STAND IN THE GAP

World Cup 2026 Houston

When the world comes to Houston, vulnerable women and girls face increased danger. We’re mobilizing now. Join us.

Stand in the Gap: Volunteer During World Cup 2026

When the world arrives in Houston for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, thousands of vulnerable women and girls will be exploited through the commercial sex industry. Major sporting events draw thousands of visitors, and the traffickers who exploit the demand. This is not a moment to look away. It’s a moment to stand in the gap.

 

Why the World Cup Matters

Houston is already one of the largest hubs for human trafficking in the nation. During the World Cup, that risk intensifies. More visitors mean more demand for commercial sex; and traffickers will work to meet it. But we refuse to let our city become a marketplace for exploitation.

Elijah Rising is mobilizing now. We’re expanding our outreach teams, opening an emergency safe home, and preparing to meet survivors the moment they’re ready. But we can’t do it alone.

 

How You Can Serve

We need volunteers ready to serve before, during, and after the World Cup. Whether you have a few hours or a few weeks, there’s a place for you:

Outreach Support — Join our teams as we go into the commercial sex industry with resources and hope. In addition to outreach, our Crisis Response teams will assist with helping women who are actively exiting exploitation.

Safe Home Hospitality — Help provide meals, supplies, and care for women entering our emergency assessment center. There will also be opportunities to assist with supply coordination and administrative needs.

Prayer Teams — Cover our staff, survivors, and outreach efforts in prayer during this critical season. This is the only volunteer opportunity without required training. You can start now!

  1. Join with the Elijah Rising and Houston prayer community to cover the entire city with prayer using the Holy Here app.
  2. Become an Elijah Rising prayer partner by joining our text prayer group
  3. Download our Prayer Guide to understand the realities of human trafficking, pray intentionally for survivors and frontline teams, and participate in sustained, informed prayer throughout the season.

 

Volunteer Training

Every volunteer, with the exception of prayer, completes training to understand the realities of trafficking, trauma-informed care, and their specific role.

Intervention (Outreach) Training Dates: May 30, June 6, June 13
Crisis Response Training Dates: May 30, June 6, June 13
Emergency Safe Home Training Dates: April 18, May 2

Use the button below to submit an interest form and register for training.

Volunteer Schedule

Intervention (Outreach) Volunteer Dates: June 13, June 14, June 16, June 17, June 19, June 20, June 22, June 23, June 25, June 26, June 28, June 29, July 3, July 4, possibly July 5. We will have some available during the day and some in the evening.

Emergency Safe Home Volunteer Dates: 6 or 12 hour shifts available daily, both daytime and overnight, June 11 – July 31st.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s):

I’m coming in from out of town. Does Elijah Rising provide housing?

No, housing will not be provided.

Is volunteering safe?

Elijah Rising has provided outreach and safe home services for over 10 years without a volunteer ever being harmed. We believe this is due in large part to the intentional preparation that goes into each opportunity — including covering every location and team in prayer beforehand — as well as the practices, policies, and procedures we have in place to support volunteer safety.

That said, outreach involves engaging with vulnerable populations, and there are inherent risks associated with this type of work. For that reason, all volunteers are required to sign a waiver acknowledging those risks prior to participating.

What is the time commitment for a volunteer?

Emergency Safe Home Volunteer – Ideally, we would love to have 12 hour shifts covered, but we also have 6 hour shifts available.
Outreach/Intervention Volunteer – Timing will depend some on how many people you encounter, but expect to be out for several hours.
Prayer Volunteer – The time commitment is completely up to you!

Who can volunteer?

Intervention Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
Emergency Safe Home Volunteers are limited to females 21 years and older due to the nature of direct care with survivors.
Anyone can pray!
With the exception of prayer, every volunteer is required to complete a background check.