The Exodus Road

BY ANNA (WILLIFORD) DERBYSHIRE ‘90

"Daniela, December 2021, Latin America" is emblazoned on a rock as a victory memorial. It is a treasured emblem of the work Preston Goff is involved with at The Exodus Road in Colorado Springs.

Daniela’s experience of exploitation began at age fourteen, when contacted by a trusted friend about an opportunity to become a model outside of her home country of Venezuela. Like many impoverished teens around the world, she was thrilled to dig her way out of poverty. She did not know her trusted friend was slave bargaining for her own freedom. Her friend was guaranteed freedom by providing two girls to replace her work in the home-based brothel.

Daniela was provided the means to travel out of Venezuela and disappeared into modern slavery.

Also unknown to Daniela, there was a road built for her way out, The Exodus Road.

Police forces in nations around the world are often overwhelmed by the work needed to investigate leads on human trafficking. Many national leaders would like to put an end to the slave trade in their home countries, including the US, but lack the means to do so.

Ten years ago, Matt and Laura Parker, then missionaries to Thailand, were exposed to this problem. The Parkers began the fight, assisting local law enforcement in the work of investigation, and The Exodus Road was built.

Preston Goff & actors for story

In the past decade The Exodus Road has become an expert organization at gathering investigative information to deliver to police. They utilize a case management software for intake and are the best in class where no victim or survivor is exploited. Their primary method is to empower nationals to do the job. They are doing outstanding investigative work, with intervention as a top priority.

It was in 2020 that SNU ministerial major and seminary graduate with his MDiv., Preston Goff '14, joined The Exodus Road organization. His experience, though in the church, was not traditional. He believes he has a “particular calling” which uses his technical abilities as The Exodus Road Creative Director, to impact the world. “You don’t have to be in traditional ministries to be effective ministers,” he explains.

Preston with actors & friends made on site

As Creative Director he works to share the stories of survivors and the exploited with the help of national actors and actresses. He can articulate, through media, the story that educates and empowers the organization and local law enforcement to end commercial exploitation. He explains, “Education is the sharpest tool in the box.” By understanding the “language of story” he is able to help others “see the stories of others in the world,” and most importantly, know how to act on behalf of those in slavery today. According to Goff, “The issue is more pervasive, but also more mundane.” Therefore, training is an essential part of The Exodus Road organization.

“Every arrest is a victory,” Goff explains. With Daniela, the friend who captured her was also a victim of sexual exploitation trying to find a way out. In addition to their work in intervention, The Exodus Road’s Beyond Rescue program serves survivors and the exploited – not only children but adults as well. The Exodus Road’s Freedom Home is a survivor-care center in Thailand. It serves young-adult women who are survivors of exploitation with trauma-informed care, life-skills classes, entrepreneurship training, and community internships.

The Exodus Road is working to rescue and restore victims in the United States, Thailand, India, Philippines, Brazil, and an undisclosed Latin American country where Daniela was rescued.

The rock with Daniela’s name is especially important to Goff. He was enroute to her country to shoot representative imagery for her story when she found freedom. He was able to tell her story, with the help of native actors and actresses just hours after her release from the bondage of slavery.

Daniela’s rock is one of the many freedom rocks piled around the U.S. office of The Exodus Road. The rocks are visual reminders of each person rescued because of the work accomplished through the organization. As of the writing of this article there are 1,674 freedom rocks at The Exodus Road! •

Southern Nazarene University stands with all organizations that courageously seek to free all peoples around the world!