Anti-Trafficking
Our Vision
To see the body of Christ become a powerful mission force that works to prevent sex trafficking
and that brings God’s love and hope to the vulnerable and broken who are impacted by sex
trafficking’s devastating effects.
Get Involved
As Villagers with a heart for justice, there are many opportunities available to get engaged in the fight. This list includes active organizations in our area along with opportunities within Village. To learn more, follow the links below or reach out to the Anti-Trafficking Leadership Team.
Opportunities with Local Organizations
- Adorned in Grace Ministries – All-volunteer bridal shop that funds a variety of anti-exploitation efforts including the Design Studio outreach to at-risk teen girls, www.adornedingrace.org
- Door to Grace – Day home ministry to survivor children, www.doortograce.org
- Mending the Soul Ministries – Curriculum developed for healing survivors, and teaching mentors, www.mendingthesoul.org/events/mts-basic-training-portland/
- Pure Life Alliance – Ministry that assists men and women in their pursuit of healthy sexuality. www.purelifealliance.org/
- For men only: Epik Project www.endslaverynow.org/epik
Opportunities at Village
- Resource collection for trafficking survivors – cell phones & chargers, gift cards (common local stores like Fred Meyer, Safeway. Rite Aid, Target), and hygiene kits for the Portland Police Anti-trafficking Task Force
How We Started
We are a group of people who attend Village Church in Beaverton, Oregon
In 2013, a brave Villager piloted A Biblical Response to Sex Trafficking class at Village University. From that class, God brought together a few Villagers passionate about fighting the sex trafficking issue. Each time this class was offered, God brought more Villagers to the anti-trafficking team. We have been honored to help Villagers by offering sex trafficking awareness training and we continue to look for opportunities to serve more in this vital area. Highlights to date include the following:
● Training sessions with the Village staff
● Middle and high school parent’s seminar
● Presentations to the Asian American Fellowship and the middle school/high school youth
groups.
● Every other month, we facilitates an anti-trafficking prayer group.
● We host events led by other community partners like the EPIK Project
● On January 28, 2018 the team presented Village’s first congregation-wide sex trafficking
awareness event.
● Our leadership team meets each month and welcomes all newcomers. Reach out to the
team leader, Carl Springer, for information about upcoming events.
● Training sessions with the Village staff
● Middle and high school parent’s seminar
● Presentations to the Asian American Fellowship and the middle school/high school youth
groups.
● Every other month, we facilitates an anti-trafficking prayer group.
● We host events led by other community partners like the EPIK Project
● On January 28, 2018 the team presented Village’s first congregation-wide sex trafficking
awareness event.
● Our leadership team meets each month and welcomes all newcomers. Reach out to the
team leader, Carl Springer, for information about upcoming events.
Villagers On a Mission
Several members of our team have followed God’s call to serve in this area beyond our community. For more information about their focus and area of service, please check out their personal ministry pages.
Brian and Melissa Leak
Adrienne Livingston
Our Goals
We want Village to be a church that:
● Is aware of the nature of the sex trafficking industry
● Provides a safe and healing environment for abuse survivors and for those who struggle with sexual temptations.
● Equips its youth to be His image bearers as they navigate the realities of the American culture.
● Provides growth and healing within its own community and engages regularly in ministry outside of church walls.
Trafficking Awareness
Suggested Readings
Renting Lacy: A Story of America’s Prostituted Children (A Call to Action) – Linda Smith and
Cindy Coloma, 2009
Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls Are Not for Sale, A Memoir – Rachel Lloyd, 2011
In Our Backyard: A Christian Perspective on Human Trafficking in the United States – Nita
Belles, 2011
Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery – Siddarth Kara, 2017
Mending the Soul: Understanding and Healing Abuse – Steven R. Tracy, 2005
Documentaries
Nefarious; Merchant of Souls – Benjamin Nolot, 2012, see trailer below
Sex and Money: A National Search for Human Worth – Director: Joel Angyal, 2011
Very Young Girls – Produced/Directed by David Schisgall and Rachel Lloyd, 2007 (Available for
DVD only rental on Netflix)
I am Jane Doe – Directed by Mary Mazzio, 2017 (Available on multiple platforms)
Waiting for the Light: Portland’s Sex Trafficking Crisis – Produced by Ibex Communications,
2013
Demand.Documentary – Produced by Shared Hope International, 2013.
Human Sex Trafficking: Modern-Day Slavery– Portland Oregon
Websites
US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report:
www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2017/index.htm (countries graded based on anti-trafficking
efforts; summary provided of each country)
Polaris Project: www.polarisproject.org (awareness, knowing the signs, national hotline)
Shared Hope International: www.sharedhope.org (advocacy, policy, and research focus)
National Center on Sexual Exploitation: www.endsexualexploitation.org (advocacy, policy,
research focus; strong focus on showing the links between pornography and sex trafficking)
European Freedom Network: www.europeanfreedomnetwork.org (Christian anti-
trafficking collaboration with a European focus)
Pornography Recovery
Suggested Readings
Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain – William M. Struthers (2010)
Pure Desire: How One Man’s Triumph Can Help Others Break Free From Sexual Temptation –
Ted Roberts (2008)
Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction – Dr. Mark Laaser (2009)
Surfing for God: Discovering the Divine Desire Beneath Sexual Struggle – Michael John Cusick
(2012)
Websites
Covenant Eyes: www.covenanteyes.com/e-books/ (Free ebooks; also offers internet
filtering & accountability service)
Fight the New Drug: learn.ftnd.org (Articles and interactive webpages on how porn
affects the brain, the heart, and the world)
National Center on Sexual Exploitation: pornharmsresearch.com (peer-reviewed
research articles, latest news, and opinion articles on the effects of pornography)
Parenting Resources
Suggested Readings
Straight Talk with Your Kids About Sex – Josh McDowell (2012) (También disponible en
Español)
Good Pictures, Bad Pictures: Porn Proofing Today’s Young Kids – Kristen Jenson (2014)
(children’s book for parents to read with children) (También disponible en Español)
God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies – Justin Holcomb (2015)
This is a simply-told, beautifully-illustrated story to help families talk about sensitive issues of
body safety with two- to eight-year-old children. Because the private parts of our bodies are
private, the home is the ideal environment where a child should learn about his or her body and
how it should be treated by others.
Websites
Covenant Eyes: www.covenanteyes.com/e-books/ (Free ebooks on teaching digital
discernment, internet safety, dealing with pornography & cyberbullying, etc. in the Family
Protection section)
National Center on Sexual Exploitation: endsexualexploitation.org/resources-parents/
(tips for handling social media; information on internet filtering; substantial resource list by
category with links to other organizations)
We are eager to hear from you! If you have any questions, want more information, or want to get involved please reach out to us by contact the team leader, Carl Springer.