Slavery still exists, and Brent Messimer wants to stop it.

The 2010 Lincoln Christian University seminary graduate is headed to Belgium in January until May for an internship with Oasis Belgium, a Christian organization that tries to prevent and raise awareness about human trafficking.

Messimer’s mission in Belgium will be to help prevent the trafficking of girls from Thailand who are lured to the country with promises of modeling or nanny careers but instead are forced to work in one of about 130 brothels fronting as massage parlors.

But before he goes overseas to fulfill his mission, Messimer is trying to raise awareness here with his music. His album, Rescue Innocence, contains 13 songs meant to educate listeners on the problem of human trafficking and give hope to victims.

“The innocent forced to sell their bodies and told constantly they’re worthless need to know they are created in God’s image and have immeasurable value in Him,” Messimer, the lyricist, guitarist and vocalist, writes inside the album cover.

CDs are available by emailing Messimer at bmessime@cccb.edu, and donations are encouraged to help fund Messimer’s mission. Donations can be sent to Messimer’s nonprofit sending agency by writing checks to “Outreach International” with “RI 2201” in the memo line and mailing them to Outreach International, P.O. Box 272, Shelbyville, MO 63469.

Currently based in his hometown of Columbia, Mo., Messimer is spending the next few months traveling to speak on human trafficking issues. He’s also working to finalize plans to perform in the Springfield area before he leaves for Belgium.

The 31-year-old Messimer has served as soccer coach at Lincoln Community High School and Lincoln Christian University, both in Lincoln, Ill., and, as a youth minister at Grace United Methodist Church in Decatur as well as Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lincoln.