Reclaiming Hope: Anti-Sex Trafficking Panel

Reclaimed, Watermark's anti-sex trafficking ministry, is hosting a panel night to discuss how God has equipped His people and various local, faith-based organizations to fight this evil across our city. Join us to be encouraged by God's transformative love and saving grace even in the darkest of places.

With approximately 50 million individuals enslaved in sex trafficking worldwide, which is more than at any other point in history, this sensitive topic can often feel overwhelming and unsolvable. But with God, there is always hope!

Doors open at 6 PM. Programming begins at 6:30 PM.

You are also invited to attend the prayer service on January 26 at 5 PM in the Watermark Chapel to pray for the fight against trafficking.

Panelists:

• Jeff Grandy, Detective, Child Exploitation Unit for Dallas Police Department: Detective Jeff Grandy serves with the Dallas Police Department where he is assigned to the Crimes Against Children Unit. He is also a Task Force Officer assigned to the FBI Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force. He has served as a police officer for 17 years and served as a detective for 12 of those years. Detective Grandy has investigated thousands of child exploitation cases which include child sex and labor trafficking, sexual assaults of children, and child sexual abuse material, among others. In 2018, Detective Grandy’s squad received the Champion of Freedom Award from the Fraternal Order of Eagles – North Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking, for their work in combating child trafficking. In 2022, Detective Grandy was awarded the Dallas Police Department’s Officer of the Year in the Investigations Bureau. Detective Grandy is considered a subject matter expert for trafficking crimes and investigations.

• Lakysha Chambers, Emergency House Director at Refuge for Women: Lakysha was born and raised in New York City and relocated to the DFW area in 2017. She began her journey with Refuge for Women North Texas in 2018 and recently accepted the role of Emergency House Director, where she leads efforts to provide immediate support and care for survivors of human trafficking. Her path into the anti-trafficking movement was unexpected. "I never imagined or desired to work in this field until I began serving as a shift lead and saw the severe traumatic impact that a life of sexual exploitation had on our clients," Lakysha shares. "Since then, I have been compelled to help these individuals combat the effects of trauma and embrace the freedom they deserve." Lakysha’s work is driven by a deep commitment to healing and empowerment, walking alongside survivors every step of the way as they rebuild their lives and reclaim their futures.

• Lindsey Speed, Executive Director of Traffick 911: Lindsey joined Traffick911’s grassroots team of volunteer pioneers in 2010 and ultimately left her job in corporate America in 2012 to serve full time. Lindsey holds a bachelors from Texas A&M University, is TBRI-trained, is certified to assist victims of crime through the Texas Victim Assistance Training Academy and is a Certified Praesidium Guardian.

• Leila Myers, Survivor Care Director & Leadership Team Member at Reclaimed: Leila Myers serves as the Survivor Care Director and a member of the leadership team for Reclaimed, a ministry of Watermark Community Church. Over the past seven years, she has devoted herself to the restorative side of the anti-trafficking movement, working closely with safe houses and walking alongside survivors as they rebuild their lives. Leila’s mission is to help others see that they are created in the image of a God who loves them deeply. Her vision is to inspire individuals and church communities to discover their special roles in the fight against trafficking and believes that everyone has unique gifts that can make a meaningful impact. For Leila, it is an honor to play a part in pushing back the darkness, and she never tires of witnessing God’s miracles unfold in the way He transforms lives.

• Erica Thompson, Executive Director of Reclaimed: Erica Thompson serves as Executive Director for Reclaimed on the leadership team. She has served in various roles throughout the years to bring education and awareness to her community alongside intervention and providing resources to women in the life. She has been with this ministry since July of 2017 and on the leadership team since June of 2022. Erica's mission and heart behind serving is that every woman would know they are seen, worthy and pursued by a loving savior in the midst of their exploitation. Her desire is for every woman in Dallas to know their worth and identity is in Christ, not the lies they hear daily from broken and sinful people. Erica's goal is that each member of Watermark Community Church, and every resident of DFW, would be educated and equipped, and that our church body would come together and fight against the evil of trafficking and all survivors and perpetrators would find healing in our God.