Blog Archive

You’re Invited! 11th Annual Gala, Illuminating Hope

Rest Stop Ministries would be honored by your presence at the 11th Annual Gala, Illuminating Hope. Join us on Friday, September 15, 2023 at Hermitage Church of the Nazarene in Old Hickory, Tennessee. ​Guests will enjoy a catered dinner, an inspiring message from Survivor Guest Speaker, Cyntoia Brown-Long, and many stories from Rest Stop Ministries’ 8 years of serving survivors. We are eager to shine a light on all God has done in the lives of the women we serve! ​In addition to our Silent Auction, we’ll have our Good Hope Farms Shop on site! Browse our Silent Auction in person before placing your bid using our virtual platform. Then, purchase your favorite handcrafted items from the Good Hope Farms Shop, our Social Enterprise dedicated to supporting survivors of trafficking both locally and globally. Every sale promotes the economic empowerment of RSM residents and helps sustain the residential restoration program of RSM. ​This is going to be an evening you won’t want to miss. Tickets can be purchased individually or as tables of 8. Purchase tickets here and save your seat today! ​Become a Sponsor for Illuminating Hope ​By becoming a Sponsor Underwriter for our Annual Gala, our largest fundraising event each year, you enable us to cover the costs of the Gala before the event so that every dollar raised that night goes directly to the provision of care for our survivors in the residential program. For more information regarding Sponsor-level benefits, marketing exposure, and/or requesting an invoice, contact RSM Director of Development, Caitlin Strecker, at [email protected].

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Join Us! Blind Eyes Opened

You are invited to a viewing of Blind Eyes Opened: The Truth About Sex Trafficking in America at The Capitol Theatre in the historic Lebanon, TN Square on Thursday, April 27. Blind Eyes Opened is a first-of-a-kind documentary that looks into the sex trafficking industry in the United States through a faith lens. The film exposes the darkness that fuels demand, highlights survivors’ transformations, engages lawmakers, law enforcement, organizations, ministries and experts across the country committed to ending the atrocities, all while showing Christ as the hope for all involved. This event falls during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, and we are eager to elevate survivors’ voices and engage the faith community in this issue from a Kingdom of God perspective. Guests will hear from Rest Stop Ministries’ Founder and Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Rondy Smith, as she equips you with attainable action steps. You will walk away feeling confident about different ways to truly make an impact! Each ticket purchase will include: One bag of gourmet popcorn One bottle of water or soft drink **Additional popcorn and beverages will be available for purchase. Tickets are available NOW – CLICK HERE to purchase yours today!   Come Early!   When our doors open at 5:00pm, we will have our Good Hope Farms Shop set up for guests to browse and shop from our collection of handcrafted goods created by survivors locally and globally – including items created and packaged by RSM Residents! Good Hope Farms is the social enterprise of Rest Stop Ministries, supporting survivors of trafficking both locally and globally. Every sale promotes their economic empowerment and helps sustain the residential restoration program of RSM. ​ Don’t miss out – Grab your tickets here!

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A Look at 2022

In 2022, 13 Residents have lived at Good Hope Farms and participated in our long-term restorative residential program, receiving a comprehensive array of supportive services in order to heal from the complex trauma caused by sex trafficking. Each day a woman was in our care, she was learning healthy coping skills, shifting her perspective about her future, and experiencing Good Hope. ​We invite you to join us in celebrating the many milestones and accomplishments RSM Residents experienced this year. Click here to read more. ​Through the generous support of this community, we are able to keep our doors open and provide excellent care for survivors of sex trafficking while stopping cycles of oppression. The milestones, accomplishments, and wrap-around services residents receive would not be possible without you! As you plan your year-end charitable giving, please consider partnering financially with Rest Stop Ministries. Donations can be made through our secure Kindful platform by clicking here. For larger amounts, please mail checks to the address listed below in order to save the credit card and processing fees. To receive 2022 giving credit, checks must be dated by December 31, 2022. ​Rest Stop Ministries PO Box 156 Hermitage, TN 37076

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🐝Through the @GoodHopeFarms Hope Enterprise and Workforce Empowerment pillar of our program, she is making Steady Steps towards financial freedom and independence. 🐝⁠
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Last year, we launched our new GHF job readiness curriculum, and the numbers are in—its impact is already transforming the lives of survivors! 🌈⁠
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👣 2 residents graduated with their GED.⁠
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👣 1 resident received a project management certification.⁠
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👣 4 residents completed our financial literacy course.⁠
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👣 2 residents obtained part-time jobs and 2 residents transitioned to full-time.⁠
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👣 1 resident was promoted to management by her full-time employer.⁠
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👣 GHF provided over 2300 hours of paid of job training for survivors to date!⁠
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#HarvestingHope #SteadySteps #SheIsPriceless #RestoreSurvivors

🐝Through the @GoodHopeFarms Hope Enterprise and Workforce Empowerment pillar of our program, she is making Steady Steps towards financial freedom and independence. 🐝⁠

Last year, we launched our new GHF job readiness curriculum, and the numbers are in—its impact is already transforming the lives of survivors! 🌈⁠

👣 2 residents graduated with their GED.⁠

👣 1 resident received a project management certification.⁠

👣 4 residents completed our financial literacy course.⁠

👣 2 residents obtained part-time jobs and 2 residents transitioned to full-time.⁠

👣 1 resident was promoted to management by her full-time employer.⁠

👣 GHF provided over 2300 hours of paid of job training for survivors to date!⁠

#HarvestingHope #SteadySteps #SheIsPriceless #RestoreSurvivors
...

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🌿She took so many steps to get to graduation - but then what? 🌿⁠
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RSM Graduation wasn’t the end of her journey; it was the beginning of a life she now owns with confidence and hope. 🌈 ⁠
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Now, she won't have to worry about the walk alone. She is empowered to lead the way toward her own future and supported by her RSM community to take steady steps forward each day. 💙⁠
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👣 She has maintained stability and consistency in her employment.⁠
⁠
 👣 She confidently manages her finances, tackling challenges like filing income taxes each year.⁠
⁠
 👣 Her employer provides medical benefits that support her physical well-being.⁠
⁠
 👣 She continues to prioritize her mental health through routine therapy with a trusted provider.⁠
⁠
 👣 She is securing her financial future through investments and retirement planning.⁠
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She is still doing the hard work. She is FREE INDEED. 🕊️⁠
⁠
#SteadySteps #SheIsNotForSale #HopeHeals #ItHasToStop

🌿She took so many steps to get to graduation - but then what? 🌿⁠

RSM Graduation wasn’t the end of her journey; it was the beginning of a life she now owns with confidence and hope. 🌈 ⁠

Now, she won`t have to worry about the walk alone. She is empowered to lead the way toward her own future and supported by her RSM community to take steady steps forward each day. 💙⁠

👣 She has maintained stability and consistency in her employment.⁠

👣 She confidently manages her finances, tackling challenges like filing income taxes each year.⁠

👣 Her employer provides medical benefits that support her physical well-being.⁠

👣 She continues to prioritize her mental health through routine therapy with a trusted provider.⁠

👣 She is securing her financial future through investments and retirement planning.⁠

She is still doing the hard work. She is FREE INDEED. 🕊️⁠

#SteadySteps #SheIsNotForSale #HopeHeals #ItHasToStop
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💫Carissa and Connie are at it again!💫⁠
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As the Director of Development & Marketing and the Community Engagement Manager for RSM, building relationships and sharing our mission with the broader community is essential. 🌿⁠
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This week they had the privilege of attending Coffee and Conversations hosted by @CommunityFoundationMidTN Women's Fund. CFMT has done incredible work to help bring nonprofits, community leaders, and major funders together to see the greater Nashville area thrive. RSM has been the a grateful recipient of their transformational generosity. 🙏⁠
⁠
Discussing Community Impact of Professional Sports teams in Nashville provided an invaluable insight for professional development in grant writing, specifically for local players! 🏆 Representatives from all four major Nashville teams shared insights, advice, and strategies on securing funding through their foundations. ✅⁠
⁠
A heartfelt thank you to the Community Foundation, @PredsFoundation, @NashvilleSounds, the Tennessee @Titans, and @NashvilleSC for your continued support of the middle Tennessee community! 👏⁠
⁠
#RestoreSurvivors #StopOppression #EndSexTrafficking #HopeHeals

💫Carissa and Connie are at it again!💫⁠

As the Director of Development & Marketing and the Community Engagement Manager for RSM, building relationships and sharing our mission with the broader community is essential. 🌿⁠

This week they had the privilege of attending Coffee and Conversations hosted by @CommunityFoundationMidTN Women`s Fund. CFMT has done incredible work to help bring nonprofits, community leaders, and major funders together to see the greater Nashville area thrive. RSM has been the a grateful recipient of their transformational generosity. 🙏⁠

Discussing Community Impact of Professional Sports teams in Nashville provided an invaluable insight for professional development in grant writing, specifically for local players! 🏆 Representatives from all four major Nashville teams shared insights, advice, and strategies on securing funding through their foundations. ✅⁠

A heartfelt thank you to the Community Foundation, @PredsFoundation, @NashvilleSounds, the Tennessee @Titans, and @NashvilleSC for your continued support of the middle Tennessee community! 👏⁠

#RestoreSurvivors #StopOppression #EndSexTrafficking #HopeHeals
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🛑Don't just stand by—stand up with a sign in your yard! ⁠
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Join us in the fight against human trafficking by declaring #SheIsNotForSale! Use the link to pre-order your yard sign to display your commitment to restoration and hope. Every sign sparks conversations, raises awareness, and fuels our mission to restore survivors and stop oppression.⁠
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📍Get your sign. Spread the word. Change a life.⁠

🔗Order using link in BIO.⁠
#EndHumanTrafficking #StopOppression #GrowHope

🛑Don`t just stand by—stand up with a sign in your yard! ⁠

Join us in the fight against human trafficking by declaring #SheIsNotForSale! Use the link to pre-order your yard sign to display your commitment to restoration and hope. Every sign sparks conversations, raises awareness, and fuels our mission to restore survivors and stop oppression.⁠

📍Get your sign. Spread the word. Change a life.⁠

🔗Order using link in BIO.⁠
#EndHumanTrafficking #StopOppression #GrowHope
...

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🌻Have you seen the brand new @GoodHopeFarms t-shirts yet? 🌻⁠
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This one was spotted "out in the wild" today! 🤯 Our sweet friend was gifted her GHF shirt after her mom attended the women's conference at @ProvChurchIG this past weekend where we were honored to host a shop event. 🛍️⁠
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She proudly wore her new GHF gear to work at @manheim_nashville where she was spotted by Holly from our employment partner, @FriedGreenTomatoes_SecretSauce. 💥⁠
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It’s amazing to see the Good Hope Farms community growing! 🌻💛 Seeing the impact of RSM and GHF spread through connections like these is truly inspiring. Every little moment—like rocking a GHF tee—helps raise awareness and bring hope! 🌈⁠
⁠
🔗GHF Shop link in BIO.⁠
#HarvestHope #SheIsNotForSale #ItHasToStop #EndSexTrafficking

🌻Have you seen the brand new @GoodHopeFarms t-shirts yet? 🌻⁠

This one was spotted "out in the wild" today! 🤯 Our sweet friend was gifted her GHF shirt after her mom attended the women`s conference at @ProvChurchIG this past weekend where we were honored to host a shop event. 🛍️⁠

She proudly wore her new GHF gear to work at @manheim_nashville where she was spotted by Holly from our employment partner, @FriedGreenTomatoes_SecretSauce. 💥⁠

It’s amazing to see the Good Hope Farms community growing! 🌻💛 Seeing the impact of RSM and GHF spread through connections like these is truly inspiring. Every little moment—like rocking a GHF tee—helps raise awareness and bring hope! 🌈⁠

🔗GHF Shop link in BIO.⁠
#HarvestHope #SheIsNotForSale #ItHasToStop #EndSexTrafficking
...

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🌿 Her Journey to Freedom is Not Linear. 🌿⁠
⁠
While our residential restoration and workforce empowerment programs follow steps and phases, her path to healing is as unique as she is. 🌼 Each accomplishment is a testament to her resilience, strength, and courage. 💪⁠
⁠
This November, we will celebrate 10 years of IMPACT in the lives of survivors. 🕊️⁠
⁠
👣 26 women completed 6 months focused on healing.⁠
 👣18 women were empowered to stay for one year.⁠
 👣19 women reached 18 months of transformation.⁠
 👣9 women stayed beyond 18 months, deepening their growth.⁠
 👩‍🎓 10 brave survivors met every requirement for RSM graduation! 👩‍🎓⁠
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Every steady step forward is worth celebrating. Follow her journey over the next few weeks as we honor her milestones, accomplishments, and restored hope. 🌈⁠
⁠
#10YearsOfImpact #Faithful2025 #RestoreSurvivors #StopOppression

🌿 Her Journey to Freedom is Not Linear. 🌿⁠

While our residential restoration and workforce empowerment programs follow steps and phases, her path to healing is as unique as she is. 🌼 Each accomplishment is a testament to her resilience, strength, and courage. 💪⁠

This November, we will celebrate 10 years of IMPACT in the lives of survivors. 🕊️⁠

👣 26 women completed 6 months focused on healing.⁠
👣18 women were empowered to stay for one year.⁠
👣19 women reached 18 months of transformation.⁠
👣9 women stayed beyond 18 months, deepening their growth.⁠
👩‍🎓 10 brave survivors met every requirement for RSM graduation! 👩‍🎓⁠

Every steady step forward is worth celebrating. Follow her journey over the next few weeks as we honor her milestones, accomplishments, and restored hope. 🌈⁠

#10YearsOfImpact #Faithful2025 #RestoreSurvivors #StopOppression
...

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