BEAUTIFUL FAITH: VOL 4 FACILITATOR GUIDE

GROW IN CONFIDENCE. KNOW YOUR IDENTITY.

FOR GIRLS OF FAITH

FACILITATOR GUIDE

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JOURNEY

Journey 04: Facilitator Guide

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BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL Copyright © 2026 Releasing Generations Published by Releasing Generations Printed in the United States of America All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

All articles, art, and photographs have been published and printed with the permission of their creators.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Scripture taken from the Holy Scriptures, Tree of Life Version*. Copyright © 2014,2016 by the Tree of Life Bible Society. Used by permission of the Tree of Life Bible Society.

Scripture quotations marked (NIrV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIrV” and “New International Reader’s Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ Art Direction and Graphic Design by: Ahava Design, LLC. Photos by Unsplash and Pixabay.

TheBraveSeries.com Through The Brave Series, we are on a mission to help youth and adults of all ages overcome insecurities about their value and purpose. The Brave Series empowers teens and adults to:

The Brave Series is a publication of Explicit Movement, one of three facets of the Releasing Generations organization. You can learn more about Explicit Movement at Explicitmovement.org

• Grow in confidence and emotional health.

Our leadership team has decades of combined experience working with, serving, and supporting teens, young adults, parents, community leaders, and church leaders within many denominations locally and globally.

• Gain wisdom and vision for their future, enabling them to step into their purpose and pursue their dreams.

• Become aware and equipped to safeguard themselves and others from exploitation and sex trafficking victimization.

You are not alone in your struggles.

Learn more at TheBraveSeries.com or visit us at ReleasingGenerations.org Brave & Beautiful Volume 04 (Faith) Facilitator Guide – 3/2026

Welcome to the Brave & Beautiful journey!

Thank you so much for taking the time to invest in your teen girls and in your relationship with them! Whether you go through this journey with just one teen or a group of teens, you will find this to be a transformational experience for all involved.

The articles will also be relevant to your personal growth.

Each chapter provides discussion questions and optional activities for you to use as a springboard. You can pick and choose which optional questions you would like to use and create your own. As the discussion flows, you may be inspired by wonderful, spontaneous questions.

The activities provided for each chapter are also optional. As a teacher or parent, we encourage you to be creative and do other activities as you are inspired, as time permits! The lessons are typically geared for small groups, so please adjust the activity if you are doing a 1:1 mentorship.

Enjoy your journey!

Authors/Educators: Cathy Lynne Fong, Erin Chinen, Loraine Hotoke, and Michele Okimura

BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL FACILITATOR GUIDE

Table of Contents Journey 04 WELCOME .............................................. 05 IMPORTANT REMINDERS . . ........................ 08 FAQs .. .................................................... 08 EMPATHETIC RESPONSES .......................... ..........................11 THE BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL CULMINATING..... ..... 12 CELEBRATION EVENT RIGHT OF PASSAGE EVENT FOR DAUGHTERS ..................................... 13 OVERVIEW .............................................. 14 4-Volume Journey CHAPTER 1: PORNOGRAPHY ...................... 16 The Negative Effects of Pornography CHAPTER 2: SEX ABUSE AND TRAUMA ........ 18 Addressing Sex Abuse and Healing Trauma CHAPTER 3: SEX TRAFFICKING ................. 20 Protect Yourself from Victimization CHAPTER 4: VOICES OF FREEDOM ............. 22 Letters to You from Survivors CHAPTER 5: HOPE ARISES ....................... 24 You Can Make a Difference!

BEFORE YOU BEGIN: • Be positive, affirming, and encouraging to your teens whenever possible!

• Be mindful NOT to dominate the conversation. Make it a point to listen more than you talk.

• Express gratitude when teens share good points.

• Make the discussion times as enjoyable and meaningful as possible so you look forward to your time together.

• Thank teens when they take a risk and share vulnerably with you.

• Remember, the discussions can be serious at times, and there may be unexpected expressions of raw emotion, but laughing together also strengthens the bond between you and your teens.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS IMPORTANT: THIS IS NOT A TIME TO GIVE ‘LECTURES’ OR GIVE ADVICE (UNLESS THE TEEN GIRL ASKS FOR ADVICE).

We hope and pray that going through Brave & Beautiful together with your teen or group of teens will be a positive, enjoyable experience for everyone! As a teacher, parent, or mentor, you want to create a safe place where each teen girl can freely open up and share her thoughts and feelings.

• This is not a time when your teens passively listen to your advice or teachings.

• This is not a time to quickly ‘correct’ the teens’ lines of thinking.

• Do not try to force your teens to agree with your perspectives.

• Seek to understand your teens first before seeking to be understood. However, in the discussions, there will be opportunities to pass along your wisdom naturally as you share your thoughts and life experiences.

If students feel that you really care about what they have to say, they will appreciate being heard. If you listen to them without negatively judging them, they will typically want to share things with you—which is the goal!

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FAQ WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDE? This is a powerful tool to mentor teen girls in life and leadership! The meaningful discussion and activity times after each chapter can strengthen your emotional connection with them, heart-to-heart.

Verbally processing the content with someone as mature as you will help teen girls to digest the material and have a deeper learning experience. Going through the material with someone also ensures they will complete the Brave & Beautiful Journey through Volume 4. Volume 4 has vital information that could help protect their lives from dangerous situations!

WHO SHOULD GO THROUGH THIS WITH A TEEN GIRL? Because Brave & Beautiful is for teen girls and the articles are coming from mostly female perspectives covering common female issues, it is more natural and comfortable for a mom or female mentor to go through this with teen girls. However, we do understand that in some cases, a father may want to go through this with their teen, which is also fine. *Going through this with a small group of teen girls can also add beneficial and enriching perspectives to the discussions.

WHAT DO YOU DO IF A TEEN GIRL SHARES SOMETHING SHOCKING, DISTURBING, OR UPSETTING TO YOU? Because the topics and discussion questions encourage vulnerability, your teens may muster the courage within themselves to share something that may shock, disturb, or upset you. Prepare yourself now, so if this happens, you are ready to respond with compassion, understanding, and grace using self-control and NOT react in anger or shock.

If you react in anger or shock, this will probably cause teen girls not to want to open up going forward. You want to do your best to create a safe place for teens to share.

As a teacher or parent, it can be so easy to react in anger or shock when your teen shares something upsetting. The tendency can be to want to control the situation. You can be real and raw in your thoughts and feelings with God privately or with a trusted friend at a later time, but NOT in

that moment with your teen. If you can stay calm and seek to understand, this will help build emotional connections.

Refer to the article following this introduction entitled Empathetic Responses That Promote Connection. Respond with kindness, gentleness, love, and empathy—not judgment. Pray silently and ask the Lord to give you the strength to keep a straight face and listen. Know that it took courage for your teen to share what he did. Affirm your teens and thank them for sharing vulnerably.

BECAUSE YOU WILL BE SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS AND LIFE EXPERIENCES IN THE DISCUSSIONS, HOW VULNERABLE SHOULD YOU BE WITH YOUR TEEN? Creating a heart connection with your teens involves sharing some of your life experiences with them. You will create an atmosphere of vulnerability when you share stories from your life—your struggles, failures, and what you learned from them as they relate to the subject being discussed. It is so valuable for your teen to learn more about your story!

Decide beforehand what you want to share as you prepare for the discussion. Letting your teens know that you are not perfect, made wrong choices, and experienced pain in your life will build that heart connection. The teen girls may particularly appreciate you sharing stories from your teen years.

WHAT IS A RECOMMENDED READING PLAN? There can be creative versatility in your reading plan depending on what works best for you in your context. Please check out thebraveseries.com website for more ideas and reach out to Michele and her team to create a tailored plan for your needs and schedule a meeting. We want to support you in whatever way we can.

The chapters are fairly short and can easily be read in a short amount of time.

You may choose to go through a chapter per week or cover one or two chapters every two weeks. If you are in a retreat type of setting, you can cover a number of chapters within your retreat time that is reasonable for your students.

The discussion times could be anywhere from 30 to 60+ minutes, depending on your available time. If the conversation goes longer than usual and you need to end it due to your schedule, you can always continue the conversation at your next meeting. *NOTE: If a teen is going through a particular struggle in the present, you can opt to skip ahead to a later chapter that addresses what she is currently going through. For example, if a close relative of a teen passed away, you could decide to skip ahead and go through the chapter on grieving in Volume 2. You can skip ahead to what is most relevant, then return back to the order we have laid out for the journey. Although the chapters are ordered to build upon each other, feel free to skip around to the most relevant chapters that will best serve your teen girl(s).

THIS PUBLICATION IS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS. CAN A YOUNGER GIRL GO THROUGH THIS? Because the first three volumes focus on growing a girl’s confidence and character and knowing her identity, you could easily go over Volumes 1-3 with younger girls using your judgment.

The older a girl is, the more mature she is, and the more she will have a deeper grasp of the lessons. Volume 4 covers the heavier subjects of sexual violence, sex trafficking, and pornography, Continued

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which may not be as age-appropriate for younger girls (you may decide to pick and choose articles from Volume 4). However, as a teacher or parent, you can use your judgment since you want younger girls to be aware of online predators and the pornography issue, especially as some studies have shown that the average age of first exposure is around nine years old. You know your child best and can decide.

CAN A YOUNG ADULT WOMAN OR OLDER WOMAN BENEFIT FROM GOING THROUGH THIS BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY? Although the target group for this publication is middle school and high school teen girls, we have found that this journey also speaks to women of all ages. Women will find quality content in the articles that support their personal growth! In Volume 4, valuable information about pornography, sexual violence, sex trafficking, and other topics covered can be gleaned and passed on to young people through women who have gone through this Brave & Beautiful experience!

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM ASKING TO READ YOUR TEENS’ PRIVATE THOUGHTS THAT THEY SHARED ON THEIR JOURNAL PAGES. We strongly urge teachers and parents to honor each teen’s privacy regarding the interactive pages she filled out—unless she willingly wants to share her writings or art with you.

We want every teen girl to be honest and vulnerable in her reflections and journaling. Knowing that others will be reading her private journaling without permission would greatly hinder the effectiveness of her experience.

BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL SHOULD BE KEPT AND REFERRED TO EVEN IN YOUNG ADULT YEARS! We envision that the teen girls will keep Brave & Beautiful for decades to come as a manual for life and leadership, a tool, and a reference guide. Sex trafficking also happens during the young adult years and in colleges. We pray this will be a resource the readers will repeatedly refer to.

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EMPATHETIC RESPONSES THAT PROMOTE CONNECTION

By Vicky Wong, MSCP, LMFT, LMHC, NCC, and Michele Okimura It is not always easy to know what to say when someone tells you something very personal. There is power in words.

Careless words keep people isolated and silent for years. Supportive words bring healing, restoration, and courage to discuss their burdens or experiences. Here are some tips on what to say vs what not to say when someone shares vulnerably.

After someone shares something vulnerable, it can be hurtful not to say anything, quickly change the subject, or make a joke/comment to lighten the mood. When appropriate, a hand on the shoulder, a hand squeeze, or a hug can also communicate comfort and empathy. *Do not start immediately sharing your similar experience. This time is not about you. It is about listening to them. Giving advice and encouraging words comes later after they feel validated and heard. Be sensitive to when you feel they are ready for further input.

Vulnerability + Empathy = Breaks Shame.

WHAT NOT TO SAY: ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶

▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶

You just need to let go and move on.

Other people have it worse than you.

You’re making too much of a big deal of this.

You just need to trust God and pray harder.

Are you just trying to get attention?

I can’t believe this really happened.

Tell me every detail and don’t leave anything out.

How come you just can’t forgive?

Did you enjoy it? (referring to abuse) What are you going to do about it now?

At least…(minimizing issue)

WHAT TO SAY: ▶ It sounds like you are really feeling (angry, sad, excited, shocked, etc.) by what happened. ▶ I don’t know exactly what to say right now except that I’m here for you. ▶ I’m so sorry that happened to you. ▶ This must be so tough for you. ▶ You are very brave and courageous to talk about what happened. ▶ It took a lot of courage to talk about this, and I’m proud of you. ▶ I am here to help you through your sadness. ▶ We will walk through this together. ▶ I care about you. I am here to listen to you and help you in any way. ▶ I am so glad you are sharing this with me.

▶ You are not alone. ▶ I believe in you! ▶ I’m so sorry that awful thing happened to you.

You didn’t deserve this (abuse, hurtful situation) ▶ You are not to blame. This is not your fault. (if they were a victim of abuse) ▶ Healing is possible. You can be whole again. ▶ Forgiveness for such a deep hurt is a process and will happen over time. ▶ What I hear you saying is… (reflect back what they said/ reflect back what you sense they are feeling.)

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THE BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL CULMINATING CELEBRATION EVENT This is an optional event that celebrates the completion of Brave & Beautiful, marking a milestone with gratitude and reflection.

This can be a significant and special defining moment to launch the students into their futures. It could be held at a facility, a park, or a beach and include an activity like hiking, swimming, fishing, or zip-lining.

You can keep this event to include just you and the students; however, consider inviting parents to it. You can also have the students invite their father or father figure to it. Another option is to have students invite up to two mentors of their choice, which could include parents.

Prepare a simple program for the event. Please use the following options as a springboard to tailor the event.

• As part of the program, have each student prepare a short speech they can read to the audience that can include reflections on the following questions: ▶ Self-Awareness: In what ways have you grown to view yourself differently/more positively? ▶ Transformation: How did this journey impact you?

Share 1-2 ways you were changed by the Brave & Beautiful Journey. How have you grown? ▶ Regarding Connecting the Dots articles in Journey 4: Share one or more big takeaways after going through the articles on pornography, sexual abuse, and sex trafficking. What new perspectives have you gained? ▶ Being Brave & Beautiful: In what ways have you been encouraged to be brave through this journey?

In what ways has your beauty been affirmed through this journey?

NOTE: With your students’ permission, please send their letters or a summary of their reflections, along with your feedback and/or endorsement, to info@thebraveseries.com.

Thank you! We look forward to hearing from you and your students.

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BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL

• One of each student’s guests would be asked to prepare in advance and read a short letter of affirmation to the student in front of the audience after the student shared their reflections.

• As the facilitator of the journey, share your reflections and affirmations.

• Celebrate around a meal and/or provide food or snack refreshments following the formal program.

• Depending on your time allotment, invite a guest speaker who can inspire, encourage, and affirm the students.

• Consider gifting the students the Dream Big Journal: Keys to Unlock your Dreams, a companion resource for their next steps found at MicheleOkimura.com, or consider going through the Dream Big Journal curriculum as a follow-up.

FOR PARENTS: A RIGHT OF PASSAGE EVENT FOR YOUR TEEN DAUGHTER We have added this additional activity that can be so meaningful for your teen girl. We wanted to mention this idea to you now so you can be envisioning the possibilities as you feel led—be creative! This celebration event can help her to grow in confidence and know her value! Be innovative and simply use this activity as a springboard to tailor it to how you want to encourage your teen girl.

Here are a few milestone ages that this activity can be applied to: • In the Jewish culture, when a girl turns 12, a Bat Mitzvah celebration takes place as a coming-of-age ceremony into adulthood.

• A girl’s Sweet 16 Debutante Birthday party or her quinceanera can also be considered a coming-of-age ceremony in America.

• When a girl graduates high school, this can also be a year to celebrate with this activity, since she will be moving onto college, higher education, trade school, or the workforce.

AT THE EVENT Sometime during the event, have a time when each of the invited guests presents their letter and gift to your teen.

Each guest is to read their letter, give their wrapped gift to her (have your daughter open the gift), and explain the meaning behind the gift they gave. It is always special to have a time of prayer for the guest of honor to seal the formal time! Taking photos during the event, including a final group shot, can also be special.

AFTER THE EVENT Collect the letters written to your daughter. You could place them into an album or a large envelope with any photos from the event.

WHO TO INVITE? You could invite a few or many women who are especially close to your teen girl. They could be family members and/or mentors.

You can choose to involve your teen girl in deciding who to invite to this event. This will be a powerful time of women affirming and loving on her, welcoming her into the season of becoming a young woman!

PREPARATION Ahead of time, ask the women invited to write a one-page (or so) letter to your teen girl, expressing their love and sharing their wisdom as she enters a new season of her life.

They can include their hopes for her. Inform them that they will be reading their letter to her as part of the program at the event. Their letters will later be put into an album for your teen girl to keep forever.

Ask the invited guests to bring a gift that has a symbolic meaning which expresses what they appreciate about your teen girl and how they believe God sees her, and/or how they see her. They are to attach a positive meaning to the item they gift to her, which they will share at the event. Encourage them to be creative! Plan the details of the party using your creativity to make it special and memorable!

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SHE RELEASES

SHE DISCOVERS

SHE TRUSTS

SHE ACCEPTS

SHE CRIES

SHE BELIEVES

SHE BLOOMS

SHE EXPRESSES

SHE PERSEVERES

SHE CONNECTS

SHE PROTECTS

SHE RESTS

SHE SPARKLES

Defining What is Brave & Beautiful

Releasing Forgiveness

Growing in Self-Awareness of Your Design

Dealing with Your Anxiety and Fears

Grieving the Losses in Your Life

Accepting Yourself and Not Comparing

Thriving in Every Season of Life

Believing the Truth: You Have Immense Value Creative Ways to Express Yourself and Your Voice

Persevering Through Difficult Times

Connecting with God

Guarding Your Heart and Purity

Valuing the Rhythm of Rest in Life

Shining in Your Uniqueness

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Journey 04 Listen

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10 PORNOGRAPHY The Negative Effects of Pornography

SHE LOVES

16 SEX ABUSE AND TRAUMA Addressing Sex Abuse and Healing Trauma

SHE GIVES

32 SEX TRAFFICKING Protect Yourself from Victimization

SHE DREAMS

50 VOICES OF FREEDOM Letters to You from Survivors

SHE CREATES

58 HOPE ARISES You Can Make a Difference!

The Power of Gratitude Healthy Friendships

The Value of Being Generous Be Released to Dream Big Activate Your Creativity

SHE ARISES

Arise in Purpose and Vision

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PORNOGRAPHY

JOURNEY 04 • PAGE 10~15

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

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What would you like us to pray for as you arise?

•

In this chapter, which of the two articles stood out to you the most and why? What was a take-away?

•

What were your thoughts about the topic of pornography before reading this chapter? Did your viewpoint change in any respect, or did the articles just reinforce what you already knew? If so, how did it change?

•

What is something new you learned about pornography?

•

What was your takeaway from Brittni's article on page 13?

•

There is a saying, “Porn kills love,” that Fight the New Drug organization has used since they began.

In what ways do you think porn kills love?

•

It is a fact that exposure to porn, especially as a child or young teen, can cause a pornography addiction even in girls. Over the years, there is a growing number of girls and women struggling with a pornography addiction. Without naming names, what is your observation of teen girls watching porn in your school or among your network of people you know? Why do you think that is?

•

What factors in society and culture do you think contribute to the pornography epidemic?

•

There is a great amount of violence towards females displayed in pornography. When boys and men view this, many falsely believe that women like to be physically hurt. Pornography can cause the viewer to become more violent. What are your thoughts about this issue?

•

We want to be a safe place, a safe family, and a safe church family where people can get help if they are struggling with pornography. What contributes towards creating a safe culture where people can feel comfortable voicing their struggles and ask for help?

•

Dating someone who watches porn: Research has shown that watching porn has a negative effect on relationships and is a leading cause for divorce among married couples. When a relationship you are having with your boyfriend or future boyfriend becomes a serious, committed relationship, what are some helpful questions you can ask regarding pornography to keep your relationship healthy, honest, open, and thriving?

•

It is good to have a plan to keep each other accountable on vital matters. Don’t be afraid to talk about this! How can you be sensitive, non-judgmental, yet pro-active?

•

Do you have any questions about pornography? Any comments or thoughts? As a parent or leader, share that you may not have all the answers, but together with the Lord, answers can be discovered!

BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL

ACTIVITIES BRAIN FACTS! Materials Needed: • Smartphone or laptop, internet access to gather information on the negative effects of pornography on the brain and/or relationships.

• paper for notes, or laptop for recording facts on a document

Instructions: 1.

Have the participants do research on the negative effects of pornography on the brain and/ or relationships. They can read articles and research studies to gather interesting and helpful information. You can decide to have participants work in pairs or individually. *ANOTHER OPTION: You can have the participants visit: https://fightthenewdrug.org and research articles on their site.

2.

You can give them 15-30 minutes to gather the information.

3.

In a small group (or as a mentor/teen girl pair) have a time of sharing their findings and facts.

4.

Discuss what was highlighted to them when learning about the negative consequences of watching pornography.

PORN VS LOVE Materials Needed: • Bible or Bible apps to find scripture • Preview the video on: https://fightthenewdrug.org under videos entitled Brain Heart World.

As a leader, use your judgment to watch the video together with the teen girls. This would be suitable for many teen girls to watch.

Instructions: 1.

Discuss how sexual purity Is not just about doing the right things, but it is a matter of the heart. Look at the following verses: Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 6:22-23, Matthew 5:28, and Matthew 23:26.

2.

Discuss:

3.

- Why is it so important to be mindful about what we set our eyes on?

- Our mind on?

- Share an example of how what we ‘feed’ our eyes can influence our minds and our hearts.

If you went ahead and watched the video Brain Heart World together, discuss your take-aways.

NOTES

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SEXUAL ABUSE & TRAUMA JOURNEY 04 • PAGE 16~31

*BEFORE DISCUSSING, PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT NOTICE! Please check your state laws to see if you are a mandated reporter of sex abuse. If you are a mandated reporter, then if a minor shares with you that they were or are being sexually abused, you are mandated to report this to government authorities.

If you are NOT a family member or relative of the teen girl or girls in your 1:1 mentorship or small group, please mention this BEFORE your discussion: If any of the girls have been sexually abused in their past (even if they were inappropriately touched) or are currently being abused, then please instruct them to NOT share about this in the group. This is private information that you would not want the girls in your small group to have to navigate through. You want You want to handle such a sensitive situation in the best way.

Instead, encourage them to tell a trusted family member, relative, or trusted adult to get help. If you are in a 1:1 mentorship and the teen girl wants to share with you as a trusted adult or family member, then respond compassionately and be prepared to help.

Due to the sensitivity of this issue, we did not provide any additional activities, as this topic lends itself more to a meaningful, helpful dialogue.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS •

In this chapter, which article stood out to you the most and why? What was your take-away?

•

What are new facts you learned about sexual abuse?

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Remind the girls that sexual abuse and trauma can range from being inappropriately touched to more aggressive situations. Nevertheless, such incidences can affect a person in various ways.

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What are some practical things you can do to help safeguard yourself from being in such a potentially dangerous circumstance? (Discuss various situations such as going into an elevator alone with another man, walking alone in a parking lot, or being in a crowded bus, etc.)

•

Reflecting on the article on sexual harassment on page 21, what are some practical ways to stand up for yourself should a classmate or someone in authority harass you? It is good to address inappropriate actions as soon as they happen, rather than letting bad behavior go on and on—it helps to have a plan. What are some words you can say or actions you can take in the following situations: (discuss possible ideas such as walking away, or assertively saying, “Please stop!”)

- A guy teases you or someone else about a private body part - A guy snaps your bra strap with his fingers - You are in a store and as a person walks behind you he/she inappropriately touches you.

- Someone starts to tell you crude, sexual jokes

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If the discussion is open and flowing well, as a leader, you may consider sharing any personal experiences you have had regarding sexual harassment, and ask the group: - What are some other sticky situations that you have experienced or observed where inappropriate actions took place or inappropriate words were said?

- Going forward, should that happen again to you, what could you do to walk in your power to help put a stop to the harassment?

•

If you are with older teens, use your judgment to briefly share a hope filled, inspirational testimony of healing from the shame and pain of sexual abuse if you have one—either from your life, someone famous who shared their story publicly, or a person you know of without sharing their name. After sharing, ask: - What are your thoughts or take aways from what I just shared?

- Do any of you have a hope-filled God testimony of someone who was sexually abused and who got healing—and maybe is speaking out to help others?

•

Do you have any questions about sexual abuse? Any comments or thoughts? As a parent or leader, share that you may not have all the answers, but together with the Lord, answers can be discovered!

•

Dating someone who watches porn: Research has shown that watching porn has a negative effect on relationships and is a leading cause for divorce among married couples. When a relationship you are having with your boyfriend or future boyfriend becomes a serious, committed relationship, what are some helpful questions you can ask regarding pornography to keep your relationship healthy, honest, open, and thriving?

•

It is good to have a plan to keep each other accountable on vital matters. Don’t be afraid to talk about this! How can you be sensitive, non-judgmental, yet pro-active?

•

Do you have any questions about pornography? Any comments or thoughts? As a parent or leader, share that you may not have all the answers, but together with the Lord, answers can be discovered!

NOTES

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SEX TRAFFICKING

JOURNEY 04 • PAGE 32~48

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS •

In this chapter, which article stood out to you the most and why? What was your take-away?

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What are some new things you learned about sex trafficking that you didn’t know before?

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On pages 39-41, there are two articles about online protection. Which tip or tips especially stood out to you that you want to apply to your lifestyle right away?

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Referring to the article on page 43, “Yikes! It Happened to Me,” ask: - In what way did Raiza handle the situation in a wise way?

- Could she have done something differently? If so, what is another way she could have handled the situation?

- What would you do if someone approached you and kept complimenting you?

- What would you do if someone followed you around trying to get you to come with them or get your phone number?

•

Sex trafficking happens in many, if not all communities at some level. However, many people are unaware that it is happening around them. In your school or community, how prevalent do you think sex trafficking is? Share any experiences or something you observed that looked suspicious. *Remind the participants that throughout Brave & Beautiful, the sex-trafficking hotline is handy for them to call should they need help or someone they know wants help.

•

Do you have any questions about sex trafficking? Any comments or thoughts? Share that as a parent of leader, you may not have all the answers, but together with the Lord, answers can be discovered!

ACTIVITY AWARENESS ART Materials Needed: • index cards • three mini posters with the words FORCE, COERCION, and FRAUD written on them.

• Drawing paper or canvas for each participant, or poster paper if you want the group to work in pairs.

• colored pencils, markers, or paint (for painting on canvases) Instructions:

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1.

Have the girls write a definition of sex trafficking in their own words on their index card.

2.

Ask for volunteers to share their definition.

3.

Review the definition of sex trafficking in the first paragraph in the article, “What is Sex Trafficking?”

On page 34.

BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL

4.

Discuss what they think the definition of the words force, coercion, and fraud are. Then share these simple working definitions: - Force: when violence is used to control someone - Coercion: when threats and manipulation are used to control someone - Fraud: when lies and deceit are used to control someone

5.

Share and discuss: When you think about the subject of slavery, which usually involves putting a price on someone’s life, treating a person as property or an object to be used, what thoughts and feelings come up for you?

6.

Share the following statistics: - There are millions of modern-day slaves in existence today.

- Thousands of people get trafficked every year.

- The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that they estimate over one million children and teens enter the sex trade every year.

- The National Center for Homeless Education found that approximately 1 in 3 runaway teens will be approached by a sex-trafficker within 48 hours of being on the street.

7.

Contrast the slavery of a person with the value that God puts on a life, His creation! Read Psalm 139.

8.

Give each participant a drawing paper or a canvas. Using colored pencils, markers, or paints, have them create an image that expresses anything they want to express about this issue of sex trafficking.

The following are just some ideas but encourage the girls to be creative! There is no right or wrong way! *Another option is to work in pairs, creating their message on poster paper.

- It could symbolize the pain of victims.

- It could communicate a message against sex-trafficking.

- It could illustrate an awareness message.

- It could illustrate God’s heart towards this issue - It could express their feelings.

9.

After the artwork is done, have a time when each participant shares their artwork. Encourage each participant to make positive observation about each piece and share what it communicates to them personally.

10. Spend time praying about the issue of sex-trafficking as God leads.

NOTES

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VOICES OF FREEDOM JOURNEY 04 • PAGE 50~57

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS •

Which of the three testimonies by the survivors touched your heart the most? Why?

•

Know that it took courage for these survivors to share their personal stories with you. If these survivors were sitting in front of you right now, what questions would you ask them? What would you want to tell them?

•

What do these testimonies communicate or reveal to you about the Lord?

•

What do the stories reveal about God’s desire and ability to heal?

•

Think of each of these testimonies as letters from an older sister to you, a younger sister. Kawai wanted to especially express her heart to the readers as her younger sisters in the Lord. What is something you learned from these real-life stories?

•

Did your perspective about sex trafficking or victims of sex trafficking change? If so, what new perspective did you gain?

•

A person’s story is precious and powerful. When we take time to reflect on a person’s story, gems of wisdom and insight can be imparted to us. What is a lesson learned or insight you gained that you want to apply to your life going forward?

ACTIVITY FREEDOM WRITERS Materials Needed: • lined paper • pens • Printed photos from the internet depicting or expressing ‘freedom’ (for example, a bird flying, a horse running free, a wide-open field, etc.)

• (optional) drawing paper and colored pencils or markers

Instructions: 1.

Discuss together the concept and feeling of ‘freedom.’ Share your pictures depicting the feeling of freedom.

2.

Share how God wants us to live with a sense of joyful, inner freedom. Explain how there are still God’s guidelines to live by, but God wants to set us free from captivity and the inner prisons we can sometimes find ourselves in.

3.

Read aloud or have the participants read aloud the following verses: - 2 Corinthians 3:17

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BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL

- Galatians 5:1

- John 8:36

- Luke 4:18

4.

Share that in this chapter, the voices of survivors were voices of freedom. They were once slaves and captives, and now they are free. Their voices are now being heard all over the world through Brave & Beautiful. There is something so brave and beautiful about being free in Christ!

5.

Explain that you will have them do a simple creative project—a simple poem. They are to begin each line with the words, ‘Freedom is…‘ They can use symbolism and their imagination to express the concept of freedom through writing. Their poem can be literal or imaginative to express what freedom is. Statements can be humorous or serious. You can read the following examples: - Freedom is a green sprout breaking free, rising from darkness to light.

- Freedom is the sound of drumming gone wild.

- Freedom is a butterfly somersaulting from flower to flower.

- Freedom is a cloud laughing in the sky.

- Freedom is a loud scream bouncing from mountaintop to mountaintop.

- Freedom is a stampede of buffalo pounding new land.

- Freedom is the whisper of the wind tickling my face.

6.

*As a leader, you could decide to give the participants a 2nd option to simply write a free poem to express their thoughts.

7.

Encourage the Freedom Writers that there is no right or wrong way to express the concept of freedom.

Encourage them to ask the Lord to inspire visions of freedom they can write about!

8.

You can give them 10-15 minutes to write.

9.

If time permits, as an option, they can illustrate a favorite a line from their poem.

10. After everyone is finished, have a time of sharing their poems. Applaud and celebrate each person’s poetry!

11.

End in a time of praying for the three Freedom Writers who shared their stories in this chapter, as they are real people persevering through life.

NOTES

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HOPE RISING

JOURNEY 04 • PAGE 58~71

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS •

As we learn more about this heavy subject of sex trafficking, it can be easy to lose hope for change. Yet, why do you think having hope is important?

•

Do you have hope that sex trafficking can and will decrease in the world around us? Why or why not?

•

Could you relate to any part of the poem, Dancing with Father? If so, which parts and why?

What was a take-away from the poem?

•

What spoke to you in the “Rising of the Sisterhood,” article?

•

Did you gain any new perspective about the power you have as a rising young woman?

•

On page 68, there is a quote by Matthew Arnold: “IF EVER THERE COMES A TIME WHEN THE WOMEN OF THE WORLD COME TOGETHER PURELY AND SIMPLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF MANKIND, IT WILL BE A FORCE SUCH AS THE WORLD HAS NEVER KNOWN.” Do you think this is true? Why or why not?

•

You can be the change. Together we can be the change. Everybody has a important part in the tapestry of what God is doing! Share what you feel God is speaking to you about your value and as His Hope-Bearer to others.

•

In what ways has God encouraged you to be brave in this Brave & Beautiful Journey?

•

In what ways has God affirmed your beauty this Brave & Beautiful Journey?

•

God calls us to comfort others with the comfort we received. We are called to lovingly help and encourage others with what has been deposited and imparted into our lives.

•

What is a way you can empower others to: - grow in confidence?

- know their identity?

- grow in wisdom?

- protect themselves from being sex-trafficked? (themes of this journey)

•

On the last page of Journey 4, there is a conversation with God entitled The Brave & Beautiful Journey with God. Our journey with God continues on! What was a take-away or insight you received from reading this?

NOTES

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ACTIVITIES

BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL THEMED CELEBRATION Whenever we hit a milestone, it is time to celebrate! Completing the Brave & Beautiful 4-part journey is a great accomplishment!

If you are a mother-daughter, or mentor-teen girl pair who went through Brave & Beautiful together, planning a special meal at a restaurant can be a special time to share together as brave and beautiful women of God. If you led a small group of girls through Brave & Beautiful, you can plan a meal at a restaurant or a special party hosted in a home. You may use this opportunity to delegate certain preparations to the girls so they can practice leading and planning!

Using the Brave and Beautiful theme, you can create fun favors and décor.

The following is a list of optional activities you can do in parent-daughter/leader-teen girl pairs, or with a group of teen girls. Please use these ideas as springboards to create new activities as you are inspired: •

Times of Affirmation: Have each person have an opportunity to be in the ‘hot seat’ where everyone else share ways they each see that person as brave (or if in a pair, take turns being in the ‘hot seat’). Then they are to share what are a few beautiful qualities they appreciate about the person.

•

Testimonies: Have each person share one or two ways they were changed by the Brave & Beautiful Journey. How did God meet them as they went through the journey? How did they grow?

•

Self-Awareness: Have each person share one thing they learned about themselves. In what way(s) do they see themselves differently in a more positive way?

•

Connecting Dots Reflections: Have each person share one big take away after reading the articles about pornography, sex abuse, and sex trafficking.

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•

Rising of the Sisterhood: What is one way you would like to make a positive difference regarding the issue of sex trafficking?

•

Prayer: Have a time where each person has an opportunity to be prayed over regarding continual growth in their confidence, in their identity in Christ, in and in wisdom. Participants can pray as they feel led to pray blessings for each person.

As a parent or leader, you can close in a general prayer of protection for the teen girl/girls and for God to give her/them heavenly guidance and judgment in safeguarding herself/ themselves from the dangers of sex trafficking and related dangerous situations.

•

Craft: Do a simple craft to create something beautiful as a memento of the occasion.

•

Flower Arrangement Activity: Knowing each type of flower is unique like how each teen girl is unique, purchase a variety of flowers from a wholesaler. Purchase inexpensive vases from a craft store. Have the girls create their own flower arrangement. When done, celebrate each person’s beautiful creation!

•

A Gift: As a parent or leader, you may want to give your daughter or each teen girl participant a memento from you. For example, it could be a book, a piece of jewelry, a journal – anything God inspires! Attach a special meaning to your gift and express your message when you give your gift.

WORTHY CAUSES Materials Needed: • smart phone or laptop to do some research • chart paper and markers for each pair or group of three • chart paper on wall

Instructions: 1.

Go over the passage Isaiah 61:1-4. Discuss God’s heart to rescue and heal people.

2.

Discuss which verse stood out to each girl and have them share why.

3.

Discuss how God is raising up many people in your community and globally to make a difference in the anti sex trafficking movement.

4.

Pair up the girls or form groups of 3 and give each group a chart paper and marker.

5.

Instruct each group to research anti sex trafficking organizations on the internet and find a one or a couple of organizations (depending on how much time you a lot) that are doing good work.

6.

Once they decide on which organization they will be reporting on, they are to write the name of their organization of choice on the chart paper on the wall. Explain that you want each pair or group to do a different organization, so if someone already wrote their choice on the chart paper, they simply choose another organization.

7.

ANOTHER OPTION: Prior to the meeting, as a leader, come up with a list of organizations and have the groups pick one of them to research.

8.

Instruct the groups to research the organization and on their chart paper, write: - The name of the organization - Mission or vision statement - A brief summary describing the work they do.

9.

Have a large group time of sharing about the various organizations.

10. Take time to pray for the organizations.

BE THE CHANGE Materials Needed: • Make copies of the article entitled, Ho‘ōla Nā Pua Means ‘New Life for Our Children, or read the article aloud. (see next page for article)

Instructions: 1.

Introduce this time by discussing the power of hope, and what can happen when people lose hope and become hopeless.

2.

Ask the group to share why they think God wants us to never lose hope and hope in Him.

3.

Read aloud the following verses, or have the participants read the verses aloud: Jeremiah 29:11 Ephesians 1:18

Isaiah 40:31 Psalm 33:18

Romans 15:13

4.

Encourage the group about how God’s Word strengthens our hope and hope can spur us on to dream big and be a catalyst for positive change and solutions!

5.

Have the group read the article or read the article aloud to the group.

6.

Discuss how great solutions often start with a dream and a vision that someone has. One person can make a difference! Miraculous things can happen when we partner with God and others! Have everyone share something that stood out to them in the testimony.

7.

Discuss and brainstorm simple ways that the group can help support a local anti-sex-trafficking ministry or organization who is doing good work, ideally in your own community. It could be an organization that heals and restores girls or functions as a safehouse. It could also be a ministry that works with at-risk girls.

8.

Contact the organization to inquire about any needs they may have that your group can meet—for example, maybe they need donations for personal hygiene items or little gifts of encouragement. This is an opportunity to be creative and be generous! It can be a one-time gift or it may turn into ongoing support, as God leads.

9.

Decide how you can be a blessing and a support to the organization chosen.

ARTICLE There is hope rising. Many people around the world are being moved to take action and be the change!

Here is just one of those stories of how great work can start with just one person’s dream. The journey to making a difference involves sacrifice, tears of perseverance through hardship, and keeping the vision alive in your heart when you sometimes feel so alone! But dreams do come true. May the following story inspire you that you can make a difference too!

HO‘ŌLA NĀ PUA ~ NEW LIFE FOR OUR CHILDREN OUR STORY

The vision of Ho‘ōla Nā Pua began over a decade ago, when Jessica Muñoz was working as a Nurse Practitioner in the emergency room and began to notice signs of physical and psychological abuse being endured by sexually exploited children in Hawai‘i. Given the hidden nature of child sex trafficking, the true abuse was often misidentified and left untreated, despite it being the most horrific crime against children. In simple terms: she became aware of a sex trafficking crisis in Hawai‘i, with no sustainable solution for intervention.

On her drive home from a long shift in the Emergency Room, President and Founder Jessica Muñoz looked over at Mt. Ka‘ala as the sun was setting. The clouds parted and beams of light began to shine through the sky illuminating the dark peaks of the valleys below. At that moment, her vision for Ho‘ōla Nā Pua became clear: we must shine the light into the darkness of sex trafficking and watch new life for our children come forth.

When victimization goes unrecognized, its population often falls through the cracks of a social system where neither justice nor adequate care is guaranteed, resulting in trafficked youth that become revictimized with little hope for healing.

Exploited youth were not being told that they matter; that it was not their fault they were victimized; that they have a right to a life free from violence; that someone will continue to walk a path toward healing with them. Exploited youth need immediate intervention and complex treatment for healing that is specialized to their age, gender, and trauma. It became clear that more needed to be done and Jessica became devoted to “shining the light.”

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Ho‘ōla Nā Pua began one conversation at a time. These conversations with stakeholders and community leaders in both the public and private sector were unpopular and at times uncomfortable; however, each conversation planted a seed of hope, developed relationships, and began a transformational growth in the community.

Pursuing a systemic change (through a multifaceted community collaboration) provides the resources, policies, and practices that provides solutions to the crime of sex trafficking in Hawai‘i.

Our youth can embrace their bright futures through a continuum of care, trauma-informed systems, and comprehensive holistic treatment.

Ho‘ōla Nā Pua has led positive change throughout Hawai‘i with their proven community programming and services such as Hoku Groups, Starfish Mentoring and Advocacy, Education & Awareness Training. In addition, they opened the highly anticipated Bromley Family Pearl Haven Campus, a residential treatment center offering a continuum of trauma-informed care for healing and sustainable society reintegration. The Pearl Haven campus, gives exploited youth renewed hope for a bright future and has rapidly become a clinical model for national and global replication in the fight against sex-trafficking worldwide.

Children are our future. The crime of trafficking threatens the fabric of our society. Every child deserves to be safe. Partnership, generosity, and action will change the future of our at-risk youth and those exploited. Join in our commitment to prevent of sex trafficking and provide care for children who have been exploited.

NOTES

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