{"id":15416,"date":"2023-09-19T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-19T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.destinyrescue.org\/?p=15416"},"modified":"2024-04-11T14:40:39","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T19:40:39","slug":"an-example-of-faith-high-school-students-rescue-20-kids-through-adult-prom-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.destinyrescue.org\/blog\/an-example-of-faith-high-school-students-rescue-20-kids-through-adult-prom-event\/","title":{"rendered":"An Example of Faith: High School Students Rescue 20 Kids Through Adult Prom Event"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Youth Pastor Jeff Fernandez and Student Ministries Resident Kayla Rose of <\/b>The Bridge Church<\/b><\/a> in Portage, Michigan, sat down with us to share about the incredible group of high school students who put on an adult prom at the church to partner with Destiny Rescue to <\/b>rescue kids from sexual exploitation and human trafficking<\/b><\/a> and <\/b>help them stay free<\/b><\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n

How it began<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Bridge community has collectively rescued 146 kids to date. This church is filled with passionate, driven, God-fearing people who have dedicated themselves to learning more about God\u2019s heart for justice and taking action to rescue kids.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After the church hosted a <\/span>Rescue Sunday<\/span><\/a> and an auction fundraiser and rescued 71 kids this past winter, the high school students\u2019 passion for the cause was also ignited.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pastor Jeff shared that during the auction, they gathered the students to give them space to discuss and express what they were thinking and experiencing as they learned about child trafficking.<\/span><\/p>\n

After asking the students their thoughts, Jeff shared that they were passionately angry\u2014expressing their desire to stop the horrific evil themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey weren’t kidding about the hurt in their heart and the struggle they were having. It was very real,\u201d Jeff shared. \u201cAnd so we talked them down a ledge and said, \u2018Let\u2019s let Destiny Rescue do this; they\u2019re already trained in that. If you are very serious about this and you really do want to do something along those lines, then in time, we can work with Destiny Rescue, and maybe you can go work for them too. But for right now, let\u2019s figure out how we can support Destiny Rescue because they\u2019re already doing this. They already have the system and know what they\u2019re doing.\u2019\u201d<\/h5>\n

Jeff then sent the students into their life groups to brainstorm ideas. When they gathered back together to discuss the various ideas, one group of girls was ecstatic about what they came up with: an adult prom.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey had worked it through pretty much that first night. They wanted to invite every adult we knew. They wanted food and dinner. They wanted this to be a real prom. They said, \u2018We\u2019ll charge money. This will get people in, and then we can save kids,\u2019\u201d Jeff stated.<\/h5>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Preparation<\/span><\/h2>\n

Kayla worked with the students as they went full force into planning mode.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Students went to restaurants and caterers and asked for donations, letting them know they were putting on an adult prom to help rescue kids around the world from sex trafficking.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jeff started to tear up as he shared about the student\u2019s efforts.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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People were like, \u2018Who are you? How old are you? You want to do what?\u2019 and then they just kept saying, \u2018Yes, yes, yes, yes.\u2019 And we were blessed beyond what we could have dreamt.\u201d<\/h5>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n
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The kids were ecstatic as people continued to get on board, from food to donated decor to offering services for free.<\/span><\/p>\n

The students then went to work transforming the church into a beautiful prom.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The event<\/span><\/h2>\n

The students were ready to host and serve when the night finally came.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Roughly 140 adults attended to eat, dance, have fun, learn about child trafficking and exploitation and help rescue kids.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was electric,\u201d Jeff stated. \u201cAt the start of it, the line was through the parking lot.\u201d<\/h5>\n

As guests walked through the balloon-covered lobby, the church building transformed into a high school prom\u2014attendees were blown away upon entry<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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A student welcomes guests<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n