In the last few weeks, my attention has been drawn to a few eye-opening events and cultural moments that have spotlighted human trafficking and the objectification of women.

The first is the Sound of Freedom movie. I hesitated attending the movie because I knew it would be hard to watch…and it was.

Naomi’s House is currently serving half of all the identified survivors of commercial sexual exploitation in IL*. We are so humbled by this reality, and we are equally grateful to be the leading organization in the state that is working with adult survivors of sex trafficking.

“What Naomi’s House is doing is making the invisible visible.” This statement was recently made by a community partner as we met for lunch. I was struck with that insight. Commercial sex trafficking is invisible in our community. But yet, on a regular basis, we receive referrals and phone calls from women looking for help.

The Safe House Project recently released new research with sobering reminders on how difficult it is to heal from commercial sexual exploitation. Here is one stat that has been keeping me up at night: 80% of victims go back to the life of exploitation and sex trafficking because of inadequate after-care services. That is 8 out of every 10 women.

What a joy it is for me to deliver news of God’s goodness seen over this past year through our 2022 Annual Report! At every turn, God poured out care through Naomi’s House to survivors of sex trafficking, giving these beloved women true hope and healing.

A woman in her 40s moved into NH Reside in the fall of 2020. Leaving behind an old life filled with homelessness and drug addiction, a life controlled by a pimp, this mom of two was fighting for her life. She had serious untreated mental illness and suffered from severe PTSD that included flashbacks of her abuse.