Responding to the call of God was not difficult for Shannon Rapier. She heard His clear voice highlighting her assignment—help rescue survivors of human trafficking. Reflecting on the experiences of her own hurt and trauma, she responded with a resounding, “Yes!”
Answering this call meant moving her family from Georgia to Northwest Florida where she serves as director of the Northwest Florida Freedom Collective, whose mission is: “To glorify God by bringing hope to victims of sexual exploitation, empowering them to live free, and ultimately abolishing sex trafficking.”
“I have a love hate relationship with this work,” Shannon shared. “I hate that we have to do it, but I love that we get to do it.”
The goal is to continue to provide an easily accessible bridge to emergency services, housing, and stabilization. These services produce an 80% success rate upon completing a 30-day, in-house residency. With their positive placement program, the ladies in this care move forward empowered and encouraged. The next step may be placement in a residential or transitional program or restoration with safe family.
The Freedom Collective partners with many community programs that offer services to survivors of human trafficking, including Safe In the PanHandle, which provides safe housing and medical attention.
There are many opportunities to volunteer in The Freedom Collective:
24/7 Hotline: Representatives evaluate the immediate need of the caller (female volunteer only).
Response team: A male and female will both go to pick up a woman in need and transport her to a Safe Home in Northwest Florida.
Emergency Safe Homes: Support daily operations of Safe Homes fostering a safe and welcoming environment. (Female volunteers only.)
Princess Night Street Outreach: Monthly on the second and fourth Friday nights. Volunteers walk around a predetermined area to engage with women in vulnerable situations presenting them with a rose and handwritten card filled with words of love and encouragement.
Jail Penpal and Mentorship: Upon request, a Bible will be gifted, and a penpal/mentor will be assigned to offer prayer and guidance to women in the criminal justice system. (Female volunteer only.)
Ambassador Team: Trained and educated in sex-trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, and the role of The Freedom Collective, these volunteers raise awareness, educate communities, and inspire others to get involved.
Prayer Team: This committed group of individuals prays for the safety, healing and restoration survivors, and strength for ministry staff and volunteers.
Amazon Wish List: Donate items on The Freedom Collective’s Amazon Wish List (https://thefreedomcollective.org/nw-florida/)
Shannon wholeheartedly believes her transfer from Georgia to Florida was a God move. The alliance with Safe in the Panhandle and the opportunity to expand services to survivors is a beautiful example of God’s love and intervention.
“There is nothing like sitting next to a survivor and getting to love on her,” Shannon said. “That’s just a testament to how amazing the Lord is.”
Shannon’s grandmother prayed fervently over her during her childhood, and Shannon knows this helped her form a strong relationship with God. As a child, she gave her heart to Christ in total surrender. In 2014, she developed a deeper connection in her relationship with Him she describes as a “newfound love.” This is evident in the environment at The Freedom Collective here in Northwest Florida.
“And even in the hard times Jesus is like ‘I have you, and you have to trust Me and rely on Me,” she said.
For more information about The Freedom Collective, send inquiries to info@thefreedomco.com.
