From a childhood marked by abuse at the hands of her father to years of captivity in sex trafficking, Leslie's survivor story is both heartbreaking and miraculous. After enduring years of unthinkable trauma, she was found wandering in the woods after escaping from her trafficker. Once she came to The WellHouse, she discovered a life that she had only dreamed of - one of safety, unconditional love, and a newfound purpose in Christ.
Read MoreAt The WellHouse, we remain steadfast in our mission: offering restoration opportunities that lead to healing for sex trafficking survivors. By listening to residents, providing safe on-campus employment, and creating leadership training opportunities, we ensure that every step forward is survivor-led, survivor-informed, and centered on individual growth.
Read MoreAs a WellHouse trauma therapist, some of the most profound moments I've experienced are when residents are reunited with their families. These reunions are sacred glimpses of what healing can look like in real time, and each one feels like holy ground. We are honored to create spaces where transformation can take root and relationships—once fractured by trauma—can begin to mend. It is about modeling, however imperfectly, the unconditional love of the Father. It is about proclaiming the hope of the Gospel that speaks life into the very places that once felt lifeless.
Read MoreFrom washing cars, building furniture, and weed eating to serving snow cones to residents and teaching financial literacy and nutrition classes, volunteers are the heartbeat of The WellHouse. Their joyful service allows staff to focus on caring for survivors and building programs that support healing. We truly could not do this without you!
Read MoreIn the past three months, the Lord has entrusted us with 14 new residents at The WellHouse. Each woman carries a story of pain, but also the hope of restoration through Christ our Savior. We are seeing His faithfulness in every step toward freedom—whether it’s the courage to trust, the strength to participate in therapy, or the joy of experiencing safety for the very first time.
Read MoreI was introduced to substances at age 12 through a cousin who exhibited confidence that I admired. This exposure led me down a path of experimentation and, ultimately, addiction. While I spent time with the wrong crowd, my mother developed new addictions, including methamphetamine. She eventually left our family, and from ages 13 to 14, I struggled with feelings of abandonment and manipulation by a man in his thirties, whom I naively believed could help me.
Read MoreWhile eradicating trafficking is a distant goal, we know that we must first eradicate the vulnerabilities that lead to trafficking before this egregious criminal activity ceases. Collectively, we must seek to protect our children from abuse, address mental illness, deal effectively with all manners of addiction, provide poverty relief, ensure that effective education is available to all, and so much more.
Read MoreI can vividly remember the first time I drove onto The WellHouse campus and the Chapel came into view. I felt at peace before I even stepped out of my vehicle. I would like to think that is the initial feeling for each survivor upon their arrival as well, but I’ve learned that isn’t always the case when peacefulness has not been very familiar to them.
Read MoreThe summer season is always a fun and impactful season at The WellHouse. Numerous dedicated volunteers come together to support our residents, care for our campus, and meet our practical needs. It is a beautiful picture of the Body of Christ – everyone contributing their unique gifts to serve His children. Thank you for the part you play in our mission!
Read More"ShopWell has been an absolute blessing, it has shown me how to take confidence and use it in leadership. It has shown me that we make beauty from ashes! It has taught me that perfectionism doesn’t matter and it’s okay to make mistakes. It has brought me closer to the Lord and shown me that I can do anything when He walks alongside me.”
Read MoreOver the past three months we have welcomed thirteen new residents at The WellHouse. Our intake process is not just about paperwork or placement — it is about meeting women in crisis with dignity, compassion, and the unwavering truth that they are seen, known, and loved by God. From their very first moments on campus, we remind them that their story doesn’t end in trauma — it begins again in restoration.
Read MoreMy childhood was full of joy until the age of five, when I was sexually abused by a family friend. Three years later my parents divorced, and it drastically changed my life. Seeing my father leave our home, not knowing when I would see him again, broke something inside of me. In that moment, the enemy planted seeds of unworthiness and anger within me that would change the course of my life over the next fourteen years.
Read More2025 has already been an extraordinary year! We have welcomed new survivors into our program, celebrated the graduation of two residents, and introduced exciting updates to the WellHouse Women program. Through every milestone, our incredible volunteers have remained steadfast in their support and commitment to The WellHouse. We are deeply grateful to each of you who dedicate your time, energy, and effort to this mission.
Read MoreI want every resident that passes through our doors to know that they always have direct access to the King of Kings, and that he has brought them out from a place of darkness and into the light of his glorious presence. God is always present with them, providing comfort and support in times of fear and uncertainty. No spiritual attributes are needed to become a daughter of the King.
Read MoreEven after more than a decade of witnessing God’s extraordinary provision for The WellHouse, I still find myself grappling with the temptation to worry—particularly when it comes to funding. I suspect that many CEOs and Executive Directors of nonprofit organizations can relate. However, rather than dwelling in uncertainty, we must ask ourselves: what proactive steps can we take?
Read MoreOver the past months of December, January and February, The WellHouse has welcomed 11 new residents from all over the country. But that’s not all—we completed construction on our new Stabilization Center! This essential expansion to the Stabilization Center provides a larger space for the critical first step for survivors as they transition into a stable and secure environment.
Read MoreJanuary is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and January 11th specifically is designated as “Wear Blue” for Awareness. In the state of Alabama, which is inundated with awareness efforts, social media posts, training, education, etc., is it time we paused and asked about what Action really means?
Read MoreHappy New Year! Our hearts are full as we look forward to 2025 and all God has in store for The WellHouse and the residents we serve. Before we venture too far into the new year, we want to take a moment and look back at all of the exciting moments and milestones from 2024.
Read MoreA person who believes that being a leader means being in charge without being challenged and believes he/she owes accountability to no one is anything but a leader and displays a character that fails to love. I am especially grateful this year for how we have chosen to grow in the scriptural commands of loving God and loving people. Leaders are being developed, have the space to grow, and the willingness to be obedient to the commandment to love, as simple as it sounds, demonstrates the very essence of success.
Read MoreAs the darkness consumed me, I began to slip away from everything I once cherished, losing myself in the haze of heroin. I fell into the arms of a man I mistakenly believed cared for me, who lured me back to drugs and introduced me to a dangerous means of income—a life of exploitation. What began as an exchange of time transformed into a nightmarish existence where my body was currency, and my dignity was stripped away.
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