Trafficking in Houston
In 2012, a brothel called La Costenita on the East side of Houston, operating under the guise of a cantina bar, was exposed and shut down after seven years. Law enforcement discovered girls as young as 14 trapped in deplorable conditions, living in sheds and makeshift plywood rooms, and being trafficked. This news devastated us because we felt like as a community we can do better.
A Small Prayer Meeting with a Big Vision
At that time, Elijah Rising was just a small, passionate group meeting weekly to pray for the end of human trafficking. Our prayers turned into action when we started Van Tours, revealing the overwhelming number of brothels in Houston to the public.
Our First Victory
One of our earliest victories came when we negotiated the closure of Angela’s Day Spa in Houston’s Galleria area, a notorious brothel trafficking Thai women. As we investigated further, we noticed three buildings in the area with the address “5806.” Our founder, seeking divine guidance, prayed for understanding and was reminded of Isaiah 58:6:
“Is not this the fast I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”
The Heart of Our Mission
This scripture became the heart of our mission—to see injustice undone and the exploited set free. But the path wasn’t easy. As we expanded our outreach, we realized we lacked the resources needed to truly help these women. They needed housing, trauma therapy, legal aid, education, employment opportunities, and, most importantly, a safe community.
The Breakthrough: A New Model of Care
Driven by this massive need, we worked tirelessly to create a long-term care model that would truly serve women escaping trafficking. In 2020, we launched the Elijah Rising Restorative Care Program (ERRC), providing high-quality residential care, including safe housing, education, mental health treatment, addiction recovery, occupational development, and healthcare coordination.
The ERRC Program reconnects women with hope and a brighter future. Those who complete the program achieve sobriety, reunify with their children and families, find rewarding career paths, and gain the life skills necessary to move forward with healing and realize their fullest potential.
This is just the beginning. We invite you to join us in this mission to end human trafficking and restore lives.
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