Refuge for Women Founder - Ked Frank

Welcome to the "Let's Talk About Sex...Trafficking" Podcast where you will learn how to spot, report, and prevent trafficking. Every week you will hear our guests share real facts, real stories, and real ways you can help eradicate trafficking in the United States by 2030. This week Safe House Project co-founders, Brittany Dunn & Kristi Wells, are joined by Founder of Refuge for Women, Ked Frank. 

When people ask Ked how Refuge for Women came about, the story boils down to one word: obedience. Through the course of a transition period in his life, Ked had three conversations with individuals that led him to a point where the vision for Refuge for Women was laid out in front in him. He and his wife, Michelle, felt like doing anything other than starting this ministry would be direct disobedience to God. Refuge for Women was not Ked’s idea, but rather God’s idea. Ked simply stepped out in obedience.

Professionally, Ked spent two and a half years working on staff at The Refuge, a recovery facility for men suffering from addiction to drugs and alcohol. It was there that he gained an understanding of addiction and the power of a faith-based program in showing residents a new path forward.

From there, Ked felt called to a pastoral position at Southland Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky. At Southland, Ked worked alongside a co-worker with a vision for reaching women in the adult entertainment industry. It was here that Ked got his first exposure to women who had been sexually exploited. His heart broke and a deep discontent settled in his heart. Something was just not right. There didn’t seem to be a way out for any of these women. The seeds of Refuge for Women were being sown.

The final piece of the puzzle for Refuge for Women came into place when one of Ked’s best friends bought a piece of land to build a new home for his family. When Ked learned that the land had an old farmhouse, he simply could not shake the idea of it from his mind. After a conversation, both men were astonished that they had been given the same vision...this farmhouse was indeed to be used for ministry. Refuge for Women had found a home!

Refuge for Women was birthed out of that very same farmhouse in a rural area outside Lexington, Kentucky. Ked founded Refuge for Women in 2009. In the years since, Kentucky has established a strong 3 phase program. One of Ked’s major strengths has been bringing together faith and intellect to build a program that is solid on both fronts. Refuge for Women has seen great success and is expanding the program to other cities outside Kentucky. Currently, Refuge for Women has open locations in Kentucky, Texas, Nevada,Illinois, and Ohio. Sites to open in the next 12 months include Texas Gulf Coast, and Southern California.

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Safe House Project's vision is to see communities across America unite to end domestic sex trafficking and restore hope and freedom to every survivor, while building a better future through preventing the spread of child sex trafficking. When everyone engages for change, we can eradicate child sex trafficking in America by 2030.

www.SafeHouseProject.org

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