A Beacon of Hope in Phoenix

“…He will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.” Psalm 72:12-14

            It has now been five months since I returned to Arizona from my 11 month mission trip with the World Race. As so many of you know, the World Race was a life changing experience for me. In learning to depend on Him in all things, He brought me to deeper levels of freedom. Over the past year I was privileged to care for orphans, to feed the hungry, and to pray for the sick. I was given the opportunity to be used as a vessel to shower His love on others who have never seen His marvelous light. Through this journey, not only did I come to know that my identity is in Christ, but He also awakened my heart to a deeper calling that He has on my life: to minister to girls that are victims of child sex slavery. 

            My eyes were first opened to sex slavery and human trafficking when I attended a feature length documentary on sex slavery called “Branded”, before going on the World Race. This documentary explores the dehumanizing realities of prostitution and the devastating effects it is having on the lives, neighborhoods, and communities in Phoenix, AZ. I had attended this screening to gain insight into the work that I would be doing with the World Race in Thailand. However, God began to gently stir my heart that evening into what would soon fan itself into a flame in my own heart. 

            I was shocked to discover that sex trafficking is not just something that happens overseas, in places like Thailand, Cambodia, and Eastern Europe. It’s happening in my home town, in my backyard. In 2009 it was estimated that there were more than 300 prostitutes in Phoenix younger than 18. These young children are lied to, lured away, taken, exploited and forced into sex slavery. When these victims are picked up by the police, they are returned to unhealthy home environments, put in foster care or, as a last resort, put in juvenile detention to protect them from their pimps. 

            While I had originally embarked into missions believing that God was calling me to missions oversees, it became increasingly clearer that He was calling me back to Phoenix. Particularly to work with girls rescued from sex trafficking at a ministry called Streetlight.

            Streetlight is a non-profit organization that provides a safe house for girls caught in this vicious cycle. This will double the number of beds in the United States specifically dedicated to child prostitutes. A safe house is a place where rescued victims of child sex slavery can live for an extended period of time and will receive specialized faith-based mentoring, professional healthcare, food, clothing, educational and career bases counseling, and the healing they need to rebuild their future. 

            Since returning home I’ve been participating in the Streetlight monthly prayer meetings and have completed the “Mending the Soul” 12 week small group. I recently accepted a full time house mom position at Streetlight. I am so humbled and honored that the Lord has called me to be used as a vessel of His love and grace to the girls that will be calling Streetlight their home.