There’s nothing ordinary about Quinn Franco’s college experience at Charleston Southern University.
In the fall of 2010, the Aiken native enrolled at CSU, declaring biochemistry as his major. Inspired by a chapel performance by the Annie Moses Band, with no prior music experience, Franco changed his major from biochemistry to music and worship leadership, a radical act of faith.
“It was kinda scary actually,” he confessed. “I didn’t even know what sharps and flats were.”
In January, as he began adjusting to his new life in the classroom, Franco took another leap of faith after attending Passion 2012, the four-day Christian conference at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. He was one of 45,000 college students from across the country who attended the event that redefined modern-day slavery. Passion officials reported that there are 27 million slaves worldwide – with sex trafficking and forced labor topping the list.
“It was so inspiring,” said Franco. “I could feel the Holy Spirit moving there.”
Before the conference, Franco said he was like the majority of the world, knowing slavery was alive but believing it lacked relevance in today’s culture. “I was, admittedly, thinking if I didn’t see it then I wouldn’t have to deal with it. today’s culture. “I was, admittedly, thinking that if I didn’t see it, then I wouldn’t have to deal with it.
Passion’s presentation of modern slavery helped raise $3.3 million and lit a fire in Franco. With the images seared in his memory, the stories of slavery lingering in his mind, Franco knew he could not just walk away. When Franco returned to Charleston, he began praying daily, asking God for guidance.
“What if this were your brother or sister – or your own child – that was taken away from you?” he said. “Being sent to a camp to work, feeling completely hopeless. That’s when it really hit home for me. All those things I take for granted.”
Prayer led to action. He decided to go barefoot, adopting the Tom’s Shoes campaign concept of “A Day Without Shoes.” Franco said living barefoot is about awareness.
“I really don’t think I am starting a movement,” said Franco. “It was just me trying to sense a little bit of the pain they feel. [Slaves] can’t afford shoes themselves, so I thought, maybe if I walk in their shoes – or not in their shoes – for a day, I’d realize how painful it is for them.”
Franco has walked across campus barefoot in the rain. He’s stepped on trash and pebbles, stubbed his big toe on brick walkways and wiped his feet clean in the grass (he carries a pair of flip-flops in his bookbag to wear in the dining hall, where students are required to wear shoes for health and safety reasons).
“Every time my feet start to hurt, I am motivated to pray – to pray for the people who don’t have shoes; all the people who go without,” he said. “I felt that if I suffered with them, I’d feel more of their pain and more motivated to give whatever I have so that they can be blessed. It keeps me in constant awareness of it.”
Franco lifts his left hand, revealing “gal 5:1” scrawled in black ink on the back of his hand. It’s a reminder of the Bible verse Galatians 5:1: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free, so don’t take on the yoke of slavery.”
He points to the index finger on his left hand where another verse is displayed in ink. This one is 1 John 3:17: “If someone has worldly possessions and sees his brother in need, but doesn’t help, than how can he have the love of God in him.”
Besides his feet, his hands and fingers, Franco shared his story on Facebook. Friends and classmates started sending back text messages and comments.
“This isn’t about me, it’s about them [slaves],” Franco replies. “It’s not about the cause, it’s about the effect. It was really unexpected because I wasn’t doing it for anyone to see me doing it, but when they do I am able to tell them more about it.”
Franco said he doesn’t have a start and stop date, adding, “I didn’t know how I was going to help. I still don’t know how I will help. It’s just one person at a time, one life at a time that can change.” – CSU