Transformation Louisville

Scarlet Hope expanded its outreach from strip clubs to women involved in online pornography. As online exploitation grew with the release of the iPhone, they began praying for a way to reach victims digitally. In 2018, they discovered a Microsoft-developed technology at a “Tech Against Trafficking” event that could identify people being advertised for sexual services online. The software scans websites where illicit services are posted, gathers publicly available contact information, and allows nonprofits to send text messages offering help, prayer, and resources. Their organization became the first customer in 2019, reaching 18,000 individuals in the first year. Over time, the program expanded to nine cities across the United States. Eventually, the organization raised funds in three weeks to purchase and operate the software themselves. Today, the technology is their largest outreach program, helping them contact people potentially experiencing exploitation, trafficking, or involvement in the pornography industry. In the most recent year, they reached about 120,000 individuals. 
A woman received one of their texts asking if she needed prayer or resources. She responded asking if the message was real and revealed she had almost committed suicide the night before, praying that God would send a sign. Within two hours, she was sitting in their offices. Her story revealed severe trauma: she had been sex trafficked at 14, forced into an abortion at 16, trafficked around the country, became addicted to drugs, and was eventually abandoned by her trafficker and left homeless. Scarlet Hope helped place her in a long-term recovery program, illustrating how technology combined with outreach and compassion can save lives, sometimes through something as simple as a text message.