In Pursuit of Love: One Woman's Journey from Trafficked to Triumphant

Through her own gripping story of escape from human trafficking, Rebecca Bender reveals the inner workings of the underground world of modern-day slavery and helps us learn how we can be a catalyst for change where we live.

Born and raised in a small Oregon town, all-American girl Rebecca Bender was a varsity athlete and honor roll student with a promising future. Then a predator pretending to be her boyfriend lured her into a web of lies that sent her down a path she never imagined possible.

For nearly six years, Rebecca was sold across the underground world of sex trafficking in Las Vegas. She was branded, beaten, told when to sleep and what to wear, and traded between traffickers. Forced into a dark sisterhood, Rebecca formed bonds with her trafficker and three other women, creating a false sense of family. During that time, God began revealing himself to her. And in the midst of her exploitation, she found the hope she needed to survive.

After a federal raid, Rebecca escaped. Her life was forever changed as she felt the embrace of her heavenly Father guiding her to healing and wholeness. Rebecca soon began to use her own experiences to change the lives of others as she went back into the darkest places she had known--assisting FBI, VICE, and law enforcement across the country in some of their most difficult cases.

Through Rebecca's incredible story of redemption, we remember that our past does not have to determine our destiny.

Relentless in her mission to help others find their purpose, Rebecca Bender is CEO of the Rebecca Bender Initiative and founder of Elevate Academy, the largest online school for survivors of human trafficking in the world.

Internationally recognized as a subject matter expert in human trafficking, Rebecca has trained well over 100,000 professionals including FBI, Homeland Security, undercover officers, medical professionals, and more. She has testified at multiple trials and was appointed by the United States Dept. of HHS to the U.S. National Advisory Council.

An award-winning thought leader, social activist, author, and consultant, she educates on many human trafficking-related topics and advises some of our nation's leading nonprofits. Rebecca brings life lessons, humor, and expertise in working where faith and culture collide.

@ImRebeccaBender