We think of sex trafficking as being out there somewhere in the jungles of Central America or in Thailand and Cambodia. And to be sure, it is there. But what we must understand as parents is that human trafficking is in every zip code in the United States as well. 

What do we need to know as parents to prevent our children from being sexually exploited?

In Episode 87 of CHRISTIAN PARENT/CRAZY WORLD, Dr. Rondy Smith shares the shocking way many young girls are being lured by sexual predators. She reads a letter from a young woman with the pseudonym “V” who was sexually exploited for all of her teenage years—and her parents had no idea even though it was happening under their roof.“V” was lured into a sexually exploitive relationship by a distant family member in his 30s who was posing as a suicidal 12-year-old boy from a neighboring school. Once this predator got his first image, he had control which he used to manipulate “V” for 8 years. 

“V’s” shocking story is all too common.  To hear how God set her free and her perpetrator was caught, be sure to listen.

Rondy, who is the founder and CEO of Rest Stop Ministries,  provides invaluable advice for parents in this episode to spot the signs of sexual exploitation and how we can prevent it. We must:

• Heed that still, small voice—if something feels off, trust your instincts. 
• If your child panics when denied access to their devices, dig deeper. That could be a sign that they are in a sexually exploitive relationship.
• Know that your child will often take the blame for their abuser and seek to shield others from the pain of what is happening.
• Use extreme caution when posting pictures of children online.
• Learn to think like a predator because they exist.
• Live not in fear, but awareness.

We  must be “wise as serpents but innocent as doves.” (Matt. 10:16). 

Don’t miss this vitally important episode that will protect our kids and consider sharing it with your teens and friends. Moms & Dads, we must know the threats and the signs in order to prevent the spread of this evil.

You can find this episode of CP/CW  on Life Audio by clicking on the image below:

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RONDY’S BIO: Dr. Rondy Smith is Founder & CEO of Rest Stop Ministries, which is a residential restoration program for female survivors of sex trafficking in the Nashville, TN area. Rondy is an ordained minister with a Doctorate in Education from Vanderbilt University in Human & Organizational Development, and she has served 37 years in Corporate, Academic, and Ministry professions.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Rest Stop Ministries, Rest Stop: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter

NCOSE: The National Center on Sexual Exploitation

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

Galatians 1:5

Hebrews 10:23

Romans 4:17

Matthew 18:10-14 (the lost sheep)

Psalm 40:1-3