Jo Lembo, Author at Shared Hope International

July 30, 2020 by Jo Lembo

Brianna’s Story Part 1 – a Grateful Survivor

Many of you responded to the voice of a grateful survivor this week, over 3,400 of you viewed the post and more than 50 shared it. Today we want to introduce you to Brianna and the police officer who orchestrated her escape. He had learned about trafficking after spending time with Linda Smith, founder of Shared Hope.

“Without this police intervention, Brianna may have disappeared forever.” ~Chief Criminal Deputy, John Chapman, Clark County Sheriff’s Office

There has been much interest from the Defenders in Brianna’s story. Three Defenders were involved in bringing her to safety: John Chapman, Vern Smith, and Ron Hart. In this interview, Brianna and John Chapman share the story of how law enforcement scrambled in the few hours they had, to put together a plan that would release her from the sinister plans of the seemingly innocent ‘friends’ who had tricked her.

Brianna was just 18 years old when a pimp made his move and began to groom her in preparation to sell her into the underworld of commercial sex. Through the intervention of a high school friend and his father, the quick actions of a law enforcement officer, and others, she was able to see that this friendship wasn’t what it appeared to be. Meet her here as she speaks alongside the officer who helped bring her to safety to expose the deception that would have taken her away.

In Brianna’s own words to us this week, she pleads the Defenders to continue to focus on recognizing signs of trafficking, to watch out for the vulnerable in their communities, and to know how to take action like her friends did.

Brianna says: Pimps/traffickers look for loopholes in your laws, strip clubs, lower educated areas, and perceived weakness in the police force, in order to set up for their operations. A police officer was involved in saving my life from this horror. Without their intervention, I very well may not have made it out alive. I will be forever grateful.

I would like to see an end to trafficking and we need your help! Support those who are there for the children in our community, and focused on finding them, and saving their lives from these monsters.

Shared Hope appreciates our many friends in law enforcement who go into situations where minors are trapped, and bring them to safety. Thank you Defenders, for working hard to protect children.

Click here to get your copy of the Chosen film.

June 16, 2020 by Jo Lembo

A Pastor’s Call to Biblical Justice

We who believe in a big God, who loves us and cares about every detail of our lives, often are unaware of His hand guiding us years before we actually recognize we have been called to a specific assignment.

My husband, an ordained minister, and I worked as a team in “marketplace ministry”, or the business world. Clearly, we did not need to be within the walls of a structured church to find hurting people who needed to know God’s love for them. That message of hope was crucial for the many who would cross our path in the business world but who would never come into a church building–people with needs, hurting hearts and dreams being nursed without fulfillment. Although our paycheck was signed by a corporation, instead of a church, we were still very much in ministry, maybe even more so. After several successful careers and meeting amazing people that remain in our lives today, we were invited to return to structured ministry in support of a large church as associate pastors…pastors, plural.

Not only did they wish to ordain my husband within their network of churches, they asked me to accept ordination as a female pastor. Because it was their practice to ordain both husbands and wives as teams, I agreed, though ordination held no particular significance for me! With or without it I would continue doing what I was already doing: loving people, sharing the love of God and helping where I could.

In that church, a small group of young adults had been set afire to fight human trafficking, and being their oversight pastors, we were impressed by their passion and agreed to let them host an event in January, which we learned is Anti-Trafficking month. I must confess I felt I’d fulfilled my obligation to have given this social issue a place for that one Sunday. But they didn’t quit! They kept the issue alive in the church and community with skits, t-shirts, conversations, and then participation in Lobby Day to End Trafficking at the state capital. They asked me to go with them.

On the drive down, they reviewed their talking points in favor of legislation to deter sex trafficking. I loved their determination to speak for those who weren’t being heard–victims of sex trafficking in the USA, but personally, I was unfamiliar with both the issue and the wheels of justice! So I told them they needed to do all the talking.

We had appointments with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. A survivor of child sex trafficking, now an adult, came with us to share her powerful story supporting the need for the proposed legislation. I listened as these young ladies made their case, told their stories, and left their printed materials. I was proud of what they were doing. Our last appointment was with a Senator known for her no-nonsense approach, and ‘just the facts’ mannerism. As they shared their talking points, I stood looking out the window over the seats of power in our state, and felt God speak to my heart, “Ask to pray for her.” I must confess I wrestled with it – just how would I do that? I knew nothing of her own faith, or how she might feel about the separation of church and state being breeched right here in her senatorial office. It was a moment until I remembered my business card that clearly stated I was an ordained minister. Well, why not? I’m a card-carrying member of people who are supposed to pray, right?

As the young people wrapped up their presentation, I stepped to her desk, handed her my card, and said, “Senator, I am these young ladies’ pastor, and I’d like to pray for you if you’d let me.” She was visibly uncomfortable but agreed. I stood next to her, laid my hand on hers, and simply thanked God for her in her service to our state, recognizing that He had called her to protect and care for us and that we were grateful. Then I prayed she would have the wisdom to know what is right, the courage to do what needed to be done and that He would walk with her every day. As I said amen, she quickly said “thank you, and excuse me”, and exited into the Senate chambers adjoining her office. The thought came to me to follow her. Why not? I was already in this far… why doubt the ‘voice’ now?

She was leaning against one of the large, marble pillars encircling the Senate chambers, wiping a tear. I said, “Senator, I believe that this legislation will help children like Deni to have a childhood. Thank you for listening to us today. If there’s ever anything I can pray for you, please email me.” And I left.

In the months and years that followed, she often emailed me with requests, sometimes personal, sometimes legislative, but the door remained open and we became friends of an odd sort. That fall, I was invited to open the legislative session in prayer in those same chambers. It was the first time in the state’s history that an ordained woman had ever been asked to pray on that momentous day. It was my own “aha” moment, why I had to be ordained years before.

Many years later, now I’ve found myself testifying on behalf of legislation to end domestic child sex trafficking in senate hearings, and special committee hearings. I am part of a national powerhouse organization, Shared Hope International, as they shape laws to protect survivors, and work with all 50 states and DC on justice and restoration initiatives.

Did I see this coming? No, I just said “yes” and the rest was God’s job to fulfill His calling in my life. What events in your life seem to be creating a path to fight child sex trafficking? Find out more how you can become activated by becoming a Weekend Warrior, a trained volunteer Ambassador of Hope, or be involved in advocating for better laws.

January 14, 2019 by Jo Lembo

Ambassadors of Hope Share their Stories

As a part of Human Trafficking Awareness we want to bring you the stories of Ambassadors of Hope, our trained volunteers, who are working hard on the ground to prevent sex trafficking. Follow our series, releasing every Tuesday this month! You can apply to become an Ambassador here.

[easy-tweet tweet=”Follow our series on Ambassadors of Hope, releasing every Tuesday this month in observance of Human Trafficking Awareness Month!” user=”SharedHope” hashtags=”HumanTraffickingAwarenessMonth”]

Ambassadors show Shared Hope’s Chosen film to educate kids to prevent trafficking. Most youth are completely unaware that sex trafficking occurs in their town, or that it could happen to them or their friends.

Here are a few stories from Ambassadors in the heartland of America about the impact of Chosen presentations:

One of the major themes of Chosen is to tell someone if something seems wrong. In one Midwestern school, an eighth grade girl was visibly upset and made concerning comments to the Ambassador presenters. They relayed their concerns to the principal and in following up with her to hear her story, he found that she was fine, but was scared because of a situation taking place at a neighbor’s home. Now she knew what she was seeing and was able to talk about it.
Our Ambassadors received an email after a Chosen showing from the leader of the group they presented to, asking about a girl who had viewed the film and left abruptly, saying nothing. Two weeks after that incident, she was picked up during an FBI sting in Detroit, MI, where she and 15 girls from across the state had been trafficked, and were rescued. When she saw Chosen, she was already involved with a guy and fell for the offer of $1000 to go to dinner with some men. The girls were sold, Saturday through Tuesday, until they were rescued. She is grateful she’s safe now.
In another school, a girl was so upset she asked the teacher if she could leave the room. The teacher followed her out into the hallway and the girl asked for help – her father had raped her and she had never told anyone. Now she felt safe enough to talk about it and is getting the help she needs.

Chosen gives teens the courage to speak up and tell someone instead of keeping dark secrets. These are just three stories we have from Ambassadors of Hope showing the Chosen video in their community, but there are so many more. During Human Trafficking Awareness month we encourage you to respond by becoming an Ambassador to reach the youth of your community and help end sex trafficking.

June 16, 2017 by Jo Lembo

Inspired to Give Back – Ambassador Spotlight

Karen Lambie felt driven to do something to “give back” to society after retiring from teaching. Her online research into children’s rights issues brought her across the sex trafficking of children. Like so many of the people in our audiences, she was shocked to discover its rampancy in the United States and in her own home state of Georgia. She knew she had to help stop this heinous crime, and her continued search led her to Shared Hope International. Joining the Ambassador of Hope Program, Karen found her calling.

She took her Ambassador role very seriously, especially after learning that the foster children she and her husband, Tom, had in their home were from the highest risk demographic. She wasted no time talking to the director of her Department of Family and Children’s Services which led to an introduction to the Adoptive and Foster Parents Association of Georgia (AFPAG) which rippled into speaking opportunities all over the state of Georgia, including three state conferences.

Karen’s husband, Tom, became an Ambassador because he wanted join her in educating the public and to do whatever he could to help prevent children from becoming victims. Sharing with their family and friends about what they are doing continually resulted in more invitations to host booths at a variety of events.

Karen’s main tactic is to make sure people have her business card and that they know there is no speaker fee. Karen shares hope by not only presenting the signs of trafficking, but by assuring people walk away with excellent tools to prevent trafficking.

Karen’s list of presentations is diverse, from university classes to speaking at a family reunion, and she even hosted a resource table at a “Responsible Dog Ownership” event!

Something fun that she likes to include in her presentation? “One activity that can lighten the mood after the heaviness of introducing the topic is to role play how traffickers may approach a child, young person, or even an adult in public by claiming they are a modeling or acting agent. Asking for a volunteer (male or female) from the audience, I ask them to pretend they are a 13-year-old and shopping in a mall.”

“Approaching the individual and gushing about how beautiful or handsome they are usually gets some laughter. I promise them I can get them into magazines and movies. Then I ask them to come with me to the parking lot where my camera equipment is or hand them a business card and tell them to give me a call. Even though their reactions are often very humorous, the very serious point is made.”

Karen keeps her goals simple: To stay tuned in listening for people that might be interested in having a speaker or where she can host a booth. “For as long as I am able, I will raise my voice against the scourge of child sex trafficking.”

[easy-tweet tweet=”“For as long as I am able, I will raise my voice against the scourge of child sex trafficking.” ” user=”SharedHope”]

Your voice counts, Karen, more than you’ll ever know because we can’t count how many kids are safer because you shared the signs of trafficking. Thank you for all you do!

We need more Ambassadors to educate their communities on preventing sex trafficking. Apply today!

January 11, 2017 by Jo Lembo

You Never Know Who’s In Your Audience

Sometimes grassroots activists feel like they aren’t having a huge impact. Let me share two stories that may motivate you to keep on keeping on!

In 2009 there was a presentation on sex trafficking at the WA state criminal justice training center – a relatively new topic to the general public at the time. The leader from a local church security team attended as a matter of continuing his education on the threats against the youth in his church. After the first general session, he called one of his pastors and said, “You need to come down here and hear this. Our kids are at risk and we know nothing about this!” Clearing her schedule, the pastor arrived just in time to attend the community advocates workshop with Shared Hope International’s project manager. Following that workshop, the Renting Lacy book was distributed to each attendee.

The pastor took home the book and couldn’t put it down; becoming convinced she had to do something. That pastor was me (Jo Lembo). Today I work full-time for Shared Hope International and my husband’s life is also dedicated to fighting sex trafficking. Our head of security had no idea he was introducing me to my life’s calling. And that presenter had no idea that her presentation would completely alter the course of our lives. You never know the impact of the conversation you’re having. Who have you talked to?

[easy-tweet tweet=”You never know the impact of the conversation you’re having. – Shared Hope International Blog by Jo Lembo”]

Shortly after reading the book Renting Lacy, my husband and I met Linda Smith and her husband, Vern. I was passionate about making a difference, but felt I had no skills to truly make an impact. I said to her, “I’m not really making a difference. All I do is talk. I talk to my hairdresser, to my neighbors, to our friends (we could bring down a dinner party in two minutes by sharing ‘what is happening right now just a few miles from this restaurant…’) But I don’t want to be just be a talking head!”

Linda’s response is now the byline for the Ambassadors nationwide. She said, “Never underestimate the power of educating others. The more people who know the signs of trafficking, the smaller the world becomes for those who buy and sell our children.”

Since that encounter, I have learned to share the message with hope and not stop at telling about the issue, but to share what you can DO about it. As the National Outreach Manager, it is my privilege to empower and equip the nearly 1000 Ambassadors nationwide who are ‘talking’ about the issue everywhere they go.

So if you feel ordinary, that’s exactly what we need! People like you to know the signs and what to do to prevent sex trafficking.

Become a trained Ambassador of Hope and make a difference!

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This blog is the first in a Shared Hope Blog Series for Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Stop back throughout the month to our New & Events page to read them all!