Phoenix, AZ
In the heart of Phoenix, Arizona, two of the valley’s largest churches stood tall, each representing their own call to follow Jesus and serve the Phoenix Area, and both driven by a deep sense of purpose to serve Christ.
Dream City Church and Christ Church of the Valley were (and are) beacons of hope in the city, each with its unique congregation and mission. For years, they existed side by side, separated only by distance and the mission God had them on. However, in a world filled with darkness, an unrelenting evil called human trafficking, God began to birth out “something new” to unite them against a common foe.
The problem of human trafficking had plagued Phoenix for decades, leaving a trail of shattered lives and broken dreams. Children and young adults were being stolen from their families, their innocence robbed, and their futures destroyed. The situation was dire, and the city cried out for heroes. One local police lieutenant took it upon herself to write letters to Dream City and Christ Church – asking, begging for help.
In a divine twist of fate, leaders from both churches began to respond to the call to combat this pervasive evil. At first, there was uncertainty about how to best fight human trafficking, no one had ever done it before at this scale and in this city. But as the gravity of the situation weighed on their hearts, it became clear that God had a bigger plan in mind.
Over the course of years, pastors and volunteers from Dream City Church and Christ Church of the Valley began working together humbly, setting aside different callings and merging gifts to focus on the greater good. They realized that it was their duty to shine a light into the darkest corners of the city and rescue those who had been ensnared by the sinister forces of human trafficking.
For a decade, the two churches tirelessly worked side by side, each bringing its unique strengths to the fight.
Dream City Church’s extensive community outreach programs through the Phoenix Dream Center campus and Christ Church of the Valley’s laser-focused StreetLightUSA campus complemented each other perfectly. Separately, they had forged the largest human trafficking recovery operation the world had ever seen, saving countless lives of children and young adults.
Pastor Larrie Fraley, Skye Steele, Pastor Brian Steele
In 2008, Pastor Larrie Fraley, Skye Steele, and Pastor Brian Steele came together to launch what today has become the Where Hope Lives program, a powerful initiative aimed at addressing the issue of human trafficking, particularly focusing on the vulnerable girls in Phoenix, Arizona and communities across the United States. Their collective passion for making a difference and bringing hope to those who had fallen victim to this heinous crime was the driving force behind the program’s inception.
The founders shared a deep commitment to combating human trafficking, an issue that had been largely overlooked at the time, especially in Phoenix. With a shared vision of creating a safe haven for trafficked girls, they embarked on a journey that would change countless lives.
The Where Hope Lives program initially began as a grassroots effort, with the founders leveraging their connections within the local community and church networks to raise awareness and generate support. Their dedication and unwavering commitment to the cause soon began to attract the attention of like-minded individuals and churches in the area.
Over the years, the program experienced remarkable growth and expansion, thanks to the generous support of churches and individuals who recognized the urgent need to combat human trafficking and provide a lifeline for its victims. These supporters rallied behind Where Hope Lives, providing financial assistance, resources, and volunteering their time to ensure its success.
In 2005 Dream City Church founded the Phoenix Dream Center which became a national leader in serving teen and young adult survivors of human trafficking.
In 2009 Christ Church of the Valley spearheaded the foundation of StreetLightUSA which became a national leader serving child and teen survivors of human trafficking.
In 2023, as if guided by a divine hand, they merged their efforts officially, uniting under the banner “Where Hope Lives.” This new alliance was a testament to their unwavering commitment to the cause. Together, they are an unstoppable force, a testament to the power of faith and love in the face of evil.
But “Where Hope Lives” doesn’t stop at the borders of Phoenix.
As God had orchestrated their union, they felt the call to spread their message and their process of hope to other communities around the world. They now equip these communities with best practices, resources, and the unwavering spirit of hope that had driven them to success. They knew that the battle against human trafficking was not confined to one city; it was a global fight, and together they could make a profound impact.
Only God knows what the future holds, but one thing is certain – it is filled with Hope…
The objectives and the missions of StreetLightUSA and the Phoenix Dream Center align at the point in which both are an expressly Christ-centered approach to combatting human trafficking. The heart and the passion and the vision comes from a Christ-centered response, and all roads of redemption lead to the children and young adults who are being served walking in a healthy personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Here are some of the strategic objectives for Where Hope Lives.
How does the transition contribute to the overall impact and sustainability of the effort?
By aligning the Phoenix Dream Center and StreetLightUSA vision and resources we are able to:
Where Hope Lives is a dba of City Help Inc of Phoenix and is committed to helping children and young adult human trafficking survivors heal.
How can a 13-year-old girl put the pieces of a broken life back together? Is there any hope of her childhood being restored? What does a day in her life as she heals look like? Sign up to join with these girls as they fight for the restoration of their lives.
