God’s Love in Action - by People Against Trafficking Humans
People Against Trafficking Humans (PATH) has a dedicated staff who go above and beyond to fulfill our mission. In addition, we have over 40 volunteers who freely give of their time to help with our daily operations. Without them, we would not be able to run programs at our Enrichment Center. Several have been a part of our mission for years, serving multiple days a week in daily management, the kitchen, transporting clients, yard maintenance and offer support wherever needed. Weekly, we have licensed physicians offering free healthcare. We receive close to 400 meals per month all through volunteers. Our team is doing the work that will make a lasting impact in the lives of the most marginalized in our community.
Earlier this year we had an opportunity for those we serve to share their story and how various therapies and supports at PATH aided in their healing. We were overwhelmed with how almost every person shared that PATH helped grow their faith in God and how they experienced genuine love and regard by the team. One woman we serve started PATH as a teenager. She was locked in a trunk of a car for days, drugged and locked in hotel rooms to service men, beaten, moved around to various states. She said without PATH, she would not be were she is today. She has even forgiven her traffickers and found healing at PATH.
During COVID our youth were dropping out of school, not able to stay on virtual learning and we really needed experienced individuals that knew how to engage youth and help them stay compliant. Dev and Alice who both attend The Chapel at Cheektowaga heard the need and both felt the Lord leading them to PATH because of their skills in tutoring.
Dev shared, “We were not only able to tutor but help develop relationships with teens who were traumatized by sex trafficking and came from really oppressed situations. A personal teacher that can help them learn. Many of the teens wanted to graduate but were floundering. Due to COVID and their trauma they needed help and support.” Both Dev and Alice learned PATH is all about relationships. They further expressed, "Everyone was serving at PATH because they cared. We come to be Jesus, to connect with people.”
Now almost 5 years later they are helping in operations and have clients asking for prayer. People who never would have asked before. Dev said, “We don’t realize our impact and that loving people is a big part of sharing about Christ. It’s not just what comes out of our mouth. I come here because God has given me this place where I can love on people the way he loves me. PATH shows people what grace looks like.”
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13.