leadership.

Bringing Experts Into the Boardroom

One recent example of this work is GuideStone’s involvement as a founding member of the Eagle Freedom Alliance, a collaboration focused on combating human trafficking through corporate engagement.

Rather than simply sending letters or publicly condemning businesses, the alliance seeks to bring anti-trafficking experts into conversations with corporate decision-makers. These experts can help companies recognize vulnerabilities within their operations and supply cha