A few months ago we sat down with Brianna Weir, a student at the College at Southeastern. She shared with us this story of a woman named Georgetta, who was captured and raped for months, held against her own will. Here’s her story:

In Moldova, Georgetta and her husband had started a family. They had two children, and she was pregnant with their third, but due to financial strains, Georgetta was forced to find work in Russia. What started out as a job at a fruit stand quickly turned for the worse: Georgetta was deceived by her employer and sent to a place she called The Factory.

On the first floor, illegal weapons were made. On the second, Georgetta and other women like her were held captive and sexually exploited by the men of the town each night. On the third floor, the children of these women were housed until they were ready to be sold into the black market — “pretty” babies for adoption, less pretty babies for their organs.

“Literally every type of evil and every kind of crime you can imagine was all wrapped up in this one place,” relayed Weir.

After months of abuse, Georgetta and several other women were able to escape on foot. As the sprinting women approached the Russian border, their captors caught up to them and began beating the women violently. To their captors’ dismay, the border patrol officers in the distance saw the men abusing the women and were not willing to overlook their offense. Shortly thereafter, The Factory was busted: women set free, children united with their mothers, and captors brought to justice. Georgetta was reunited with her husband and all of her children, and now, as a survivor, advocates for women who are bound as she once was.

Sex-slavery and human trafficking are real issues affecting real people. The need to bring the gospel to captors and captives alike is apparent, so join with us in supporting International Justice Mission and Justice Matters as they combat this issue head on through the benefit concert with Kings Kaleidoscope on May 1. You can support these efforts by purchasing tickets, getting your small group involved, or by making donations.

Contact studentlife@sebts.edu if you have any questions or are interested in getting more involved as we seek justice together.