Sanctity of Life: Human Trafficking
Updated: 3 hours ago
Every single human life bears the sacred image of God and holds infinite, inescapable value.
On Sunday, October 4, 2026, High Point Church kicked off a pivotal, month-long focus on the Sanctity of Life during October. Throughout this series, our church family is examining what it means to defend, protect, and cherish human dignity across every season and circumstance—from the unborn in the womb to vulnerable children in foster care.
To lead off this series, we had the privilege of welcoming guest missionary Dylan Shope, who shared a heart-wrenching, eye-opening, and deeply moving message about his ministry rescuing and restoring young victims of human trafficking.
A Special Moment: Celebrating Our Shepherds
Before stepping into the message, High Point paused for a powerful time of gratitude. October is Pastor Appreciation Month across the nation, and our church board and congregation took time to honor the faithful pastoral team that serves behind the scenes and on the platform week after week:
Pastor Nate: Honored for his administrative brilliance, faithful stewardship, and managing the heavy logistics that keep our church moving forward.
Pastor Ricky: Recognized for leading us into God’s presence through worship, his 15 years of dedication to All Pro Dad across three local schools, and leading weekly Bible studies.
Pastor David: Honored for his visionary leadership, spiritual covering, and steadfast devotion to building a culture of honor.
We also celebrated their amazing wives—Jennie, Robbie, and Sharon—for their immense strength, quiet sacrifices, and unwavering support.
Shedding Light on Human Trafficking in Our Backyard
When we think of human trafficking, many of us picture far-off countries or dramatic cinematic scenes. But as Dylan Shope revealed, the reality hits far closer to home.
In the United States alone, over one million individuals are victims of sex and labor trafficking—many of them minors. Right here in the DFW Metroplex, an estimated 400 teenage girls are trafficked on any given night.
Debunking the Myths
Dylan helped clear up critical misconceptions surrounding how trafficking occurs and who is involved:
Misconception | The Reality |
Trafficking equals kidnapping/abduction. | Kidnapping accounts for only about 3% of trafficking cases. Most cases involve slow manipulation, grooming, fear, force, or coercion. |
Traffickers look like shady criminals. | Traffickers often look like average, attractive young men who manipulate vulnerable individuals into believing they are in a loving relationship. |
It’s strictly an international issue. | Trafficking happens locally. DFW historically has red-light and exploitation history, and local victims are targeted without ever crossing a border. |
It only happens to young girls. | Trafficking and sexual abuse affect both young women and young men. |
The Intersection of Foster Care and Exploitation
One of the most sobering truths shared in the message was the direct link between foster care and human trafficking. The vast majority of individuals in our prison systems, experiencing homelessness, or rescued from trafficking have spent time in the foster care system.
Tragically, perpetrators and traffickers actively target CPS offices and public spaces to groom foster youth who feel unwanted, abandoned, or disconnected. Kids who are simply searching for a family and a place to belong are lured in with false promises of freedom, security, or love—only to be trapped in cycles of addiction, fear, and horrific quotas.
Living the True "Abundant Life"
Drawing from John 10:10 ("The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full"), Dylan challenged our modern perception of what "abundance" really means.
The abundant life Jesus promised isn't about the American Dream, bigger boats, or playing it safe in comfortable religious routines. Looking at the lives of the early apostles—who faced persecutions, beatings, and martyrdom—the abundant life is characterized by a deep, intimate connection with God and a willingness to step into uncomfortable spaces to bring hope to the hurting.
"When God calls a man, he bids him to come and die."
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer
In John 15:15, Jesus shifts His relationship with us from master-servant to friends. True friends ache over what makes their friend ache. When we become true friends of God, we begin to grieve over what grieves the Holy Spirit—and His heart breaks for the exploited, the fatherless, the unborn, and the forgotten.
What’s Ahead: The Sanctity of Life Series
This Sunday was just the beginning of a transformative month at High Point. As we continue to examine the value of every human life, here is what is coming up in October:
October 11 — The Unborn: Guest speaker Angela Chris (Human Coalition) will share on rescuing the unborn, defending life in the womb, and ministering with compassion to mothers and fathers.
October 18 — The Abandoned & Vulnerable Child: Kyle Bateman will share about foster care, adoption, and how the church must stand up for the 30,000 children in Texas needing family environments.
October 25 — Vision Sunday: Pastor David will cast vision for the future of our church family and how we will continue impacting our community and the world.
How You Can Take Action Today
We cannot sit idly by while image-bearers of God suffer in the shadows. Here is how you can step out of the sidelines and make a real difference:
Pray for the Broken: Pray for complete physical, emotional, and spiritual healing for survivors of abuse and trafficking. Pray for protection over children in our community and state.
Support Missionary Outreach: Partner financially with local outreach efforts, including Dylan Shope’s safe home initiative in partnership with the Reversal Foundation and Project Rescue. You can give digitally through the church app/tap tags or in the offering boxes in the foyer.
Get Involved in Local Ministry: Consider how God might be calling you to serve—whether by becoming a mentor through Royse City ISD, supporting local care closets, joining the Care Portal team, or opening your heart to foster care and adoption support.
Every life has value. Let’s be a church that stands in the gap until all are free.
Small Group Discussion Questions
The Image of God and Human Dignity
Read Genesis 1:26–27. Human trafficking fundamentally devalues people by treating them as commodities to be bought, sold, or exploited. How does understanding every person as created in the image of God (Imago Dei) shape our obligation to defend the exploited?
God’s Heart for the Vulnerable
Read Psalm 82:3–4 and Psalm 146:7–9. Throughout Scripture, God highlights His care for the fatherless, the widow, the foreigner, and the oppressed. Why do you think vulnerable populations are particularly targetable by traffickers, and how can the church better surround them?
The Mandate to Speak Up
Read Proverbs 31:8–9. What does it mean to "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves"? What are some practical obstacles or fears that keep believers from speaking up against modern-day exploitation?
Justice and Righteousness
Read Isaiah 1:17 and Micah 6:8. In these passages, seeking justice is not presented as an optional ministry or spiritual gift, but as an essential command. How do you distinguish between doing "charity" and seeking "justice"? Why are both necessary?
The Example of Jesus
Read Luke 4:18–19. Jesus launched His public ministry by announcing that He came to "proclaim freedom for the prisoners" and "set the oppressed free." How does Christ’s redemptive mission serve as a blueprint for how the church ought to engage brokenness in society?
Proactive Compassion
Read Luke 10:30–37 (The Parable of the Good Samaritan). The priest and the Levite saw a suffering man and walked by on the other side. What "other sides of the road" are we tempted to walk down when faced with overwhelming global and local issues like human trafficking?
Love as Action
Read 1 John 3:17–18 and James 2:15–17. John and James both argue that genuine faith produces tangible action when we see a neighbor in need. How can our small group move from simply feeling sympathy for trafficking victims to practicing active, biblical love?
Confronting Darkness and Hidden Evil
Read Ephesians 5:11–13. Human trafficking often thrives in secret, underground networks, online abuse, and hidden supply chains. What role does the church play in exposing darkness and bringing truth into places of exploitation?
Restoration and Healing
Read Isaiah 61:1–3. Rescuing a victim is only the first step; long-term trauma recovery, spiritual healing, and integration take years. How can Christians reflect God's heart as a restorer when supporting survivors through long-term care?
Prayer as Spiritual Warfare
Read Ephesians 6:12 and 2 Corinthians 10:4. Human trafficking is not just a social or legal issue; it is a spiritual battle against systemic evil. How should this reality influence the way we pray for victims, law enforcement, rescue organizations, and even traffickers themselves?