Trading People for Profits
Annually, the business of commercial sexual exploitation generates $172.6 billion according to the International Labour Organization. At the center of these massive, corrupt profits, are suffering children, young girls, men, and women, wondering if anyone will help.
Our answer is, “Yes, we see you
and we are here to help."
January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month—a time dedicated to raising awareness to the reality of human trafficking, the need for more prevention efforts, and our responsibility to respond.
One More Child is in the ministry of seeing and responding to vulnerable children, families, and individuals, including those in commercial sexual exploitation. In 2021, the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline received reports of human trafficking involving 16,554 individual victims.
However, instances of human trafficking and sexual exploitation are chronically undercounted due to the difficulty in identifying victims, meaning this number represents only a fraction of victims in need of help.
To survivors of human trafficking—those who have been identified and those not yet ready to be identified—we stand with you and offer support, healing, and the eternal hope found in Jesus Christ.
Serene's Story
Identifying survivors is a critical first step in the fight against human trafficking, as many victims have been conditioned not to see their situation as exploitative. For Serene*, this moment of recognition marked the beginning of her transformation.
One More Child’s Anti-Trafficking team was on the scene during a hotel sting operation when law enforcement arrested Serene and her trafficker. Serene was one of 15 individuals identified as survivors or having at-risk indicators of trafficking during the operation.
Our team immediately began working with Serene to understand her situation and the exploitation she endured. With compassionate support, Serene shared that, even though she didn’t recognize the signs at first, she now saw the evidence of trafficking in her relationship and identified as a survivor. Coming from this new place of understanding, Serene began working with One More Child on her healing journey.
Through One More Child’s holistic approach to care, Serene received comprehensive advocacy and legal assistance to expunge the charges she faced as a result of her trafficker’s coercion. During the legal process to clear her record from her time in forced exploitation, Serene obtained court accompaniment. This gave her the protection and confidence needed to attend court proceedings related to her case.
Serene’s newfound safety and encouraging legal progress allowed her to focus on a new path, a hope for the future. With guidance from One More Child’s team, Serene discovered inner strength she hadn’t seen before and identified new goals for her life. Living in this new freedom has inspired Serene to help others still entrapped in a life of exploitation. She has decided to become an advocate for other survivors of human trafficking, drawing from her own experience to help them.
We can’t wait to see all that God has in store for Serene’s future—her story has only begun. One More Child is honored to be one of the first steps in her journey of growth, healing, and freedom.
*Name and photo changed for privacy.
There is Hope
Victims of human trafficking may believe exploitation is all that awaits them in their future. We need to step in and offer this truth: there is hope.
One More Child brings healing and hope to survivors of sex trafficking through tangible support and spiritual encouragement, while also working tirelessly to prevent one more from being lured into a life of exploitation. We offer holistic care to survivors as we assess needs, connect them with essential community resources, deliver clinical services, and provide mentorship throughout their emotional, physical, and mental recovery.
We make a difference in the lives of trafficking survivors through our expert leadership, 24/7 Anti-Trafficking Mobile Teams, and national and global partnerships, including those with law enforcement, government leaders, and churches.
With something as massive as human trafficking, it can be easy to get discouraged. But we need to remember that our God is bigger—and that his ultimate plan is to bring complete redemption and healing.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 (ESV)
In the end, God will be victorious against the evils of this world, but until that day, He calls us to join Him in the fight.