VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Born and raised in New York, Rev. Carmen Rivera had known of The Salvation Army her whole life. But when she became involved in the fight against human trafficking, she learned how the Army’s efforts and her own were so closely aligned.

“I had been working with Not on My Watch (NOMW), an organization in the Bronx that combats human trafficking and domestic abuse. I was also looking for a more dynamic way to engage in anti–human trafficking,” says Rivera.

In October of 2018, Rivera spoke at a conference partnered by NOMW and The Salvation Army where she learned about Pearl Essence, the Army’s New York–based outreach to the city’s massage parlors which are havens for human trafficking.

Major Margareta Ivarsson, Women's Ministries Secretary at The Salvation Army in Greater New York, introduced Rivera to Pearl Essence. The members of this ministry visit the illicit massage parlors in New York to give the women working there an uplifting gift and to let them know that The Salvation Army’s doors and heart are always open to them. By showing the women God’s love in action, their hope is that these divine appointments will remind the women of their worth and inspire a brave step towards liberation.

The women and men of Pearl Essence take training classes on how to safely engage these women at work as well as what to say to them. But Rivera was already so familiar with the territory and the subtle signs of human trafficking, she was able to begin work immediately. Two months after her first night of volunteer work, Rivera began her formal training with Pearl Essence.

Rev. Carmen Rivera volunteers with the Salvation Army's Pearl Essence outreach group, reaching out to victims of human trafficking in New York City.

The Salvation Army / Austin Wideman

“I always say that God likes to throw me right into cold water to learn how to swim,” says Rivera. “The emotions I felt during my first night out with Pearl Essence are hard to describe. It was such a unique opportunity to enter that environment directly. We offered hope and let these women know that they matter.” Rivera says she was impressed with the organization and strategy that went into every night Pearl Essence operated.

“Even the act of preparing a gift and what goes in it, is a skillful tactic,” says Rivera. “Everything that Pearl Essence does is a way to show these women that there is freedom out there. One of the definitions of human trafficking is modern–day slavery. To meet these women in their place of work is like unlocking the door of their prison cell.”

Along with her volunteer work for Pearl Essence, Rivera also holds seminars to educate others on human trafficking and how to recognize its signs in their communities. A frequent question during these meetings is, “What can the average person do to help in the fight against human trafficking?” Rivera responds by saying, “My biggest petition and request to people who ask us that, is that they pray. Pray for us when we go out there, pray for the lives of the victims of human trafficking, and even pray for the traffickers themselves, so that they have a change of heart towards what they do.”

Every night, right before the Pearl Essence team leaves their vehicle to walk the streets of New York, they pray together. It helps put them in the state of mind to begin their mission and stay aware of their surroundings.

“We ask Christ to let the women we meet see Him through us, so they can see that there is something greater than what they have,” says Rivera.

For more information on Pearl Essence and the Salvation Army’s anti–human trafficking efforts, please visit salvationarmyny.org/pearl.

You can also find Pearl Essence at facebook.com/ PearlsGNY and on Instagram @salvationarmyny.

by HUGO BRAVO