While I was growing up my parents instilled in me the importance of helping people who were in difficult places. In 2003 I read an article in the newspaper about a little girl who was taken from Mexico into Texas. This child was put into a dirty trailer and sold for sex day and night until law enforcement heard and responded. The article described what they found when entering the trailer. My heart was broken when I read this description and that picture is forever etched on my mind. Looking back, I believe that is when God first planted the seed for Rivers of Justice. God heard and answer my prayer. In 2010 I took part in a musical called “Cargo” which raised awareness of human trafficking and focused on the life of William Wilberforce. During this event I heard someone speak about child sex trafficking in the United States. I was shocked! How could this be happening in our country?
I began to research Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking and my research took me to places so dark and evil and left me overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem. This time I asked God, how can one person make a difference? He reminded me of Exodus 14:14. “The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still.”
This promise truly helped me to move forward and respond to His call. During this time I was teaching in a college and in that setting God began opening doors a little bit at a time and to the point where I left my teaching position and started Rivers of Justice. Our name is taken from Amos 5:24, “Let justice roll like a river and righteousness like a never failing stream”. I wanted to seek justice for these children who had their innocence stolen from them.
Today as I look back on our humble beginnings, I stand amazed at how God has grown our organization one step at a time. I know there are many people out there in the same position that I was in, asking what can I do and where can I start? There is something that everyone can do to fight human trafficking. Please contact us and we will be happy to help you get started.
With Love,
Dena
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
Mother Teresa