by a Justice Ventures International worker serving in South Asia

Can you remember a time God called you to step outside your comfort zone?

Maybe it didn’t make sense on paper. Maybe it required letting go of control or trusting Him in unfamiliar territory. But you said yes and everything changed.

That’s what happened years ago when a corporate attorney, immersed in real estate contracts and tax law, received an unexpected invitation. An international human rights organization asked if he would use his talents and skills to bring freedom to trafficking survivors in South Asia. It wasn’t his field. It wasn’t his plan. But he said yes.

That single yes led him to India, where he began fighting for justice on behalf of children, women, and men suffering in modern slavery.

What began that day wasn’t just a legal response—it was the first step of faith that would grow into Justice Ventures International (JVI), a gospel-rooted Alliance partner committed to bringing freedom, justice, and restoration to those the world too often overlooks. And while the moment that sparked it all is now decades past, the work that began there had grown into a mission serving thousands of survivors across South Asia through a growing network of prayer and financial partners like you.

One of those survivors is Shanti.*

Shanti’s Story

In 2020, Shanti, a 17-year-old girl from South Asia, left home after an argument with her parents and fell into the hands of traffickers. She was coerced into sex work and exploited for months.

But God had not forgotten her.

Through the work of JVI’s “Justice Hub”—a local network of lawyers, social workers, and other professionals serving the vulnerable—Shanti was rescued alongside four other girls. She was placed in a safe home and met with counselors and social workers who didn’t just see her past—they saw her. They showed up week after week. They stayed.

At first, the healing was slow. But with the steady love of her mother and the support of those walking beside her, Shanti began to hope again. She passed her school exams. She dreamed of becoming a nurse.

And through God’s provision, she enrolled in a competitive General Nursing and Midwifery program. Today, she is in her second year, studying to become someone who heals others—just as she was healed.

A Model Built on Faithful Presence

Made possible by your prayers and giving, JVI’s Justice Hub model is built on a simple but powerful conviction: lasting justice must be local. Rather than arriving with outside solutions, JVI forms deep partnerships with trusted local leaders, legal professionals, and grassroots organizations who know their communities, cultures, and legal systems. These partnerships are at the heart of sustainable change. They reflect JVI’s belief that freedom, justice, and restoration are most effective when led by those already rooted in the places where injustice occurs.

Each Justice Hub is a locally led network of advocates—lawyers, social workers, survivor leaders, and other community-based partners—working together to transform individuals and communities affected by exploitation.

The first step is freedom. Justice Hub teams identify individuals trapped in sex trafficking, bonded labor, and other forms of extreme injustice. Working alongside local authorities, they coordinate rescue efforts that prioritize safety, dignity, and trust.

Once individuals are free, the work of justice begins. Legal professionals advocate for survivors in court, filling cases and pursuing convictions against traffickers and other perpetrators. This legal work not only secures protection for victims but also strengthens the systems meant to uphold justice in their communities.

The final piece is restoration. Survivors receive trauma-informed care, safe housing, access to education, job training, and long-term support. Through your generosity and prayers, Justice Hubs provide consistent and compassionate relationships to help survivors rebuild their lives with confidence, dignity, and purpose.

From beginning to end, every step reflects the love of Christ. Justice Hubs are more than a project—they are a faithful presence in places where darkness once prevailed. Through this locally empowered, gospel-centered approach, JVI is seeing lives renewed and communities transformed.

One Life at a Time

JVI has seen what God can do when His people step into hard places with not just temporary solutions but with faithfulness and humility. Through this model, individuals like Shanti are not only rescued but restored. Families are reunited. Communities are awakened. And through it all, God is building something deeper than programs or policies. He is writing stories of redemption, one life at a time.

That work is far from over. Looking ahead, JVI hopes to expand the reach of its existing Justice Hubs and launch new ones in communities across South Asia and beyond, where exploitation is still widespread and justice feels out of reach.

Join the Work

To those who are already walking with us—thank you. Your faithful support has helped rescue girls like Shanti, pursue justice in the courts, and provide long-term care that restores dignity and hope. Because of you, the gospel is being lived out in some of the world’s hardest places.

If you are new to JVI’s work, we invite you to take a step of faith today. You can make a real difference by joining this mission of freedom, justice, and restoration.

You can begin by praying for those still in bondage, those bravely walking toward healing, and the workers who serve them every day. Your prayers are vital to this work.

You can also financially support rescue operations, legal advocacy, and the aftercare services that survivors need to thrive. Every gift, large or small, helps sustain this mission.

And finally, we encourage you to reflect on your own journey with God. What might He be calling you to say yes to today? Sometimes, all it take is one step of faith to change someone else’s story—and your own.

One yes can change a life. Sometimes it changes yours too.

Rescue Victims of Modern Slavery

When you give to Justice Ventures International, you bring freedom, justice, and restoration to people suffering in modern slavery. You launch rescue operations, promote legal advocacy, and provide the aftercare services that survivors like Shanti need to thrive. To see lives renewed and communities transformed through a locally empowered, gospel-centered approach, visit cmalliance.org/gift-catalog-alliance-strategic-projects/justice-ventures-international-jvi. Learn more about the Alliance strategic projects throughout the world in need of your prayers and financial support by accessing the 2024–2025 Strategic Giving Opportunities Gift Catalog at cmalliance.org/gift-catalog or by calling toll-free (866) 443-8262.

Subscribe to Alliance Life Magazine

As an Alliance church member, you can join the 142-year legacy of Alliance Life and get exclusive stories and articles delivered directly to your mailbox or inbox. Click here to request your free subscription!