1 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: Welcome to Christian Parent Crazy World, the podcast that tackles 2 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: tough topics to help you be a godly parent in 3 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: an ungodly world. I am your host, Catherine Seegers, and 4 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: in today's episode, we are diving headlong into a question 5 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:25,639 Speaker 1: that feels overwhelming, uncomfortable, and yet is absolutely critical. That is, 6 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: how can Christians get involved in the fight against sex trafficking. 7 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: It's the kind of issue that stops us dead in 8 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 1: our tracks because the problem is massive, the darkness is real, 9 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: and if we're honest, most of us don't even know 10 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: where to begin. What can you and I actually do? 11 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:49,160 Speaker 1: Can one person really make a difference. My guest today 12 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: is someone who asked those very same questions and then 13 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: chose to step into the gap. Doctor Rondie Smith didn't 14 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: come from a background marked by the issue. It wasn't personal, 15 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 1: it wasn't her story. But she ministered to women and 16 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: she began to see the devastating impact of sexual exploitation 17 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:13,319 Speaker 1: and she couldn't look away, so she did something about it. 18 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: She founded a ministry dedicated to restoring women who have 19 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 1: been bruised, battered, and broken by the sex trafficking industry, 20 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 1: helping them, find healing, dignity, and hope. 21 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 2: Again. 22 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: In this conversation, we're going to open our eyes to 23 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 1: the true magnitude of this crisis. Yes, it may shock you, 24 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: but more importantly, we're going to talk about what you 25 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 1: can do. The truth is we all have a part 26 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: to play. That's the plan for this episode of Christian 27 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 1: Parent Crazy World. 28 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 3: Hey moms and dads. 29 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 1: This week, I am re airing a special series that is, 30 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: without question, one of the most important conversations we have 31 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: ever had here on Christian Parent Crazy World. Sex trafficking 32 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,359 Speaker 1: is not a distant problem. It's not something that happens 33 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 1: somewhere else. It is one of the most terrific human 34 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: rights crises of our time, happening in our cities and 35 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 1: our neighborhoods, and far closer than most of us would 36 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 1: ever want to imagine. Behind the statistics are real people, 37 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 1: women and children who have been exploited, dehumanized, and stripped 38 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,640 Speaker 1: of their dignity. And as followers of Christ, we cannot 39 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: look away. We are called to step into these broken places. 40 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 1: We are called to defend the vulnerable, and we are 41 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: called to be a light in the darkest corners. But 42 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 1: the question is how today you're going to learn exactly that. 43 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 1: I am so incredibly honored to introduce you to my guest. 44 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 2: Doctor Rondie Smith. 45 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: Rondy is the founder in CEO of Rest Stop Ministries, 46 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: a residential restoration for female survivors of sex trafficking in 47 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 1: the Nashville, Tennessee area. She is an ordained minister with 48 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 1: a doctorate in education from Vanderbilt University in Human and 49 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: Organizational development, and she brings over thirty seven years of 50 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:21,799 Speaker 1: experience spanning corporate, academic, and ministry leadership. But beyond all 51 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 1: of her incredible credentials, ronde is also a dear friend 52 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: and trusted mentor in my own life, and in this 53 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 1: conversation you're going to hear not just her expertise, but 54 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 1: her heart. 55 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 2: Now, I want to. 56 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 1: Encourage you to come back next week as well, because 57 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: we're going to take this conversation even deeper. While many 58 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: of us would like to believe our children are not 59 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 1: at risk, Rondee is going to share a powerful story 60 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: and a personal letter that may completely change how you 61 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 1: see this issue. You'll also learn how predators actually operate, 62 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 1: and most importantly, how to protect your children. 63 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 2: So that's it. 64 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 1: Let's jump right in. Randy, Welcome to the program. It's 65 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: such an honor to have you here. 66 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 3: Ah, what a sacred privilege. Thank you for the invitation. 67 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: Now we have known each other for some time now, 68 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 1: most of the people have on my show. I'm meeting 69 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:18,159 Speaker 1: for the first time, but you and I go way back. 70 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: You were a Sunday school teacher for our family, for 71 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 1: my parents and for me and my husband back at 72 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 1: Hermitage Church of the Nazarene, which you still attend right 73 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 1: in Hermitage, Tennessee. 74 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 2: Yes, and my parents and my. 75 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 1: Uncle who would visit us from time to time, still 76 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: rave about you as being the best Sunday school teacher ever. 77 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 1: And sometimes I'm like, hey, I do some teaching too, 78 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 1: Mom and Dad. 79 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 3: Those were some of the greatest days of my life. 80 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:50,159 Speaker 3: That community that was so intentional about what we could 81 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:53,719 Speaker 3: learn together. In the word, I just I loved those days. 82 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 1: You taught some of my favorite Sunday school classes because 83 00:04:57,240 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: you would one of the classes I was in, I 84 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 1: was in several of years, you would go verse by 85 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,920 Speaker 1: verse through the whole Bible, and I like, Okay, I've 86 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: a little bone to pick with you. 87 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 4: Actually, I've told I think I've told this a little bit. 88 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: You were gone one week and you asked me to 89 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: lead the class, and I got the week on slavery. 90 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 2: Okay, how did that happen? 91 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 3: Topics and you got one? I know. 92 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 1: I was like, I was like, oh my gosh, it 93 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 1: was a tough it was a tough week. 94 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:27,359 Speaker 3: Yeah. Sorry, we were just going verse by verse. 95 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 2: It just I know, thank you for that. But I 96 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 2: do have to say you. 97 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,360 Speaker 1: I have to agree with my parents and my uncle wholeheartedly. 98 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 1: You're one of the best teachers I've ever sat under 99 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 1: in my life. You are such a mentor and an 100 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: example to me. I would sit there and study you, 101 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 1: not just what you would say and what you would share, 102 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: but how you led the class in terms of incorporating 103 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: everybody's ideas. 104 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 2: And it's not unlike. 105 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 1: What I do I try to do here on my show, 106 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: even though it's with one or two guests on the 107 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: show at a time, but. 108 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 4: Just listening and bringing everyone. 109 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 2: Into the discussion. 110 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 3: It was. 111 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 2: It was phenomenal. So thank you for that. 112 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 1: One other thing I want to mention to my listeners, 113 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 1: just to let them know. 114 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 2: Who you are. You delivered the eulogy at my grandmother's funeral. 115 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: And that was not just because I've been to other 116 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:20,840 Speaker 1: family members' funerals. That was the most special funeral I've 117 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: ever been to. I remember you came to my mom's house, 118 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 1: and of course we're in that strange moment of grief 119 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: and laughter when you're remembering all these things about a 120 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 1: person that you loved so much, and you asked each 121 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 1: and every person. You made it a point you wanted 122 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:40,600 Speaker 1: a story from everybody, and I don't know how you 123 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 1: did it, but you incorporated a story from each and 124 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:49,159 Speaker 1: every person into that eulogy, and it was It was 125 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: so glorious, it was so wonderful. It was such a 126 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 1: celebration of a very godly, godly woman. 127 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 5: So thank you for that, one of the most precious 128 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 5: women I've ever known. And Amen, I believe a eulogy 129 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:05,599 Speaker 5: should do is not only just honor that person for 130 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:06,599 Speaker 5: who they are, but. 131 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 3: Through the eyes of those who love them the most. 132 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 3: And it's why I wanted to incorporate all those beautiful 133 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 3: things that you all said about frescious Sarah. 134 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 2: Oh, thank you for that. 135 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 1: It still touches me today, and that's. 136 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 3: Who you are. 137 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 1: And I've learned so much from listening to even just 138 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 1: in that aspect of you know, delivering the eulogy and 139 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: how you did that should I ever be called upon 140 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: to do that. 141 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 2: I spoke that day too, but it was my. 142 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 1: Own personal story, but just it was so special and 143 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 1: I cannot thank you enough for that. To tell our listeners, 144 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 1: then a little bit about yourself, your family, and where 145 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 1: you live. 146 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 2: Before we dive into today's topic. 147 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 3: Okay, well, the most important thing about me right now 148 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 3: is that I'm a brand new grandmother. I just had 149 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 3: my first grandson. He's a week old today, and then 150 00:07:55,520 --> 00:08:00,080 Speaker 3: we have a fourteen month old granddaughter. And so so 151 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:03,520 Speaker 3: that's one of my favorite labels right now is Grandee. 152 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 3: My name is Grandy. My husband and I have been 153 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 3: married for thirty eight wonderful years. He is the wind 154 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 3: beneath by wings. And we raised two amazing sons and 155 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 3: they brought us these amazing daughters in love and our 156 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 3: family is really the most important thing beyond our faith, 157 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 3: of course, but faith and family for us so intertwined. 158 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 3: And then really my life has just been about the 159 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 3: great adventure with Jesus and how he seems to reinvent 160 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:40,839 Speaker 3: me every about twelve to fourteen years with some new 161 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 3: fresh calling. But that's what the discipleship life is about, 162 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 3: is just he's so in tune to the spirit that Okay, 163 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 3: where are you leading me next? And that makes for 164 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 3: the great adventure And so that's my life. Really. 165 00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 2: Oh, we could do a whole show on that. 166 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,560 Speaker 4: You're so right, because I think I I agree with 167 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 4: that so much. 168 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 1: Every ten to twelve years, you know, I had a 169 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: whole twelve year stint of mothering in terms of actually pregnancy. 170 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: It went on, you know, with the five kids coming, 171 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: and then the Lord began. 172 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 2: To open up new doors. 173 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 1: And before that it was the whole acting and getting 174 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 1: my graduate degree. 175 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 2: And now I'm in this new season. 176 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:21,439 Speaker 4: So you're so right, Like it seems like every just. 177 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 3: Keep being our spiritual antenna up all ways to the 178 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 3: new thing he's wanting to do. 179 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 2: Amen, that is so good. 180 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: Now you have a master's degree in organizational communication and 181 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 1: a doctor degree in human and organizational development, which I 182 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:38,680 Speaker 1: know has been. 183 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:39,959 Speaker 4: A huge age to you and the work that you're 184 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 4: doing now. 185 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 1: But you spent much of your professional life in the 186 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:46,679 Speaker 1: corporate sector and then in higher education and finally in 187 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: pastoral ministry. So what then and this new season that 188 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: you've been in here, what led you to take on 189 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 1: the fight against sex trafficking? 190 00:09:56,000 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 3: Okay, well, during those fourteen years of pastoral ministry, I 191 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 3: think that one of the things that surprised me the most. 192 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 3: You know, women came out of the woodwork to counsel 193 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 3: with me. And I think it was because it's you know, 194 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 3: to be a woman who was also theologically and biblically trained, 195 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 3: but to be a woman. There was just something about 196 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 3: coming to counsel with a female in ministry, and so 197 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:32,719 Speaker 3: women were coming out of the woodwork. And one of 198 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 3: the things that surprised me the most was how prevalent 199 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 3: childhood sexual abuse was and many forms of sexual abuse 200 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 3: and sexual exploitation, and it just began to break my 201 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:52,080 Speaker 3: heart into it had not been my own experience, but 202 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 3: just in locking arms with women in community and in 203 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,839 Speaker 3: this role of counseling, it just began to open my 204 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 3: mind eyes. So we began to do a little more 205 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 3: research into those kinds of things. And I think I've 206 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 3: always been a woman of empowering my sisters, you know, 207 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 3: women empowerment, and I was also serving at the time 208 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 3: as the chair of our women Clergy Council really for 209 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 3: our denomination, and I was finding myself advocating for women 210 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 3: in ministry and we still need to do that, and 211 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 3: we needed to do more about that. But I began 212 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 3: to see my sisters all over the world really that 213 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:47,319 Speaker 3: were experiencing a kind of disempowerment and exploitation and violence. 214 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 3: And I was really I was reading the book Half 215 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 3: the Sky. It's by Pulitzer Prize winning authors Nicholas Christoph 216 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 3: and chryl wu Dun and they were actually going around 217 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 3: the lobe and they wanted to do a different story, 218 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 3: but everywhere they went, they just kept seeing these issues 219 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 3: of oppression of women and girls. And those stories were 220 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 3: breaking my heart. And I knew from scripture, you know, 221 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 3: the word oppression is all throughout scripture. There at least 222 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 3: thirty solid scriptures about oppression and about the heart of 223 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 3: God being to deliver from oppression and to set free 224 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 3: from repression and justice and and just all of those 225 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 3: things were colliding for me. And the stories of sex 226 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 3: trafficking around the globe, I think broke my heart more 227 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 3: than anything. That all the kinds of oppression were horrific, 228 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:50,320 Speaker 3: but those really broke my heart and especially thinking about 229 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 3: how for many it began in childhood. And I thought 230 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 3: about my own self as a as a woman, and 231 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 3: I thought back to my own self as a girl, 232 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:04,679 Speaker 3: and I I could not imagine a more horrific truth 233 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 3: that could happen to me then being held against my 234 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 3: will in some way or coerced or forced in some 235 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 3: way to perform sexual acts over and over and over again. 236 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 3: That I just couldn't fathom. And I said, Okay, not 237 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 3: on my watch. Not on my watch, Lord, how do 238 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 3: I get involved? Get engaged? What is it that you're 239 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 3: wanting me to do? And when you fully submit to that, 240 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 3: he will not hold back in beginning to give you 241 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 3: your marching orders. And he founded rest stop ministries. I 242 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 3: have to say that God ex Nahilo, out of nothing, 243 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 3: created this thing that he wanted done. He named it. 244 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 3: He said, rest means restore these precious survivors. In my 245 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 3: in my rest. I loved all the double meaning. And 246 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 3: he also said, you will not rest, you will not 247 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 3: stop until this is done. But the rest was for 248 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:13,559 Speaker 3: restore survivors. The stop was stop oppression. Stop this horrific 249 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 3: criminal oppression of sex trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation 250 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 3: of human beings, mostly the statistical say of women and girls. 251 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 3: It does happen to men and boys, but it's about 252 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 3: an eighty twenty. But he he called it forth and 253 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 3: the rest is history. We just we had to obey 254 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 3: and then what he calls you to do, he equips 255 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 3: you to do, and He has equipped us every step 256 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 3: of the way. And so Restop Ministries, just in a nutshell, Israelly, 257 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 3: Tennessee's first long term residential restoration and recovery program for 258 00:14:53,560 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 3: female survivors of sex trafficking. 259 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 1: Wow, how many women then have the when did you 260 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 1: officially get founded? 261 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 2: And how many women have you been able. 262 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 1: To help restore through restaurant Ministries? 263 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 3: Okay, we did open our doors until twenty fifteen. It 264 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 3: was a four year journey from the call to him 265 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 3: giving us all that we needed to then find the 266 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 3: ideal property in place to do this work, and so 267 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 3: it was in the fall of twenty fifteen. So we're 268 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 3: really just coming up on our eighth anniversary, eight years 269 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 3: of serving, and we've had fifty five souls come through 270 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 3: our program, and you think, well, that may not be 271 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 3: a lot, but we only have eight beds and this 272 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 3: particular population the level of complex trauma that they have, 273 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 3: they really can't serve more than that at any one time. 274 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 3: And then they can stay with us for a full 275 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 3: two years. And so it's a relatively stable community that 276 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 3: we have. We don't have a lot of turnover. It's 277 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 3: not just an revolving door, because our aim is transformation, 278 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 3: and so that is a long, arduous journey. We just 279 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 3: link arms with these women and we say, if you 280 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 3: will come and do the very very hard work of healing. 281 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 3: And it's the hardest thing they'll ever do. They've lived 282 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 3: horrific hard things. The healing journey is just as difficult, 283 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 3: and we say, you come and just focus on the 284 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:48,880 Speaker 3: hard work of healing, and for two full years, we 285 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 3: will take care of your every need. So we house them, 286 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 3: clothe them, feed them, take care of all their transportation. 287 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 3: They come to us broken body, minds, soul, and spirit. 288 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 3: So we take care of them medically and their dental 289 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 3: and their vision, and their mental health therapy and their 290 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 3: legal issues, and we do comprehensive case management and walk 291 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 3: with them every step of the way. In their case, 292 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 3: many of them need family reconciliation. Maybe they lost custody 293 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 3: of their children along the way and they want to 294 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 3: be able to reconcile with their children. They have education gaps, 295 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:32,959 Speaker 3: they have no job skills training. We have a social 296 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:36,640 Speaker 3: enterprise and a workforce development program, and we are working 297 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 3: on those things because if these women do not become 298 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 3: economically independent, if they cannot make it on their own, 299 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:48,680 Speaker 3: then chances are these cycles of abuse and victimization are 300 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 3: going to continue. So our goal is complete and total 301 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:56,120 Speaker 3: rehabilitation and then to move them into independence. And so 302 00:17:56,359 --> 00:18:00,679 Speaker 3: when they graduate from our program, Catherine, they are not 303 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 3: only have they completed our eighteen to twenty four month 304 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:11,360 Speaker 3: healing curriculum trauma healing process, but they are ready to 305 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 3: find safe, affordable housing on their own. We help them 306 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:19,640 Speaker 3: do that. They are working earning a living wage, they 307 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 3: have their own transportation to and from that job, they 308 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 3: have a community of support, recovery sponsors and other people, 309 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 3: and it is just again we are walking with them 310 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 3: for this long journey. In fact, we've just added an 311 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 3: alumni aftercare program because we've learned that it's really that 312 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 3: year of transitioning from our two year program that is 313 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:47,679 Speaker 3: almost as scary for them as it was today. They 314 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:49,800 Speaker 3: walked in our doors, which was the most courageous thing 315 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 3: they ever did. But they need us to walk alongside 316 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:55,440 Speaker 3: them through that first year of independence too. So really, 317 00:18:55,440 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 3: now we're providing three years of support. It's incredible, amazing. 318 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 2: It is, and it's the work of God. It is 319 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 2: the work of God. 320 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 1: And I'm sure the most transformative thing is the relationship. 321 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:09,640 Speaker 2: I'm sure I know you're fostering. 322 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:13,439 Speaker 1: And in them with their creator and just he comes 323 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:16,160 Speaker 1: in and renews the ancient ruins. I keep coming back 324 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 1: to Isaiah sixty one lately, just these these places that 325 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 1: have been destroyed, that he comes back and he rebuilds 326 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:24,160 Speaker 1: these women. 327 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:25,119 Speaker 2: That's amazing. 328 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 3: That to witness that has been not just the greatest 329 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 3: reward and joy of my life. But you know, sometimes 330 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:38,679 Speaker 3: people will you know, they will say to me, oh, 331 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 3: thank you, thank you for saving these women. And I 332 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:44,959 Speaker 3: always have to turn that around and say, these women 333 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 3: are saving me, they are healing me. To watch some 334 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:55,400 Speaker 3: of them overcome this is what's horrific. Some of them 335 00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 3: have been abused in the good name of God. Right 336 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 3: there are people who will abuse and say God told 337 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 3: me to do this to you, or this is who 338 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 3: you are, or and to be able to help them 339 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 3: re define even who they think God is, and then 340 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 3: come to a place to be able to trust the 341 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:32,359 Speaker 3: true God, the true Jesus, and then come to a 342 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 3: place to understand that's who wanted me healed, that's who 343 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 3: wanted me whole, That's who created me in his very image. 344 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:49,120 Speaker 3: And to see them begin to reimagine what was life 345 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:52,239 Speaker 3: supposed to be like for me as a as a 346 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 3: beloved daughter of God, that in and of itself, as 347 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 3: has been worth every difficult place in this journey. And 348 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:04,200 Speaker 3: it's the hardest work that I've ever done. 349 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:08,240 Speaker 2: But that kind of transformation, that's amazing. 350 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 1: And what I don't know if I'd completely thought that through, 351 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:14,159 Speaker 1: what it would be like for a woman who, in 352 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:18,439 Speaker 1: particular woman that has been abused by someone who claimed 353 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:21,119 Speaker 1: to be following God or claimed to be operating in 354 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:24,359 Speaker 1: the name of God. So she's got this this horrific 355 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:27,360 Speaker 1: depiction of who God is, right, and then to turn 356 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 1: around and be saved by God who has to lovingly 357 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 1: and gently redefine who he is and show them his 358 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 1: true identity, who he truly is, and then to transform 359 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 1: a person to me. I believe this is one of 360 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 1: the greatest arguments for the existence of God is transformation 361 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 1: in a life like that that was broken and lost 362 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:52,400 Speaker 1: and destroyed and dead, a dead person walking. That's right 363 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:55,200 Speaker 1: to take a dead person like that who has been 364 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:59,680 Speaker 1: so wounded and broken and to breathe life back. I mean, 365 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 1: how can that happen unless there is a God? How 366 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:05,480 Speaker 1: can that happen unless there is a God? 367 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 3: Absolutely and people can understand, you know, I think I 368 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:15,720 Speaker 3: didn't realize that level what we just talked about, because 369 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 3: I could understand when I first began this work, thinking 370 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 3: that these women were going to have questions like how 371 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 3: could there be a God? How could there be a 372 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:30,159 Speaker 3: good God if the things that happened to me were allowed? 373 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 3: You know, I knew there would be that question and 374 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:36,920 Speaker 3: trying to work through those things, But I had not 375 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:40,400 Speaker 3: also thought of those who actually perpetrated under the name 376 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,720 Speaker 3: of God. And so, yes, a warped view of God 377 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 3: is one of the most crippling things we can have 378 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:53,200 Speaker 3: in life. And so to be able to somehow facilitate 379 00:22:54,040 --> 00:23:00,080 Speaker 3: and assist these women to yes, reimagine God is it. 380 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:01,920 Speaker 3: It's a beautiful thing. It is. 381 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:05,160 Speaker 1: I want to provide some context for our listeners about 382 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:08,200 Speaker 1: the gravity of the problem we're discussing today. I took 383 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 1: these statistics from your website for Rest Stop Ministries, the 384 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 1: ministry that you founded. You can find all of this 385 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 1: information at Resttopmanistries dot org. This is what your website highlights. 386 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:25,679 Speaker 1: There are twenty seven million people enslaved in the world today, 387 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:29,040 Speaker 1: more than any time in history. Eighty percent, as you 388 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:31,640 Speaker 1: mentioned earlier, are female, and fifty percent of those are 389 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:36,360 Speaker 1: children trafficked for sexual exploitation. If you do them at 390 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: that's over ten million kids. Sex trafficking is a thirty 391 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 1: four billion dollar business. It is the second largest criminal 392 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:48,920 Speaker 1: enterprise and fastest growing crime in the world. 393 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:51,120 Speaker 2: This was shocking. 394 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 1: Every two minutes a child is trafficked for the purpose 395 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 1: of sexual exploitation in the United States. That is from 396 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 1: the US Department of Justice. 397 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:01,480 Speaker 2: Right there. 398 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 1: Almost three hundred thousand American children are at risk annually 399 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:09,560 Speaker 1: for trafficking into the sex industry. That is from the 400 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 1: US Department of State. This is the average age of 401 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:17,359 Speaker 1: entry into prostitution is thirteen. There are girls as young 402 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 1: as five and six My youngest is six right now, 403 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:25,199 Speaker 1: six years old in the United States that are forced 404 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:28,639 Speaker 1: to do sexual acts for economic gain by their pimp. 405 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,680 Speaker 2: That is the US. That is from the US Department 406 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:32,840 Speaker 2: of Justice. 407 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:35,960 Speaker 4: Randy I, it's. 408 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:37,840 Speaker 2: We're doing a podcast, but there are no words. 409 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:38,640 Speaker 3: Right. 410 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 1: That is so shocking and heartbreaking. Talk to us about 411 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 1: how prevalent sex trafficking has become, not just an Asia 412 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:49,640 Speaker 1: in the Pacific or over in the Middle East somewhere, 413 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:53,199 Speaker 1: or in the jungles of Central America. How prevalent is 414 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 1: it right here in the West, in the United States. 415 00:24:56,800 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 3: Right, And this is what will be shocking, but it 416 00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 3: is in every zip code in the United States of America. 417 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:13,439 Speaker 3: That's that's how prevalent it is. It doesn't always look 418 00:25:14,160 --> 00:25:18,200 Speaker 3: like what we think it looks like, which is why 419 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:23,120 Speaker 3: education like this is so important. We have these ideas 420 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:24,879 Speaker 3: of what it is, and like you said, we at 421 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:27,719 Speaker 3: one time thought, oh, it's over there, it's only in 422 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 3: those places known for sex tourism, you know, Thailand and Cambodia. 423 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 3: And then we begin to wake up and say, oh, 424 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:39,480 Speaker 3: it is a domestic issue. But we're thinking about the 425 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 3: prostituted women out on the streets that we maybe see. 426 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:51,240 Speaker 3: But it is hidden in plain sight, in every zip code, 427 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:56,120 Speaker 3: and there are so many different types of trafficking and 428 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:59,159 Speaker 3: maybe we should talk a little bit about that and 429 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:02,600 Speaker 3: it helps people begin to understand, well, how could that be? 430 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:06,800 Speaker 3: How could that be? I know that for the women 431 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:09,960 Speaker 3: we serve at restop ministries what we see and it 432 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:12,960 Speaker 3: mimics what a lot of the statistics would be. We 433 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:19,920 Speaker 3: see the two most prevalent types of trafficking. Number one 434 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 3: is it's called the boyfriend syndrome or the Romeo pimp 435 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,840 Speaker 3: or it comes by a lot of names, but it 436 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:39,240 Speaker 3: is basically someone who has feigned a love interest, who 437 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:47,520 Speaker 3: targets and grooms vulnerable women of all ages. But their 438 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:51,359 Speaker 3: purpose all along is then to be able to exploit 439 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:56,760 Speaker 3: that person. And we know we've been talking about this 440 00:26:56,800 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 3: for a long time, but then when you connected to trafficking, 441 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:05,639 Speaker 3: we know that a lot of women again young women, 442 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:08,280 Speaker 3: women of all ages and stages. But this whole idea 443 00:27:08,359 --> 00:27:11,280 Speaker 3: of looking for love, I'm looking for love, I'm looking 444 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:15,439 Speaker 3: for acceptance. I'm looking for someone to just love me 445 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:20,919 Speaker 3: and accept me. And traffickers are shrewd and they know 446 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 3: exactly how to spot vulnerabilities and they are ready to 447 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:31,240 Speaker 3: move in and be the one who cares and loves 448 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:35,359 Speaker 3: and accepts, and it is their way then to groom 449 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:39,480 Speaker 3: and to gain trust, only to then turn it to 450 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 3: something horrific. And I can't tell you how many of 451 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:45,200 Speaker 3: the women who have come through our program, and again 452 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:47,720 Speaker 3: they have to be eighteen to come to us, but 453 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 3: for many of them it started so much earlier, and 454 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:54,280 Speaker 3: they they still are living under the line even after 455 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 3: what they've lived through, because it turns horrifically violent and manipulative, 456 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:02,600 Speaker 3: and it turns to something horrible. But they still won't 457 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 3: self identify as a victim of trafficking. They say, but 458 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:12,320 Speaker 3: I loved him, you know, he was my boyfriend or 459 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:17,239 Speaker 3: he was my and to undo the lies and the 460 00:28:17,359 --> 00:28:23,440 Speaker 3: brainwashing and to help them understand, honey, no, he never 461 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 3: loved you. You were targeted by him. It is that's 462 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:31,399 Speaker 3: why the work is so complex. And so if you 463 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:34,199 Speaker 3: just think about that one type of trafficking and you 464 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:37,640 Speaker 3: think about how prevalent that might be out there when 465 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 3: you think about the psyche of women and girls who 466 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:43,720 Speaker 3: are looking for love and acceptance. But the number two 467 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:50,920 Speaker 3: way that we see is called familial trafficking, meaning their 468 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:53,080 Speaker 3: own family. 469 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 6: Members have for a variety of reasons, sold their own 470 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 6: children into sexual slavery, into commercial sexual exploitation. 471 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:12,600 Speaker 3: And it can be as simple as and I say simple, 472 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 3: and I only say this because again I've had to 473 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:22,280 Speaker 3: learn to really find the empathy for bad systems bring 474 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 3: out the worst in good people. You know, things that 475 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 3: I would think I could never allow this or do 476 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:31,000 Speaker 3: this to my child, and yet at the same time, 477 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 3: there are things I haven't lived through and so sicklical poverty. 478 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 3: A mama can't pay the rent, a single walk can't 479 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:42,760 Speaker 3: pay the rent, and all in the world she knows 480 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:45,400 Speaker 3: to do to keep a roof out of her and 481 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:48,840 Speaker 3: her other children is to loan one of her children 482 00:29:49,240 --> 00:29:55,600 Speaker 3: to the landlord. And that is commercial sexual exploitation because 483 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:58,680 Speaker 3: it doesn't have to be even just the exchange we 484 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:02,480 Speaker 3: think of cash, pay or whatever. It's anything of value 485 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 3: that is created, you know, and it's commoditized a sexual act. 486 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:10,360 Speaker 3: Of course, if it's a child, you don't have to 487 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 3: prove even the things that have to be proven in 488 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:15,440 Speaker 3: court for it to be human trafficking for adults, force 489 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:18,120 Speaker 3: fraud or coercion has to be proven. If it's a 490 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:20,640 Speaker 3: child under eighteen, that doesn't even have to be proven. 491 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:23,560 Speaker 3: If there's been any kind of commercial exchange, that is trafficking. 492 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:26,680 Speaker 3: But you think of horrific things like that. You think 493 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:29,280 Speaker 3: of something, I don't know if it's more horrific, but 494 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:35,080 Speaker 3: you think of drug addiction. You think about our country 495 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:39,360 Speaker 3: and the opioid crisis and all the things. But there 496 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:43,080 Speaker 3: are addicts who are so desperate that if the only 497 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:46,240 Speaker 3: way I can get my next drug is to loan 498 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:51,760 Speaker 3: my child to my drug dealer. And so those things 499 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:52,560 Speaker 3: are happening. 500 00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:56,720 Speaker 4: But there are also evil people. 501 00:30:56,440 --> 00:31:01,040 Speaker 3: Out there who it's the family business, yes, and it 502 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 3: is you know, it is a greed. It is a 503 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:11,240 Speaker 3: corrupt thing, and they are raising children to be part 504 00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:15,040 Speaker 3: of the family business. I mean, it takes all kind 505 00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:18,960 Speaker 3: of forms. And when I say hidden in plane sight, 506 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:22,959 Speaker 3: a lot of the familial trafficking, you know, is hidden, 507 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:25,840 Speaker 3: but it's in Plaine sight. Wow. 508 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:29,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, I want to dig into that topic a little 509 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:32,920 Speaker 1: bit more. We are going to have you do a 510 00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:35,160 Speaker 1: second episode with us, and we're going to talk more 511 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:39,480 Speaker 1: about that familial trafficking and how we as parents can 512 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 1: spot that and perhaps some of the families that our 513 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:47,440 Speaker 1: children may know, but also to protect our own kids. 514 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:52,040 Speaker 1: As we're discussing this, though, I think one thing, as 515 00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:53,960 Speaker 1: I was reading those statistics and all the things that 516 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:59,360 Speaker 1: you're talking about here. It's overwhelming. It's just overwhelming to process. 517 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:03,160 Speaker 1: And I think a lot of families, a lot of 518 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:06,120 Speaker 1: parents might say, I, you know, I just don't want 519 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:07,960 Speaker 1: to think about that because there's nothing I can do 520 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:13,240 Speaker 1: about it. I can't do anything, So I'm just gonna pretend. 521 00:32:12,760 --> 00:32:14,160 Speaker 2: Kind of like that doesn't exist. 522 00:32:14,280 --> 00:32:18,680 Speaker 1: So we don't want to do that, because obviously there's 523 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:24,080 Speaker 1: an imperative in scripture. Throughout scripture, God has emphatically against 524 00:32:24,360 --> 00:32:29,080 Speaker 1: oppression and injustice, and Proverbs twenty four to eleven says 525 00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:32,600 Speaker 1: that we are to rescue those who are unjustly sentenced 526 00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:37,920 Speaker 1: to die, to save them as they stagger to their deaths. 527 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:41,240 Speaker 1: This is an imperative, this is our call. And yet 528 00:32:41,280 --> 00:32:44,320 Speaker 1: I do understand the overwhelm that we feel when I've 529 00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:48,440 Speaker 1: read those statistics. So how can we as Christians? How 530 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:51,680 Speaker 1: can we as parents? What can we do to help 531 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 1: be a force for good? 532 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:58,360 Speaker 4: And what is just an overwhelming evil that we're facing? 533 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 1: Hey, friends, it's Katherine here. If you're trying to be 534 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:11,320 Speaker 1: a godly parent in this wild and wacky world, you 535 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:14,080 Speaker 1: need all the help you can get, and I've got 536 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:17,040 Speaker 1: you covered. When you subscribe to my website, you'll get 537 00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:21,240 Speaker 1: instant access to tons of free resources made just for 538 00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:24,640 Speaker 1: Christian parents. You'll get my Prodigal Bundle, which is packed 539 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:27,960 Speaker 1: with every podcast, article and scripture list I've created for 540 00:33:28,040 --> 00:33:31,960 Speaker 1: parents walking that tough prodigal road. You'll also get my 541 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:35,880 Speaker 1: free eat book Beyond the Lies and covering five myths 542 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:39,440 Speaker 1: the culture spreads to mothers, plus powerful scripture list pray 543 00:33:39,520 --> 00:33:42,240 Speaker 1: over your kids, and even scripture songs to help your 544 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:45,840 Speaker 1: family hide God's word in your hearts without even trying. 545 00:33:46,240 --> 00:33:49,000 Speaker 1: And of course I'll keep you encouraged with my weekly 546 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:53,000 Speaker 1: newsletter full of faith filled PEP talks and outlines of 547 00:33:53,000 --> 00:33:55,280 Speaker 1: what we're tackling each week on the show. 548 00:33:55,320 --> 00:33:56,120 Speaker 3: So don't miss out. 549 00:33:56,160 --> 00:33:59,400 Speaker 1: Head over to Katherine Scars dot com. That's Katherine Scars 550 00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:03,560 Speaker 1: dot com and subscribe today. Because Christian parenting may be crazy, 551 00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:08,120 Speaker 1: but you don't have to do it alone. 552 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:12,719 Speaker 3: Well, and here's one of the first things I think 553 00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:17,879 Speaker 3: is we do have to think about the scripture that 554 00:34:18,040 --> 00:34:23,160 Speaker 3: says we are to love others as we love ourselves. 555 00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:28,120 Speaker 3: In the same way that I love myself, I have 556 00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:31,480 Speaker 3: to love others. And so when God began opening my 557 00:34:31,560 --> 00:34:35,080 Speaker 3: eyes to this issue, he asked me a very very plain, 558 00:34:35,160 --> 00:34:41,680 Speaker 3: outright question. He said, if she is not free, then 559 00:34:41,719 --> 00:34:45,759 Speaker 3: why are you free? Do you think I love you 560 00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:51,399 Speaker 3: anymore than I love her? And that is what hit 561 00:34:51,480 --> 00:34:56,800 Speaker 3: me like a ton of bricks. That is someone's daughter. 562 00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:02,640 Speaker 3: That we have to say that that is me, not 563 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:04,840 Speaker 3: just that it could be me, but that is me. 564 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:10,640 Speaker 3: And so I think we do have to do something. 565 00:35:10,880 --> 00:35:14,880 Speaker 3: And we all may not be called to found an 566 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:20,120 Speaker 3: organization like became my calling, but I think we need 567 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:23,080 Speaker 3: to see each other. And I need the Body of 568 00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:28,759 Speaker 3: Christ to see rest oop ministries and to say, Okay, 569 00:35:29,480 --> 00:35:32,799 Speaker 3: what do you need? You have been called and if 570 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:35,359 Speaker 3: I need to participate in this, what do you need? 571 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:39,280 Speaker 3: And how can we come alongside you? And so lock arms. 572 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:43,040 Speaker 3: Look in your community. It is becoming more prevalent that 573 00:35:43,160 --> 00:35:48,440 Speaker 3: shelters like ours. I'm a part of a Christian shelter 574 00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:54,200 Speaker 3: institute and their whole there it's the Samaritan Women Institute 575 00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:57,040 Speaker 3: for Shelter Care, and their whole mission is to come 576 00:35:57,040 --> 00:36:01,400 Speaker 3: along alongside Christian shelters all across the country. We're growing, 577 00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:04,319 Speaker 3: but you could go to their website and see how 578 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:08,319 Speaker 3: many there are and the goal is to have them 579 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:10,759 Speaker 3: in every state, and so I would tell all of 580 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:14,319 Speaker 3: your listeners look local, look local, and see who is 581 00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:17,000 Speaker 3: doing this work in your community, and you and your 582 00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:21,759 Speaker 3: congregation get behind them. Had my congregation not caught the 583 00:36:21,920 --> 00:36:26,320 Speaker 3: vision along with me, I mean I just awarded Hermitag's 584 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:29,800 Speaker 3: Church of the Nazarene the Founder's Award at our annual 585 00:36:29,960 --> 00:36:34,160 Speaker 3: thud Raising gala this past Friday night, because they were 586 00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:39,000 Speaker 3: the critical, massive people who came alongside and said, yes, 587 00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:42,080 Speaker 3: we can see this is a clear call of God. 588 00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:44,879 Speaker 3: God is raising this thing up, and so we want 589 00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:48,560 Speaker 3: to walk with you. They've been the volunteers, they've been 590 00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:51,359 Speaker 3: the donors and supporters, they've been, you know, the people 591 00:36:51,360 --> 00:36:53,040 Speaker 3: who come out and take care of our twenty five 592 00:36:53,080 --> 00:36:55,279 Speaker 3: acres and two homes. That's a lot of upkeep, so 593 00:36:55,320 --> 00:36:57,880 Speaker 3: that we can do the work of the trauma healing 594 00:36:57,920 --> 00:37:01,320 Speaker 3: that everyone might not be skilled in doing, but find 595 00:37:01,400 --> 00:37:04,360 Speaker 3: those local places and we need the Body of Christ 596 00:37:04,360 --> 00:37:10,360 Speaker 3: to surround those because every ministry cannot necessarily just happen, 597 00:37:10,600 --> 00:37:13,719 Speaker 3: you know, not be birth really inside the walls of 598 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:18,200 Speaker 3: the church. But for churches to be community people. I 599 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:19,160 Speaker 3: think that's important. 600 00:37:20,160 --> 00:37:21,880 Speaker 2: Oh that's so so good. 601 00:37:21,960 --> 00:37:25,520 Speaker 1: You know, we have these wonderful small group leaders at 602 00:37:26,120 --> 00:37:28,400 Speaker 1: our church where we are right now, and we have 603 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:31,399 Speaker 1: this wonderful small group this last semester where they would 604 00:37:31,480 --> 00:37:34,520 Speaker 1: just do this dinner for parents every Sunday night and 605 00:37:34,760 --> 00:37:36,880 Speaker 1: it was like white tablecloth and you would make this 606 00:37:36,960 --> 00:37:40,880 Speaker 1: amazing dinner and Rusty and Krista and they just informed 607 00:37:40,920 --> 00:37:42,160 Speaker 1: us they can't do that anymore. 608 00:37:42,640 --> 00:37:43,920 Speaker 2: God has called them. 609 00:37:44,239 --> 00:37:47,600 Speaker 1: They're selling their home and they're buying a farm out 610 00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:49,680 Speaker 1: in the country to do exactly what you're doing. 611 00:37:49,880 --> 00:37:52,160 Speaker 2: Oh wow, And I was so excited. 612 00:37:52,160 --> 00:37:55,840 Speaker 4: I'm going to miss my white tablecloth dinners, but not nearly. 613 00:37:55,920 --> 00:37:58,359 Speaker 4: I'm just so excited. I'm like, I can't wait for. 614 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:01,080 Speaker 1: Them to get God is just the way they're just 615 00:38:01,239 --> 00:38:04,879 Speaker 1: in the infancy of the ministry that God is giving them. 616 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:08,040 Speaker 2: But Christa was just overwhelmed. 617 00:38:07,520 --> 00:38:11,600 Speaker 1: Like you were, with the need, and the two of 618 00:38:11,640 --> 00:38:14,760 Speaker 1: them really feel called in this new season and ministry 619 00:38:14,760 --> 00:38:16,480 Speaker 1: of their life that that's what they're going to be doing. 620 00:38:16,480 --> 00:38:18,279 Speaker 2: They're going to be buying this farm, they're going. 621 00:38:18,239 --> 00:38:21,160 Speaker 1: To be transforming it in order to bring women in 622 00:38:21,680 --> 00:38:24,520 Speaker 1: and minister to them. And I've been wanting to put 623 00:38:24,520 --> 00:38:27,280 Speaker 1: them in contact with you, but it's exactly what you're saying. 624 00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:29,440 Speaker 2: Look around who is doing this. 625 00:38:29,480 --> 00:38:31,879 Speaker 1: Work in your community, and how can you help them? 626 00:38:32,120 --> 00:38:34,680 Speaker 1: How can you be a part obviously praying for them, 627 00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:36,719 Speaker 1: but maybe going out and helping like you said. I 628 00:38:36,760 --> 00:38:40,279 Speaker 1: love what you said, helping around the properties, because that 629 00:38:40,320 --> 00:38:43,319 Speaker 1: frees you up to do the ministry of healing with 630 00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:47,959 Speaker 1: these women. And so that's wonderful advice. We can all 631 00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:48,920 Speaker 1: be a part of that. 632 00:38:49,480 --> 00:38:52,640 Speaker 3: And then it becomes a win win, Catherine, because we 633 00:38:52,719 --> 00:38:57,319 Speaker 3: say to our church partners, we don't just need you 634 00:38:57,400 --> 00:39:00,640 Speaker 3: to come help us, but how then can we resource 635 00:39:00,760 --> 00:39:06,360 Speaker 3: you to help your congregation become more aware. We should 636 00:39:06,400 --> 00:39:10,080 Speaker 3: be doing our prevention curriculum and training with every youth 637 00:39:10,160 --> 00:39:14,480 Speaker 3: group in every church, with all the parent groups, you know, 638 00:39:14,560 --> 00:39:17,600 Speaker 3: So it becomes a win win. It's the Body of 639 00:39:17,719 --> 00:39:23,239 Speaker 3: Christ helping each other. We all can't do everything, but 640 00:39:23,320 --> 00:39:26,279 Speaker 3: we all can do something. But you know we we 641 00:39:26,320 --> 00:39:29,600 Speaker 3: say we need to pour into the Body of Christ 642 00:39:29,719 --> 00:39:35,200 Speaker 3: to resource you and empower you to have blind eyes opened. 643 00:39:35,520 --> 00:39:36,680 Speaker 2: Oh so good. 644 00:39:36,719 --> 00:39:38,920 Speaker 1: We need to do walking hand in hand the Body 645 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:42,320 Speaker 1: of Christ with the people that are called full time 646 00:39:42,560 --> 00:39:44,760 Speaker 1: to do this ministry like you and my friends Rusty 647 00:39:44,800 --> 00:39:47,239 Speaker 1: and christa to be doing that work full time. How 648 00:39:47,280 --> 00:39:50,680 Speaker 1: can we help And then also you mentioned the prevention curriculum, 649 00:39:50,680 --> 00:39:52,520 Speaker 1: which is a perfect segue and what you're going to 650 00:39:52,560 --> 00:39:54,920 Speaker 1: be talking about in the next episode. I'm so excited. 651 00:39:55,160 --> 00:39:57,520 Speaker 1: So we're going to be talking all about how we 652 00:39:57,560 --> 00:40:00,640 Speaker 1: can prevent this, what we need to be looking looking for, 653 00:40:01,040 --> 00:40:03,399 Speaker 1: protecting our own children, because it can happen, like you said, 654 00:40:03,400 --> 00:40:04,120 Speaker 1: through a boyfriend. 655 00:40:04,719 --> 00:40:06,480 Speaker 2: Through a boyfriend, you think. 656 00:40:06,360 --> 00:40:10,040 Speaker 1: Your daughter may have a really great guy out there, 657 00:40:10,160 --> 00:40:13,680 Speaker 1: or you don't even know. Maybe she's hiding that boyfriend 658 00:40:13,719 --> 00:40:16,200 Speaker 1: from you and you don't know. So we're gonna be 659 00:40:16,239 --> 00:40:18,000 Speaker 1: talking all about that in the next episode. But I 660 00:40:18,040 --> 00:40:21,360 Speaker 1: cannot thank you enough, Rondee, for enlightening us on the 661 00:40:21,400 --> 00:40:22,240 Speaker 1: problem at Ham. 662 00:40:22,320 --> 00:40:24,200 Speaker 2: We can't fix a problem. 663 00:40:24,200 --> 00:40:26,560 Speaker 1: That we refuse to look at. We need to be 664 00:40:26,600 --> 00:40:28,600 Speaker 1: looking at this. The sons and daughters of God is 665 00:40:28,719 --> 00:40:33,200 Speaker 1: believers in Christ. It is our responsibility here on earth 666 00:40:33,480 --> 00:40:38,160 Speaker 1: to help those who are being victimized, abused, and enslaved. 667 00:40:38,680 --> 00:40:41,800 Speaker 2: God hates in justice. 668 00:40:41,840 --> 00:40:45,359 Speaker 1: So should we thank you Rondy for bringing to light 669 00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:47,400 Speaker 1: this critical need in the body of Christ and for 670 00:40:47,560 --> 00:40:50,160 Speaker 1: showing us what we can do to be a part 671 00:40:50,880 --> 00:40:53,960 Speaker 1: of the solution. Like I said, next up, Rondie's gonna 672 00:40:54,080 --> 00:40:56,480 Speaker 1: share with us some vital guidelines on how to protect 673 00:40:56,520 --> 00:41:00,520 Speaker 1: our children or grandchildren from sexual predators, and in the 674 00:41:00,520 --> 00:41:04,480 Speaker 1: meantime tell us how they can learn more about restop 675 00:41:04,520 --> 00:41:07,680 Speaker 1: Ministries and what you're the tremendous work that you're doing there. 676 00:41:08,239 --> 00:41:12,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, rest Stopministries dot org. You've already said our website, 677 00:41:12,040 --> 00:41:15,960 Speaker 3: but then our social media. We're on Facebook and Instagram 678 00:41:16,040 --> 00:41:18,880 Speaker 3: and what used to be Twitter, I don't. 679 00:41:18,640 --> 00:41:20,120 Speaker 2: Know whatever it is now. 680 00:41:20,640 --> 00:41:24,600 Speaker 3: Thanks, But we put out a lot of great content 681 00:41:24,760 --> 00:41:28,040 Speaker 3: that not only will encourage your soul because we celebrate 682 00:41:28,200 --> 00:41:31,920 Speaker 3: every single milestone that our women accomplish that you can 683 00:41:31,960 --> 00:41:36,640 Speaker 3: see all the layers of healing that happen, but also 684 00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:39,279 Speaker 3: we do a lot of educating, you know, through our 685 00:41:39,280 --> 00:41:41,880 Speaker 3: platforms too. And so those are the ways that you 686 00:41:41,920 --> 00:41:42,560 Speaker 3: can find. 687 00:41:42,400 --> 00:41:44,520 Speaker 1: Us awesome, and we're going to talk about that in 688 00:41:44,520 --> 00:41:47,640 Speaker 1: the next episode. I want to hear some wonderful, encouraging 689 00:41:47,719 --> 00:41:49,279 Speaker 1: stories about the work you've done there. 690 00:41:49,360 --> 00:41:51,839 Speaker 4: Thank you so much, Rondie, God bless. 691 00:41:52,320 --> 00:41:55,239 Speaker 1: Before we close, I want to hear something that's been 692 00:41:55,680 --> 00:41:59,960 Speaker 1: very heavy on my heart after listening to this conversation 693 00:42:00,080 --> 00:42:02,799 Speaker 1: and again because I first aired this episode I think 694 00:42:02,800 --> 00:42:06,680 Speaker 1: it was about three years ago, and sadly every bit 695 00:42:06,719 --> 00:42:11,320 Speaker 1: of it is still as relevant today. If anything, actually 696 00:42:11,400 --> 00:42:15,000 Speaker 1: it's even more relevant. Listening back, I was just struck 697 00:42:15,040 --> 00:42:19,040 Speaker 1: again by how shocking this issue really is. I did 698 00:42:19,080 --> 00:42:23,360 Speaker 1: not fully grasp back then that sex trafficking exists in 699 00:42:23,560 --> 00:42:29,120 Speaker 1: literally every single zip code, and the reality of abuse, 700 00:42:29,520 --> 00:42:34,960 Speaker 1: especially abuse carried out in the name of God, that 701 00:42:34,960 --> 00:42:38,480 Speaker 1: that has only become more sobering as scandal after scandal 702 00:42:38,560 --> 00:42:44,040 Speaker 1: after scandal continues to surface within the church, women and 703 00:42:44,120 --> 00:42:50,320 Speaker 1: children groomed, manipulated, and harmed under the guise of faith. 704 00:42:50,560 --> 00:42:55,760 Speaker 1: It is devastating. As RONDI said, and I'll be honest, 705 00:42:55,840 --> 00:42:59,120 Speaker 1: this was really hard to hear again. 706 00:43:00,000 --> 00:43:00,640 Speaker 2: This time. 707 00:43:00,760 --> 00:43:04,840 Speaker 1: It was hard for another reason, a very personal one, 708 00:43:04,960 --> 00:43:08,320 Speaker 1: because when people step into this work, when they choose 709 00:43:08,360 --> 00:43:11,560 Speaker 1: to fight for the freedom and restoration of those who 710 00:43:11,600 --> 00:43:17,200 Speaker 1: have been exploited, they step onto a battlefield. They place 711 00:43:17,440 --> 00:43:20,719 Speaker 1: a target on their backs, not only from those who 712 00:43:20,840 --> 00:43:27,200 Speaker 1: profit from exploitation, but from the very enemy himself. And 713 00:43:27,239 --> 00:43:30,960 Speaker 1: that brings me to an update that I feel compelled 714 00:43:31,000 --> 00:43:34,440 Speaker 1: to share with you. Our dear friends, Rusty and Christa 715 00:43:34,520 --> 00:43:38,920 Speaker 1: whom I mentioned in this conversation did exactly what they 716 00:43:38,920 --> 00:43:42,480 Speaker 1: felt God calling them to do. They sold their home 717 00:43:43,080 --> 00:43:47,480 Speaker 1: and launched a ministry called Hope Filled Refuge, creating a 718 00:43:47,520 --> 00:43:50,880 Speaker 1: place of restoration for women coming out of sex trafficking. 719 00:43:51,560 --> 00:43:55,160 Speaker 1: Many from my own community have poured into that vision, 720 00:43:55,280 --> 00:43:59,319 Speaker 1: helping to bring it to life. But right in the 721 00:43:59,320 --> 00:44:02,879 Speaker 1: middle of their renovations, they purchased a beautiful property out 722 00:44:02,880 --> 00:44:05,640 Speaker 1: in the country. It sounds a lot like rest stop ministries, 723 00:44:06,360 --> 00:44:11,200 Speaker 1: but with so much work left to do, everything suddenly changed. 724 00:44:11,640 --> 00:44:16,960 Speaker 1: Last summer, Rusty began experiencing weakness in his legs and 725 00:44:17,000 --> 00:44:21,360 Speaker 1: it progressed into his back, and last fall he was 726 00:44:21,480 --> 00:44:26,840 Speaker 1: diagnosed with als and today he is in the late 727 00:44:27,000 --> 00:44:32,880 Speaker 1: stages of that disease. He is completely immobile, a quadriplegic, 728 00:44:33,280 --> 00:44:36,839 Speaker 1: relying on a motorized wheelchair he can operate with a 729 00:44:36,880 --> 00:44:43,160 Speaker 1: single finger. And because of this devastating diagnosis and his 730 00:44:43,400 --> 00:44:47,520 Speaker 1: rapidly declining health, the work on the home and in 731 00:44:47,560 --> 00:44:50,520 Speaker 1: the ministry, the very place they had hoped would become 732 00:44:50,560 --> 00:44:53,800 Speaker 1: a refuge, all of that has been placed on pause. 733 00:44:55,160 --> 00:44:59,480 Speaker 1: These are the kinds of seasons that are honestly so 734 00:45:00,120 --> 00:45:05,960 Speaker 1: hard to understand, and yet Rusty and Christo remain steadfast. 735 00:45:06,200 --> 00:45:10,319 Speaker 1: They are still trusting God, still believing not only for 736 00:45:10,480 --> 00:45:14,720 Speaker 1: Rusty's healing, but for the women they know God will 737 00:45:14,840 --> 00:45:19,560 Speaker 1: one day bring through those doors. So I share all 738 00:45:19,640 --> 00:45:24,200 Speaker 1: of this with you for one simple reason to ask 739 00:45:24,280 --> 00:45:29,279 Speaker 1: you to pray. Pray for Rondee and the work at 740 00:45:29,280 --> 00:45:32,800 Speaker 1: Rest Stop Ministries. Pray for Rusty and Christa for strength, 741 00:45:32,840 --> 00:45:38,399 Speaker 1: for healing, and for God's provision over hope filled refuge. 742 00:45:38,560 --> 00:45:41,520 Speaker 1: I'm going to link to their ministries and Rusty's GoFundMe 743 00:45:41,560 --> 00:45:43,520 Speaker 1: page in the show notes in case you might like 744 00:45:43,560 --> 00:45:47,040 Speaker 1: to help in a very practical or physical way and 745 00:45:47,160 --> 00:45:50,560 Speaker 1: pray for everyone on the front lines of this fight. 746 00:45:51,080 --> 00:45:55,680 Speaker 1: Because this work matters deeply and it comes with a cost. 747 00:45:56,920 --> 00:45:59,040 Speaker 1: And if you know someone engaged in this kind of 748 00:45:59,120 --> 00:46:04,160 Speaker 1: ministry in your lift them up to they desperately need it. 749 00:46:04,239 --> 00:46:07,640 Speaker 1: I assure you, and I hope you'll join us again 750 00:46:07,680 --> 00:46:11,120 Speaker 1: next week, because we're going to continue this conversation in 751 00:46:11,160 --> 00:46:15,040 Speaker 1: a very practical and necessary way, looking at how predators 752 00:46:15,160 --> 00:46:19,160 Speaker 1: operate and what we as parents need to know in 753 00:46:19,320 --> 00:46:22,520 Speaker 1: order to protect our children. It may be difficult to hear, 754 00:46:22,640 --> 00:46:26,359 Speaker 1: I know, but it is so vitally important because if 755 00:46:26,400 --> 00:46:32,279 Speaker 1: even one child is protected, one life is spared, then 756 00:46:32,280 --> 00:46:37,080 Speaker 1: this conversation matters, and by God's grace, it could save 757 00:46:37,120 --> 00:46:41,240 Speaker 1: a lot more. And as always, remember God gave you 758 00:46:41,239 --> 00:46:46,120 Speaker 1: your kids, your specific kids for a reason. That's because 759 00:46:46,200 --> 00:46:50,239 Speaker 1: you hold the key to unlocking who God created them 760 00:46:50,280 --> 00:46:50,480 Speaker 1: to be. 761 00:46:51,320 --> 00:46:52,320 Speaker 3: We'll see you next week. 762 00:46:59,200 --> 00:47:02,480 Speaker 7: Christian parent Crazy World is a production of Life Audio 763 00:47:02,600 --> 00:47:05,280 Speaker 7: and Salem Media. If you liked what you heard today, 764 00:47:05,440 --> 00:47:08,360 Speaker 7: please take a second to rate and review this podcast 765 00:47:08,480 --> 00:47:11,440 Speaker 7: in your favorite podcast app so that more listeners like 766 00:47:11,520 --> 00:47:15,799 Speaker 7: you can find the show. For more faith filled inspirational podcasts, 767 00:47:16,080 --> 00:47:25,920 Speaker 7: visit us at lifeaudio dot com.