From Ritual Abuse to Rescue: Olivia’s Brave Escape from Trafficking
From Ritual Abuse to Rescue: Olivia’s Brave Escape from Trafficking
How Rescue America helped one woman find safety, hope, and healing
At just seven years old, Olivia* was trafficked for the first time. Her childhood was stolen by a network of adults who sold her, transported her through underground tunnels, and instilled fear that controlled her every move. Now 30, she had spent over two decades in a cycle of exploitation and trauma — including deep involvement in a Santería cult that normalized violence, manipulation, and spiritual abuse.
But everything changed the day Olivia picked up the phone and called the Rescue America hotline.
Olivia is one of over 1,000 survivors who reach out to Rescue America every year. Each call is a moment of courage, and each story is unique. But what Olivia shared was unlike anything the team had encountered before: years of ritual abuse and crimes that spanned states and criminal networks.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, the team alerted federal authorities and connected with specialized partners. But they didn’t stop there. Olivia needed more than legal help — she needed healing.
From Hotline Call to Hope
The first person Olivia spoke with was Ivonne, a Senior Exit Strategist with Rescue America.
“I could hear the exhaustion in her voice,” Ivonne said. “She was brave, but she was traumatized.”
That next step for Olivia began with immediate emergency placement and a flight to safety through Rescue America’s travel partner, Southwest Airlines®. From check-in to landing, every detail was handled with care and confidentiality.
“She finally got to breathe,” Ivonne shared.
Why Trafficking Survivors Need More Than Rescue
Rescue America understands that escape is just the first step — but the goal is restoration. And that takes time, resources, trauma-informed care and meeting Jesus and His redeeming power.
Survivors like Olivia often need:
Emergency shelter
Medical stabilization
Addiction recovery
Mental health support
Long-term housing
Legal advocacy
Spiritual and emotional care
In Olivia’s case, her trauma ran deep — compounded by years of abuse, psychological manipulation, and involvement in dark spiritual rituals.
For Olivia, Rescue America coordinated with a safehome, a faith-based program that offered not just housing, but holistic healing - mind, body and spirit. She began therapy, received trauma-informed support, and entered a community that saw her as a woman designed in God's image with a purpose and destiny. .
Rescue is Ministry
At the heart of Rescue America is the belief that there is a redemptive solution for every survivor who desires to exit the life. That every life matters — not just for survival, but for redemption.
“Our work is ministry,” Ivonne said. “It’s trauma care, yes. But it’s also spiritual care. It’s prayer. It’s helping survivors see themselves the way God sees them.”
That calling is what drew Ivonne to this work. She began her career serving homeless and runaway youth, but when she encountered Rescue America, something clicked.
“I realized this was the missing piece.”
Every day, Ivonne and her team step into the messiness of trafficking, exploitation, and pain. And every day, they offer a lifeline — one phone call, one conversation, one rescue at a time.
“We cry sometimes. We worship. We pray. Because it’s heavy.
But we know it doesn’t all rise and fall on us. God’s in it.”
Human trafficking is a global crisis, but it’s also a deeply personal one. According to the Global Slavery Index, an estimated 403,000 people in the U.S. are living in modern slavery today. And globally, traffickers make over $150 billion a year in illegal profits from exploitation.
Source: Global Slavery Index, ILO Forced Labour Facts
These aren’t just numbers. They’re people — like Olivia — who deserve a second chance.
Be Part of the Rescue
At Rescue America, we believe rescue is only the beginning. Survivors need safe places, consistent care, and someone to believe in them — and that’s where you come in.
Your donation supports:
Outbound Calls to survivors with a message of hope and the 24/7 hotline number
24/7 Hotline operations
Transportation, hotels, and basic needs before the safehome
Emergency and long-term housing partnerships
Faith-based, trauma-informed care
Will you give hope to the next Olivia?
*Name changed for privacy.
If you or someone you know have been sexually exploited and want out of the life, please call Rescue America’s 24/7 Rescue hotline number at 833.599.FREE.
To report a trafficking tip, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888.373.7888.
Save these numbers on your phone for later reference!
