Volunteer Interviews

Restoration Ministries (RM) operates with the help of faithful volunteers. Each person possesses conviction to see the end of domestic sex trafficking and to offer God’s love to survivors. We offer their stories so you can understand the passion behind this work and get glimpse of God’s faithfulness in this ministry.

Name: Cindy Cha

How did you become aware of domestic sex trafficking (DST)?

I became aware of domestic sex trafficking when I was approached to lead my small group on a local mission trip program (called “Intencity” started by my church). My friend who was on a staff at church’s mission department had just learned of this org in DC called Restoration Ministries. She told me about what the ministry does and asked if I would consider partnering with this ministry for this trip.  This was also the very first time I ever heard of human trafficking existing right here at home. Our group went through a very intense all-day training and all of us took an entire day to digest the shocking information we received. Until then, we never knew that these girls were being raped and sold as commodities so young in age and this was actually happening right here in the US.

What would you like people to know about DST?
That it is a very deep, complex issue that is so intertwined with other social, economic issues within the society. Making the difference is not about running around hotels and streets for a few weeks looking to rescue victims, but about committed individuals who are willing to work alongside survivors to support and empower them wherever they’re at in the process.  Prayer, preparation (education) and commitment are essential for being an effective advocate.

How long and in what capacity have you supported RM?

I have been with RM for over 7 years now and I started as the first batch of volunteers when Candace started the volunteer mentoring program back in 2007.  For few years, I volunteered to work with the girls at the youth jail and psych hospitals.  Currently, I oversee the Ambassadors of Restoration Program.

Please share a verse that encourages your work as an advocate.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

Tell a brief story that illustrates the influence of RM in the lives of their clients.

            I will never forget the very first time that I met her at the youth jail.  She was only sweet 16.  She described herself as worthless, unlovable, and deserving of her pain.  She asked for a prayer. As we laid our hands on her in prayer, her body shook so hard with pain as she cried.  She had been prostituting herself since she was 14, under the control of her pimp. Her family rejected her. Her only brother was close death from a drive-by shooting. Her dad was in jail and she never really knew him.

            God allowed our paths to meet through Restoration Ministries’ program. This young girl is smart and creative. Once she wrote a rap expressing her life and performed it on a volunteer appreciation day. She gave me warm, tight hugs every time I saw her. She stayed connected with RM and earned a GED and was accepted into a college with a full scholarship. But after only few weeks into her freshmen year, before I was supposed to start as her mentor, she has gone back to her pimp, and has not been heard from again.          

            She was the first of many girls I met through RM that followed with similar, horrifying stories.  I’m so grateful that even though I have no idea where she is now, to this day I can still lift her up in my prayers and place my hope in that she is in God’s hands. Because of Restoration Ministries, such paths are still being crossed where these girls have chance to share their stories and we can commit to praying for them. It is the only faith-based organization in DC that offers commitment and building relationship with these girls to journey together with them, with love and compassion, to find the injustices and speak up on their behalf.  I truly believe what we can do for these girls is very limited in our own human abilities… but we can always place our hope in Christ who will do His mighty work through us.

Name: Evan Orie

Age: 25

Occupation: Software Developer

Tell us something about yourself: For the most part, I could be characterized as your stereotypical geek. I like to play video games and really enjoy the fantasy genre, be it movies, books, or board games (e.g. Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Magic: The Gathering). I am a cradle Catholic from a biracial family (my mother is white, my father is black), which has given me a pretty unique perspective on life in general. My spiritual life started to bud during my early years in High School when my beliefs were first challenged. Since then, I have steadily grown closer to the Lord, though my faith has definitely had its peaks and valleys.

How did you become aware of domestic sex trafficking (DST)?

The topic of sex trafficking was, more or less, a tangential thought that came into my head during my college years when I was struggling with the concept of Christian sexuality. During that time, pornography was a huge weight on my shoulders that I had kept secret from everyone I knew. However, when God finally helped me climb out of that hole, He put a fire in my soul to be vocal about my experience so that other men like me could hear my story and know that they aren’t alone. This passion got me asking the question “Why is pornography so pervasive? What gets these women into this industry?” From there, I had many conversations with various women about the importance of self-worth and beauty in their lives. I learned that many women who go into pornography or get caught up in DST are people who have broken families and never had their thirst for true, unconditional love satisfied.

What motivates you to advocate for victims and survivors?

I view DST as a social justice issue. Society has shown time and time again that it has no empathy for these women and men. For some reason, it doesn’t matter why or how these people became victims; the simple fact that they have been sex trafficked makes them “tainted”. This is absolutely ridiculous and heartless. All people are God’s children and deserve to be treated with respect and love. I advocate for victims and survivors because others often shutdown their voices.

Share your vision for creating awareness about this issue.

In my own life, I have seen that the best way to spread awareness is through personal relationships. While reading facts and statistics can be helpful, they often do not lead a person to real empathy without a personal connection. During my time with Restoration Ministries, I have learned that nearly everyone has a personal story of their struggles with sexuality but we have all been conditioned to keep our struggles secret (caveat: I recognize that sex is a private thing but there are circumstances when we really do need to talk about it with others.) If we can break this system of secrecy, then I think our hearts will be more willing to feel true empathy.

How long and in what capacity have you supported RM?

I started getting involved with Restoration Ministries during the Summer of 2013. Since then, I have filled two roles: I was a group leader of one of the Ambassadors of Restoration. My group in D.C. was quite a diverse group. Our age range spanned from Twenty-Somethings to Retired, included women and men, white and black, and even various nationalities. This coming Fall, I will be leading another group, which I very much look forward to hosting.I have also worked as the Website Administrator for RM. I make updates to the site, set up online fundraisers, and generally help out with anything computer related.

Please share a verse that encourages your work as an advocate.

Matthew 25:31-46

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”