James sits down with Denise Lester, founder of Rended Heart (Kansas City, MO), to explore what sexual exploitation looks like today—and how her ministry stands in the 30-day gap between crisis and long-term recovery. Denise shares her journey from NYC to KC, early work with Exodus Cry, street and club outreach, and why most trafficking now hides offline and online. They discuss highways I-35/I-70, drug dependency, the legal hurdles of proving force, fraud, or coercion, how porn and grooming shape demand, and the slow, relational work of trust, detox, documents, and dignity. A powerful story of a child’s rescue and adoption shows hope in action—and Denise offers concrete ways listeners can help.

To learn more about Rended Heart visit www.rendedheart.org.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

🔗 Download a free resource "Making Everyday Decisions So That God Gets the Glory" from Useful to God:www.usefultogod.com

To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com.

📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation!

For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit Useful to God—where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living.

Quotable


“I’m not here to rescue you—I’m here to support you if you’re ready to walk out.”


“You can leave anytime; we won’t hold you—but count the cost of what you’re surrendering.”

Chapter Markers


00:28 — Denise’s journey & launch of Rended Heart


03:35 — Street/club outreach & the shift online


05:28 — The 30-day gap and why exits stall


07:53 — Hospitals, law enforcement, interstate cases, immigration


11:42 — A child rescued: court orders, sheriff retrieval, adoption


15:30 — KC’s geography (I-35/I-70), drugs, grooming, and porn’s role


20:08 — Legal hurdles: proving force/fraud/coercion for adults


23:06 — Trust, phones, and the hard work of starting over


37:20 — Volunteers, housing, and how you can help

Links


Rended Heart: rendedheart.org


Contact: 816-343-4558

Note: If you suspect exploitation, contact local law enforcement or the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888) or text “HELP” to 233733.

James sits down with Denise Lester, founder of Rended Heart (Kansas City, MO), to explore what sexual exploitation looks like today&mdash;and how her ministry stands in the 30-day gap between crisis and long-term recovery. Denise shares her journey from NYC to KC, early work with Exodus Cry, street and club outreach, and why most trafficking now hides offline and online. They discuss highways I-35/I-70, drug dependency, the legal hurdles of proving force, fraud, or coercion, how porn and grooming shape demand, and the slow, relational work of trust, detox, documents, and dignity. A powerful story of a child&rsquo;s rescue and adoption shows hope in action&mdash;and Denise offers concrete ways listeners can help.
To learn more about Rended Heart visit<a href="https://www.rendedheart.org"> www.rendedheart.org</a>.
Subscribe to our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Useful_toGod">YouTube channel</a>
🔗 Download a free resource "Making Everyday Decisions So That God Gets the Glory" from Useful to God: <a href="https://www.usefultogod.com">www.usefultogod.com</a>
To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on <a href="https://www.christianity.com/author/james-spencer/">Christianity.com</a>.
📢 Stay Connected &amp; Keep Growing!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation!
For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit <a href="https://www.usefultogod.com/">Useful to God</a>&mdash;where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living.
Quotable
<ul data-start="3622" data-end="3806">
<li data-start="3622" data-end="3709">
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not here to rescue you&mdash;I&rsquo;m here to support you if you&rsquo;re ready to walk out.&rdquo;
</li>
<li data-start="3710" data-end="3806">
&ldquo;You can leave anytime; we won&rsquo;t hold you&mdash;but count the cost of what you&rsquo;re surrendering.&rdquo;
</li>
</ul>
Chapter Markers
<ul data-start="3828" data-end="4379">
<li data-start="3828" data-end="3881">
00:28 &mdash; Denise&rsquo;s journey &amp; launch of Rended Heart
</li>
<li data-start="3882" data-end="3933">
03:35 &mdash; Street/club outreach &amp; the shift online
</li>
<li data-start="3934" data-end="3984">
05:28 &mdash; The 30-day gap and why exits stall
</li>
<li data-start="3985" data-end="4054">
07:53 &mdash; Hospitals, law enforcement, interstate cases, immigration
</li>
<li data-start="4055" data-end="4125">
11:42 &mdash; A child rescued: court orders, sheriff retrieval, adoption
</li>
<li data-start="4126" data-end="4198">
15:30 &mdash; KC&rsquo;s geography (I-35/I-70), drugs, grooming, and porn&rsquo;s role
</li>
<li data-start="4199" data-end="4265">
20:08 &mdash; Legal hurdles: proving force/fraud/coercion for adults
</li>
<li data-start="4266" data-end="4327">
23:06 &mdash; Trust, phones, and the hard work of starting over
</li>
<li data-start="4328" data-end="4379">
37:20 &mdash; Volunteers, housing, and how you can help
</li>
</ul>
Links
<ul data-start="4391" data-end="4456">
<li data-start="4391" data-end="4428">
Rended Heart: rendedheart.org
</li>
<li data-start="4429" data-end="4456">
Contact: 816-343-4558
</li>
</ul>
Note: If you suspect exploitation, contact local law enforcement or the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888) or text &ldquo;HELP&rdquo; to 233733.

Christians shouldn’t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ.

Find more from James at https://usefultogod.com/.

Christians shouldn’t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ.
Find more from James at <a href="https://usefultogod.com/">https://usefultogod.com/</a>.

Christians shouldn’t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ.

Thinking Christian: Clear Theology for a Confusing World

Christians shouldn’t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ.
Find more from James at <a href="https://usefultogod.com/">https://usefultogod.com/.</a>

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