Love Where You Are with Somer Colbert Podcast
Jan 30 • 45:06
What Parents Should Know About Human Trafficking with Dr. Jessica Peck
Episode:

What Parents Should Know About Human Trafficking with Dr. Jessica Peck

January 30, 2023 • 45:06 • Somer Colbert

Welcome to the Love Where You Are podcast! 

In todays episode I am joined with Dr. Jessica Peck.

Dr. Jessica Peck is also known as Dr. Nurse Mama. She is the mom to four teenagers and has been working as a pediatric nurse practitioner in primary care for over the last 20 years. Jessica is also a native Texan and clinical professor at Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing. 

Jessica is an accomplished author of dozens of clinical articles for peer-reviewed journals, is a regular contributor to parenting magazines, and is a frequent guest on radio and television shows to promote the health of children. She advocates for the vulnerable and underserved children, fights against humantrafficking through education, and wrote a book called Behind Closed Doors to help educate, equip and empower families

This episode is not an easy one. Jessica and I talk about the reality of human trafficking, its many misconceptions, the real risks, and how it can happen to anyone. But Jessica also empowers us with the hope of the Gospel and practical steps you can take to protect your kids. We cannot overstate the importance of this topic, but Jessica and I will take care of your heart along the way.  

Thank you for being here today. Now, let's dive into the conversation! 

You can connect with Jessica through Facebook, Instagram, and her website

You can also order her book, Behind Closed Doors! 

 

FAVORITE TAKE-AWAYS:

*Less than 5% of human-trafficking cases were from kidnappings. The majority of cases are from grooming tactics, meaning the child knew the person who recruited them and trusted them. 

*Recruitment typically happens online through social media. 

*The kids most at risk are: people of color, gender non-conforming, and with combined risk factors. 

*Risk factor examples: mental health struggles, eating disorders, difficult home life, poverty, history of sexual abuse, learning disability. Anything that makes the child vulnerable, a recruiter can use.

*Children in fostercare are at high risk and do not have healthy relationships modeled to them. And children in foster care can get lost in the cracks of the system. 

*Human traficking is a sophisticated machine and business. It has moved from the streets to the smart phone. 

*There is healing and there is hope in the Gospel. Parents, it's not your fault if this happened or happens. And for your child: God loves you, God knows you, and God weeps for you. 

*Maybe you notice these warning signs in your kid's friends. See something, say something. 

REMEMBER:

-Jessica's 5 Simple Safety Tips to protect your kids online

*NO kids under the age of 13 should have a social media account. The Federal Government has legislation to protect kids by making social media companies ask you're over the age of 13. If they click the box saying they are, when they aren't, you're disregarding that safety rule. 

*Social media profiles should be PRIVATE. The default on many platforms is public and most kids don't know how to change the setting or that it exists. A public account means anyone can find your child online and all of the child's information they're posting: where they go to school, their friends, hobbies, relationship status, etc. 

*Kids profile pictures should not look like a minor. Instead of a personal picture or selfie, think about using a cute animal or geometric graphic of symbol. A Human-Trafficking Recruiter will ignore those. 

*Disable geotagging! There is metadata in your photos which the recruiters can use to know exactly where your child is, depending on their pictures. 

*Do not "friend" someone you do not know! Even if they're a "friend of a friend" or someone you met online and seems trustworthy. Don't do it! 

-Model healthy relationships for your child and talk about what a healthy friendship looks like. For example: no friend will ask you to take off your clothes or make you feel uncomfortable! 

-Pray for your kids! Pray for them outloud so they can hear how much you love and care for them. Make your home a safe place, where your child can admit when something happened. 

RESOURCES: 

Unbound Now Houston Free Training 

National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-3737-888 

We challenge YOU to share organizations in the comment section! Let's share hope! 

 

Connect with Somer! 

Stay connected to Somer and the Love Where You Are podcast through her Facebook & Instagram! Now, go love where you are and live on mission for Jesus today. 

Podcast:

Love Where You Are

With Somer Colbert
Equipping Christian Moms to embrace their season, live life on mission and share Jesus right where they are! Like a weekly coffee date with the girls, Somer and her guests come together to ask the hard questions, have honest conversations and dive deep into God's Word. Her heart is to equip and encourage Moms who are seeking to model an authentic Christian walk for their families while also making an impact for the kingdom through love in action wherever God has them in their current season of life. Following the Deuteronomy 6 model, Somer encourages listeners to identify their gifts, talents and current season of life as opportunities to impact the lives of others and bring their children along in the journey reminding us there are opportunities everywhere and every day to love right where you are!
All Episodes:
Jan 29 • 35:27
Love Where You Are Finale: Making Spirits Brighter (Shiloh Women's Christmas Conference 2023)

Hey sweet friend, 

This is a very special episode of Love Where You Are for a few reasons. One reason is because this audio is from when I spoke at the Shiloh Women's Christmas Conference just last month, "Making Spirits Brighter." I shared a message of leadership and delegation, coming from a story of Moses that deeply resonated with me and I feel like it's something many of us moms deal with... 

We get so busy juggling all the things and adding stuff to our plate, that we can often lose sight of what God is truly calling us to: the holy work of motherhood. And when we are juggling all the things, we are so suspectible to the temptations and distractions of the enemy, and that pulls us from that holy focus. 

It was not long after sharing this message, a message that I needed in my own life, that I realized what God was calling me to do. 

Right now, I am shifting my focus and energy to the Called to Love podcast here on Christian Parenting, where I specifically answer your questions about adoption and foster care. If you have enjoyed Love Where You Are, you will most likely enjoy Called to Love. It's still me, Somer, just with a new and specific purpose and mission to serve those walking the beautiful and broken journey of adoption or foster care. I would love it if you joined us for those deep conversations, friend. 

And thank you for suporting me with Love Where You Are. It has been a beautiful chapter that draws to a close, but I am excited for what God has in store.

I hope this message from the Shiloh conference impacts you just as it has impacted me. God bless! 

Just for stopping by, here is your FREE downloadable resource from Somer, The 2023 Proverbs 31 Woman. 

You can connect with Somer through her Facebook & Instagram!

Click here to learn more about the Called to Love podcast. 

Love Where You Are is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit http://www.ChristianParenting.org

Jan 22 • 30:32
Taking Care of the Mind, Body, and Spirit with Laura Smith

Welcome to the Love Where You Are podcast! Just for stopping by, here is your FREE downloadable resource from Somer, "The 2023 Proverbs 31 Woman." 

You can connect with Somer through her Facebook & Instagram!

In this episode, she is joined with today's guest, Laura Smith

Laura is a Jesus Lover, best-selling author, speaker, wife & mom of four. She is passionate about equipping families with a better understanding of mental health and scripture, and has a new book titled "5 Minute Devotions for Teens: A Guide to God and Mental Health"  In this conversation, Somer and Laura discuss practical ways for us busy moms to take care of our bodies, minds, and spirits so we can better glorify God in all that we do  

You can also connect with Laura on Instagram.  

Thank you for being here today. Now, let's dive into the conversation! 

Love Where You Are is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Jan 15 • 32:56
Purposefooled with Kelly Needham

In todays episode Somer and Kelly discuss how easy it is to become purposefooled. Even before the rise of social media which has exponentially impacted this problem, humans have sought after glory for themselves and the extraordinary, as Kelly describes with the Tower of Babal story. We often seek to make ourselves the saviors, the heroes, of the story, instead of giving everything to God. We will run ourselves ragged, wheels constantly spinning, doing all the things, because the mundane and ordinary don't feel like enough. God is meant to be our purpose in life, not the titles we possess or the activities we do. 

Thanks for coming to the Love Where You Are podcast! Just for stopping by, here is your FREE downloadable resource from Somer, The 2023 Proverbs 31 Woman. 

You can connect with Somer through her Facebook & Instagram!

Kelly Needham is a busy mom of five kiddos, wife to Jimmy Needham, and author to several books. Click here to buy Purposefooled and click here to follow her on Instagram

Thank you for being here today. Now, lets dive into the conversation! 

Love Where You Are is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit http://www.ChristianParenting.org

 

Jan 8 • 36:56
Courage for Life with Ann White

In todays episode Somer and Ann discuss courage as we enter a new year full of uncertainity when it comes to our economy, politics, and the culture war. Ann gigves us seven practical tips for courage, examples of courageous people from the Bible, and reminds us that sometimes God calls us to something even if we "aren't ready." 

Scripture reference: 2nd Timothy 1:7

Notable moments: 

-God does not give us a spirit of fear. 

-God carries us through life's hardships and traumas. 

-Living in fear can be comfortable if it's all you've ever known.

 

Thanks for coming to the Love Where You Are podcast! Just for stopping by, here is your FREE downloadable resource from Somer, The 2023 Proverbs 31 Woman. 

You can connect with Somer through her Facebook & Instagram!

Ann White is passionate about creating resources to help women build their relationship with God. It drives her to create such things as the first female-voiced audio Bible. The female voice is important to her mission, which has reached behind bars as well as in church pews. One thing in working with at-risk women, its important to use gender-specific treatment. You dont put a woman who may have been traumatized by a man with a male counselor or a male-voiced program. "Courage for Life" is only the beginning as Ann works with Tyndale House Publishers on a Womens Study Bible. We should be sharing God and his word, teaching other people, and inspiring life change. Everyone needs a daily dose of God-given Courage For Life! says Ann.

Thank you for being here today. Now, lets dive into the conversation! 

Love Where You Are is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit http://www.ChristianParenting.org

 

Jan 1 • 33:52
Stuff I'd Only Tell God with Jennifer Dukes Lee

In this episode Somer and special guest Jennifer Dukes Lee discuss the power of journaling and being honest with God.

Despite the fact that we KNOW cognitively that God KNOWS everything and we can't keep secrets from Him, there is something that prevents us from opening up that dialogue with Him and being vulnerable... And yet in that vulnerability, we can deepen our relationship and connection to Him, and it also impacts us as mothers. 

Notable moments the conversation: 

-"Holiness in the holy mess" 

-We can miss out on intimacy with God if we keep our distance. 

-If you don't process things properly with the Lord, you may end up taking out all the pent up emotion and internal conflict onto your kids or those close to you. 

Thanks for listening to the Love Where You Are podcast! Just for stopping by, here is your FREE downloadable resource from Somer, The 2023 Proverbs 31 Woman. 

You can connect with Somer through her Facebook & Instagram!

Jennifer Dukes Lee is a prolific author and calls herself a "storyteller and grace-dweller." Her recent book, "Stuff I'd Only Tell God: A Guided Journal of Courageous Honesty, Obsessive Truth-Telling, and Beautifully Ruthless Self-Discovery" is the catalyst for today's conversation and available wherever you find your books. You can also connect with Jennifer on Instagram on her personal account or the account specific to this book, and Facebook.  

Thank you for being here today. Now, lets dive into the conversation! 

Love Where You Are is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit http://www.ChristianParenting.org

About the Host

Somer Colbert

Somer Colbert is a writer, speaker and host of the Love Where You Are podcast. She is the Director of Adoption and Foster Care Ministry at Crosschurch and Connected Champion with the Arkansas Baptist Children and Family Ministries where she creates support, awareness and advocacy for families seeking to serve in the areas of adoption and foster care. She creates weekly podcast episodes and resources to equip and empower Christian families to identify their influence for the gospel in every season, live life on mission and share Jesus right where they are.  Somer is passionate about equipping spiritually healthy families and seeing a movement of God's people step into confidence in their ability to change the world around them through the way they love! 

She resides in Arkansas with her husband, three kids and three dogs. She's obsessed with British docudramas and cooking shows and can always be found with a cup of hot tea in hand. Her life has been forever changed by the love of Jesus, marriage to her favorite person, parenting her crazy crew and walking multiple adoption journeys. 

Connect with Somer on Facebook and Instagram

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