In this powerful episode of Views from the Window, host David Howell sits down with Art Heathcock, the founder of New Hope Ministries, to discuss the urgent and often hidden crisis of sex trafficking in Arkansas. For over a decade, New Hope has been dedicated to serving female victims aged 11 to 17, offering a path toward complete restoration.
Art shares the deeply personal story of how New Hope began—not through a traditional background in social work, but through a series of dreams that called him and his wife to action after 34 years as a paramedic.
The conversation tackles the harsh realities of exploitation, from the heartbreaking statistic that 30% of child victims are trafficked by their own families to the "F" grade Arkansas receives for its laws regarding survivor support.
Key topics in this episode include:
1. The New Hope Vision: Why a dedicated shelter is the "de facto standard of care" for healing the deep trauma of exploitation.
2. Closing the Gap: How New Hope is working to provide one of the few restorative programs in the nation for child survivors.
3. A Holistic Approach: The ministry’s commitment to healing the body, soul, and spirit through a Christian framework of hope and grace.
4. How to Get Involved: From volunteering your unique skills to supporting New Hope’s search for a secure, secret shelter location in the Pope or Yell County area.
Join us as we look through the window at the vital work of New Hope Ministries and learn how our community can move from silence to life-changing action.
Connect with New Hope: Visit their website to fill out a volunteer questionnaire or follow them on Facebook to stay updated on their mission
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https://www.newhopeyouth.org