When the Church Rises Up

Anti-trafficking ministry Destiny Rescue is bringing light to dark places

By Matt Green

The U.S. Department of Justice considers it the fastest-growing criminal enterprise, generating an estimated $32 billion annually. It affects more than 1.5 million children and stretches across national and cultural boundaries. Human trafficking is arguably one of the most pervasive injustices in the world today.

Although there are numerous Christian and secular nonprofits addressing the crisis, churches often feel ill-equipped to participate in what can seem like a complex and dangerous endeavor. That was the hopelessness Destiny Rescue founder Tony Kirwan felt in 2001 when he first encountered child trafficking while on a mission trip in Thailand.

Then an electrician, he was walking through a red-light district when he overheard a man being offered a child for $400. Tony’s simple prayer—“God, help these children”—quickly became a cry of conviction: “God help me if I don’t do something.”

The organization started its rescue work in Southeast Asia and has since expanded globally. Destiny Rescue now operates in 16 countries across four global regions and has rescued over 22,000 individuals since 2011. With more than 250 staff globally, including missionaries, local leaders and specialized agents, the organization focuses on locating, rescuing and restoring exploited children through individualized Freedom Plans™.

“We are not just a nonprofit that works outside the church,” explains Tom Cochran who coordinates Destiny Rescue’s partnership with more than 2,000 churches as the organization’s national director of church engagement. “We’re pastors with a heartbeat for the church and a deep conviction that the rescue and restoration of children is the work of the gospel.”

“Churches aren’t just writing checks,” Tom explains. “They’re talking about exploitation, making their ministries safer, raising up advocates and in some cases, sending people to serve as rescue agents or aftercare workers.”

Destiny Rescue’s strategic partnerships with local law enforcement and federal agencies have amplified its reach. In several nations, the organization works alongside police to build cases and conduct raids. In others, they have helped develop software tools that are being adopted by national governments to identify trafficking victims online. The organization’s influence has even extended to the U.S., where it’s assisted the FBI on trafficking cases connected to international operations.

What makes Destiny Rescue unique is not just their reach, but their results: 83% of those in their care remain free two years after their rescue, a figure well above industry norms.

But behind every statistic is a story. Tom recounts a young girl so traumatized by her abuse that she tried to end her life by jumping into a well. Destiny Rescue’s team pulled her out and walked with her through a healing process that led her to faith in Christ. Days later, she changed her name to Victory.

Another story features Tala, a girl found in a bar in Southeast Asia. When an undercover agent asked what kind of music she liked, her answer was simple: “Church music.” She had been praying for an angel to rescue her. That night, her prayer was answered.

“Rescue is the work of the gospel,” Tom notes. “It’s messy, painful and costly. But it’s what Jesus did, and it’s what we’re called to do.”

Despite the overwhelming size of the problem, Tom believes that awareness and activism are making a difference.

“There are regions where, because of our presence, trafficking is decreasing,” Tom explains. “When churches rise up, kids find freedom. It’s that simple.”

Better Together

Tom Cochran recently chatted with Dino Rizzo, executive director of the Association of Related Churches (ARC) about the collaborative potential of churches working together with ministries such as Destiny Rescue.

Tom: Was there a defining moment in your life or ministry that really stirred your passion for missions?

Dino: I think my own story, how I was reached through outreach. Somebody at my church had an idea, went out into the community and served outside the walls of the church. I was reached because of a small group that said, “Let’s go down to Myrtle Beach and do an outreach.” I knew and had heard of Jesus, but I had never really had an encounter with God. That’s the defining moment: I was reached through the great commission, outreach and a creative idea. →

Tom: As a global leader in the church, what are you seeing ahead for churches to engage in mission in new ways?

Rizzo: The church that experiences revelation in the glory and the grace of God and then walks in that and lives in that, that’s what’s ahead. The revelation that we get in the presence of Jesus gives us a responsibility—it’s not just meant for us. I believe it’s meant for going down into the valley to help broken humanity. There are great churches that are doing that in all kinds of ways. We’re not afraid of the pain or afraid of the mess. We’re not afraid of the addiction. We step right into it. The glory of God revealed turns into the grace of God expressed through my life and church.

Tom: One of the most powerful parts of Destiny Rescue’s work is on the ground. Our teams include locals who understand not just the culture and social norms of the country, but also resonate with their suffering. In fact, one of our current leaders in Kenya is a survivor of child exploitation herself.

Dino: I like that the church is discovering that we can go in and partner with those that are on the ground, empowering them, training them, resourcing them. We are about to work alongside a group that knows the dynamics better than us. The church realizes that we don’t have to be the senior partner in every effort. We can be the junior partner in countries, encouraging those who are best suited to reach people in that country.

Tom: One of the things that you, Pastor Chris [Hodges] and others have said at ARC consistently is that we’re better together and that nobody should do ministry alone.

Dino: Collaboration is winning. I think you see that happening in the church right now. Because the needs are just too big. I can’t reach my city or the world by myself. To make a difference in the darkness of the world’s food deserts, for those who need clean water, for those who need to be rescued from human trafficking, you need to partner. You have to come alongside people who know what they’re doing.

Tom: You mentioned the reality of stepping into the darkness. How would you describe God’s heart for individuals who have experienced human trafficking and sexual exploitation?

Dino: I couldn’t imagine being exploited in that area. It’s just tragic. The pain, feeling forgotten. So, I’m glad the church is not running from it, but we’re working with people, with specialists in that area, those who have the expertise to express the grace of God, love, care and sensitivity when working with people who have experienced that type of trauma and pain.

Tom: Since 2018, ARC churches—alongside many other churches—have brought freedom to hundreds of survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking by partnering with Destiny Rescue. How does that encourage you when you think about the movement of ARC?

Dino: Thank God for people who are doing things like this, championing the freedom that’s needed in this area. We love that. My encouragement would be that the church needs to continue to rise up. There are a lot of ways that churches can partner with you guys, and then kids are going to find freedom. Families are going to find freedom. I don’t think this mission is where you say, “It’s for somebody else, somebody else can go do that.” This is something that’s right in front of us, and we get to do it together. That’s what I love about the mission of the church.

Matt Green is the editorial director for AVAIL Journal. He also serves as vice president of marketing for Pioneers, a global church-planting organization based in Orlando, Florida. He lives in Central Florida with his wife, Andy. They have four children and one grandchild.