Since Naomi’s House first opened its doors in 2016, survivors have bravely shared their stories with us—stories of deep trauma and loss, of being let down by friends, family, and even God. Yet alongside those heartaches are stories of redemption and healing. Every story carries both sorrow and hope.

Over the past several months, the public has followed the legal drama surrounding Sean “P. Diddy” Combs—music mogul and industry icon behind stars like Usher and Justin Bieber. But beyond the headlines and celebrity status, serious allegations emerged: sex trafficking and racketeering.

One of the most powerful outcomes of healing from sex trafficking is the restoration of families. Right now, at our Reset location in downtown Chicago, we have the privilege of walking alongside a mother and daughter.

Naomi’s House is currently looking to fill several roles with people who are committed to making a difference in the lives of Survivors, who love God and have a vibrant personal relationship with Him, and are passionate about loving His people. Both our Rise program, day programming in Wheaton, and our drop-in services in Chicago have roles to fill.

Victim. Prostitute. Sex worker. Survivor. 

While each of these terms carry slightly different meanings and stigmas, they each have something in common: all of the women represented by these terms sell their bodies for sex and someone else gains from it. We can all but guarantee that as young girls, they did not dream of having sex for money when they grow up (or quite frankly, often before they grow up).

Currently, two stories strangely overlapping in my newsfeed are those about Sean “P. Diddy” Combs and Immigration. The Combs story is gut-wrenching. I usually cannot finish an article with the latest update because the details are so violent and degrading. Combs is awaiting trial, and I imagine the details of his alleged abuse will only become more challenging to read. But here is what I want the community to know: most of what we’re reading online regarding this case is often parallel to what we read on an intake application to one of our programs.