US Christian charity has helped thousands of American sex-trafficking victims, “we just try to show God’s love through our work”
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – An American Christian non-profit organization that works to help US sex trafficking survivors receive healing and a safe place to recover has been able to assist thousands of victims since its founding 12 years ago, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Based in Florida and the Midwest, the Selah Freedom anti-trafficking organization was set up in 2011 after the founders learned “the horrifying truth” that American children are being bought and sold for sex in local US communities. To date, the organization has helped over 6,618 trafficking survivors.
“What began as the grassroots initiative of women from across the country to be a voice for the voiceless has quickly transformed into a thriving organization with five foundational programs: Awareness, Prevention, Outreach, Residential, and Consulting,” the Selah Freedom website explains.
Selah Freedom partners with various agencies in the United States, including legislators, the National Trafficking Shelter Alliance, and law enforcement. Local police departments provide referrals and help the organization to connect with human trafficking survivors. “If there’s a prostitution sting, we’ll go out with them on the sting,” Executive Director Stacey Efaw told CP. “Often, that’s where survivors are found.”
“We go into the jails weekly and have jail groups, and anybody who has been arrested for prostitution, we meet with,” Efaw said. “Sometimes we get survivors that have been arrested for prostitution, and then later, after working with them, they’ll admit that they were being trafficked. They’re often very afraid to admit it. They need someone that loves them, is not judging them. And we just try to show God’s love through our work.”
If you are interested in articles produced by Worthy News, please check out our FREE sydication service available to churches or online Christian ministries. To find out more, visit Worthy Plugins.