The Lord of the Harvest
Luke 8 "A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose, they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear."
The individuals we serve at Rescue America have a similar journey to the parable of the sower that Jesus taught in Luke 8. Ultimately, the parable speaks about the journey to salvation by faith in Jesus, but we can look at the parable and apply it to the survivors we serve at Rescue America as a picture of how they experience the hope of freedom from their sexually exploitative situation.
The opportunity for freedom and healing lands on various soils as we encounter individuals who are sexually exploited.
At Rescue America, we rejoice in the planting and blooming and trust the Lord when those seeds land on soils that do not produce. We pray for, grieve with, and continue to hold a place of hope for the survivors who are not ready to walk in healing and leave their sexually exploitive situation. As I have worked with Rescue America on a mission to rescue, revive, and empower the sexually exploited and think about the sower's parable, three stories stand out.
A Police officer called our hotline on behalf of a sexually exploited woman he encountered on the streets where she was being sold. Our Exit Strategist spoke to her on the officer's phone. As a part of our intake process, she gave Rescue America her number to call back to speak directly with her. She then told the police officer he could leave, and she would continue to conversation with us on her personal phone. The Exit Strategist tried calling back to continue working with the survivor but realized that we were given a fake number. The woman gave incorrect information intentionally because she was not ready or interested in working with us at this time. This survivor is similar to the seed which fell on the beaten path. She was able to hear the message of freedom from her sexually exploitive situation from someone who knew of Rescue America and shared our mission with her. Sadly, as with the seed, the enemy quickly came and stole the message. She walked away from the opportunity of escape that night and turned away, back into her exploitive situation.
Another young survivor called our hotline after being hospitalized due to violence that she experienced in her sexually exploitative situation. She called seeking freedom and was eager to work with Rescue America. Our staff worked to find programming to meet her needs. After calling to complete a phone intake, the survivor was accepted into the program! Rescue America facilitated her transportation, and she was safe and positioned for freedom. After she arrived at the program, she began to take the necessary steps to complete the process of entering into their program. Unfortunately, before completing this process, she called Rescue America staff to say that she had changed her mind. The idea of this new opportunity was too overwhelming. Soon after, she connected with her trafficker to make arrangements for him to pick her up to bring her back into her situation. Heartbreakingly in that moment she reflects the seed that has fallen on the rocks.
She heard the message of hope and freedom, but through the fear of the unknown, her hope was scorched in the sun.
A survivor called to complete an intake with Rescue America. She was brought to a new state and was left stranded while working for her trafficker. She was trafficked, left him to work independently for a time, and was now back with her trafficker and staying in an apartment that was in her name. While in Florida, he left her to find her own way home. When she called the Rescue America hotline and spoke with the Exit Strategist, she was very clear; she was not ready to leave her situation. Her primary goal was to get back to Texas and her apartment, but she could not afford the trip. She was asking for help reuniting with her trafficker. The Exit Strategist explained why we would not be able to help her in that way and let her know that we were here when she is ready to leave her sexually exploitive situation and pursue healing. This survivor story would seem to be consistent with the seed that fell among the thorns. She was previously trafficked but was able to leave her trafficker. She experienced temporary freedom from the life of sexual exploitation. Still, when the road to continued healing contained challenges, she was drawn back into the lifestyle and back into a different exploitive situation.
A survivor reached out to Rescue America as she has tried to leave her sexually exploited situation and walk a different path for herself and her children and finds herself in an abusive situation and feeling the tug back into the sex industry as a means of financial stability. She knows that this would be harmful to herself and her children and called seeking a new path forward. Rescue America was able to walk with her as she made arrangements to leave her abusive situation and start over in the Rescue America Emergency Care Program. In the program, she will receive holistic healing specializing in addressing the trauma related to her sexual exploitation.
She is the seed that we pray and believe will result in healing not just for herself but also for generations to come, in Jesus' name!
Rescue America encounters those who are sexually exploited right where they are, similar to the ministry of Jesus while He was here on earth. By calling the online ads of the sexually exploited through Rescue America Outreach Hubs, through partnerships with local hospitals, law enforcement, and strategic partners in direct outreach efforts, Rescue America is spreading seeds of hope far and wide throughout our nation. We pray that whatever "soil" the caller may have, she would know that she is loved and valued beyond her current situation. Rescue America is honored to partner with her when she is ready to take our hand to freedom. Please be praying for those who call our hotline. Pray that the Lord would go before us and soften the soil. Pray against the enemy's schemes; he seeks to deceive these survivors and kill any possible hope that grows within. Let it not be so, in the name of Jesus!
We know that as we sow the seed of hope and healing for those who are sexually exploited, God is the one who determines whether the harvest is ripe.
God knows those who are ready to be brought in. He is the Creator and sustainer of ALL things. He is the Lord of the Harvest! Pray that Rescue America would be strong and courageous as we continue to walk boldly to the glory of God!