Elijah Rising

Churches often want to become involved in combating sex trafficking but lack the education and awareness to do so. Leigh Kohler leads the Freedom Church Alliance and they continuously develop and refine strategies to help the church be more effective in the fight against trafficking. This episode highlights their new GoBox—which is a tactile, immersive experience that will equip you with knowledge...

In this episode we interview the amazing team from Neighbors in Action, Kathrin Meier and Taylor Woodruff! This organization is doing amazing work in a community that experiences a high risk for trafficking and exploitation. Neighbors in Action partners with families in Port Houston and surrounding communities to transform lives through spiritual growth, education, and meeting basic needs. https:/...

In this podcast we interview one of Elijah Rising's amazing and faithful volunteers. We talk about the need for native speakers of any asian language to reach out to women trapped in commercial sexual exploitation. We also talk about cultural differences and some keys in reaching the asian community in regards to sex trafficking. Send a text Support the show Learn more about Elijah Rising » F...

In this episode of the Elijah Rising podcast, we sit down with Christa Mayfield, founder of Good Sustained, an organization that supports professionals who experience stress, vicarious trauma, and burnout incurred from their role of service. Christa is a Certified Health Coach and a Workplace Wellness Consultant who has worked with a variety of populations including those affected by human traffic...

Welcome to this episode of our podcast, where we delve into the topic of Sex trafficking and the men who buy sex, and explore ways to reach out to these men. Our guest today is Joe Madison, the Executive Director of a non-profit organization called Demand Disruption. Demand Disruption fights the demand for sex trafficking by eliminating buyer motivation and reducing access to the exploited. We beg...

We were thrilled to interview Pastor Frankie Mazzapica, founding and lead pastor of Celebration Church of The Woodlands, Texas. Celebration Church is a source of strength for many families and ministries including Elijah Rising. In this podcast we discuss practical steps every believer can take to experience the presence of God regularly manifesting in their lives. We talk about Frankie's pur...

One organization cannot be the solution to combat the effects of sex trafficking. It takes a community of NGO's, volunteers, churches, and public officials to effect change. In this episode you will learn more about what we call "the pipeline of care" which describes how service providers work together to help people who are coming out of trafficking situations. You will also learn...

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Cara is Executive Director of The Landing, a Houston based nonprofit whose mission is to serve survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation with a trauma-informed approach, fueled by the love of Christ. In this podcast, Cara explains what a drop-in center is and how this approach is effective in serving individuals who are experiencing exploitation. To learn more: https://thel...

Sydney is Manager of the Safe Community Program at Crime Stoppers of Houston, a non-profit dedicated to public safety and committed to its mission to solve and prevent serious crime in the Greater Houston Area in partnership with citizens, media, and the criminal justice system. In her role, Sydney uses prevention and awareness programs to educate community members, parents, elected officials, and...

We had the honor of interviewing Rebecca Bender about misconceptions about trafficking, the complexities behind prostitution, and the Equality Model and why it matters. Rebecca Bender is CEO of the Rebecca Bender Initiative and Founder of Elevate Academy @thisiselevateacademy . Rebecca is a thought leader, advocate, and consultant who equips individuals and organizations to identify and fight huma...

In this episode of the podcast we interview Jayson Berryhill. Jayson is the co-founder and partner at (en)visible, a company working to enable supply chain visibility in global food systems. He is also a co-founder and partner at Wholechain, a blockchain-based traceability solution built to enable trust, coordination, and transparency in fragmented supply chains. Labor trafficking is an important...

We were so excited to visit with Dr. Stroope in Dallas to talk about evangelism, missions, and anti-trafficking work. A couple of the questions we ask are: How should we think differently about the term "mission"? Are social services auxiliary to the church? Or are they an important function? How can we be sensitive to the Holy Spirit in evangelism? Mike is Professor of World Christian W...

In this episode, David and Adam discuss recent Houston trafficking events. We hope this conversation helps you become a better-informed citizen and equips you with some tools to become more engaged in anti-trafficking work. Send a text Support the show Learn more about Elijah Rising » Follow us on Instagram » Donate and Support Our Work »

In this episode of the podcast, we interview Chelsie Lancaster. Chelsie is the Manager of the Elijah Rising Social Enterprise. We talk about common misconceptions people have about overcomers of trafficking, obstacles they face, and how others can better support the women who are overcomers of trafficking. Send a text Support the show Learn more about Elijah Rising » Follow us on Instagram » Donat...

In this podcast, we interviewed Elijah Rising Restoration Program Director, Liesel Araoz to talk about restorative care.  Our conversation is around questions like: What is the Elijah Rising Restoration Program?  Who does the program serve and how are you serving them? What sort of services does the program provide?  We also talk about some of the challenges in running a safe home or any restorati...

In this episode, we interviewed our very own Melody Jacobs to talk about the status of Elijah Rising interventions. Since COVID we had to limit the number of volunteers being utilized on outreach, but now we are beginning to open back up. While some interventions were paused, we were able to develop new volunteer training material, and we made it easier to get involved. We also talk about some of...

What are the challenges an individual faces when leaving a trafficking situation? The truth is there are more factors than we can mention in this one episode, It's complicated. That's why we wanted to focus this episode on discussing some of the barriers one faces when exiting the sex industry. We invited Allison Madrigal of Rescue America to talk about their work in helping to facilitat...

We are often asked how do people end up in trafficking situations? There are many different answers to that question as each case is unique. However, sometimes there is a system that some traffickers use to prepare someone for abuse. This is often referred to as "grooming" and if you can understand the tactics traffickers use, hopefully, you can help prevent a trafficking situation from...

In this episode, we interview Kathy Givens and talk about the best ways to serve those who have overcome sex trafficking. Kathy is a wife, mother, author, and playwright who has overcome the dark world of sex trafficking. She is also the co-founder of twelve11 partners, a survivor-led nonprofit organization focused on supporting those who are overcoming sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploi...

In this latest episode of The Elijah Rising Podcast we talk about the role of prayer in anti-trafficking work. I'm excited to share it with you because as you listen you will acquire a deeper desire to pray. At the end of the episode we come to a powerful realization about the power of prayer, don't miss it. "Many times we pray about things and don’t know God’s will, but in the area...

In this episode, Adam interviews Munatsi Manyande of DASH Network.  In response to the compassionate and welcoming love of Jesus, DASH Network exists to love people who are seeking asylum by serving their physical and relational needs. Munatsi shares about their work, the difference between refugees and asylum-seekers, and human trafficking. For more information visit: https://www.dashnetwork.net/...

In this podcast we interview Kevin Lilly, Chairman of the TABC (Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission). Some of you may already be asking what does trafficking have to do with alcohol? Even Kevin admits he was surprised, when he took the role as Chairman, the amount of work that goes into anti-human trafficking efforts. The TABC is committed to stopping human trafficking and they are  effective. So...

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Vanessa Bouché about her research on human trafficking in cities like Houston. Dr. Bouché is an Associate Professor of Political Science at TCU, creator of HumanTraffickingData.org, and co-founder of Savhera, a wellness company providing employment to survivors of sex trafficking in India and the U.S. For more information about Savhera https://savhera.com/ Send a te...

In this episode, we interview Amber Knowles, Executive Director of Fostering Family. Fostering Family is a nonprofit committed to strengthening foster and kinship families through training and collaboration. Amber shares about the foster care system and the impact on human trafficking. For more information about Fostering Family go to: https://www.fostering-family.org/ Send a text Support the show...