An Interview with Candace Wheeler from Restoration Ministries

How to Find Freedom in Christ: An Interview with Candace Wheeler from Restoration Ministries

We’re thrilled for the release of Trade of Innocents in the fall and want to invite you into our excitement. We’re interviewing people and organizations on the subject of human trafficking in preparation for the movie. Perhaps you’ve heard of some of our friends. Maybe some of these names will be new to you.

Our guest today is our friend Candace Wheeler from Restoration Ministries (RM), an organization that seeks to bring healing to those trapped in sexual slavery by leading them into the freedom of Jesus Christ. RM has a unique mentoring program , which offers constant supportive love and relationship to those in the healing process. RM also holds a prostitution prevention/intervention youth program at a local detention center five times each month to build relationships and share God’s love with trafficked and at risk girls. We know you’ll appreciate the heart of the woman who founded this special ministry:

1. What exposure to human trafficking led to the formation and your involvement with RM? How did you find out about the needs and how did you know where to start meeting them?

Restoration Ministries was founded in the fall of 2003 as the direct call of the Lord on my life. The simplest way to describe this incredible journey with the Lord is just to say that when I was a young college student I decided to follow the Lord and this is where He has led me.

I had moved to the nation’s capitol from the Midwest for a job with a U.S. Senator after graduate school, but after three years of working on the Hill, the Lord spoke and said the real reason He brought me to D.C. was to start a ministry to women and girls who had been trafficked. He said it was to be a ministry and I was not to be involved in public policy, so I had to trust in His leading as this was a new direction for me.

After having many doors slammed in my face, the one that the Lord opened was to volunteer at the city’s prostitute diversion program. It was run by the courts and the U. S. Attorney’s office for adults who had a solicitation charge. It was here that I met the Lord’s most wounded daughters.

What most people don’t know is that there are different levels of trauma. Not all programs work with the same level of trauma—meeting them right off the street, in the jail or psych hospital is definitely the most difficult. The majority of people think that the women are at zero and we are trying to move them forward. The truth is that they are at minus and we are working very hard just to get them to zero.

I served at the diversion program for about a year and a half and then it closed. Because it was outpatient, many of the women were still stripping or walking the track at night and coming in for therapy in the afternoon. Most never finished the program, and if they did they were back out on the track within two weeks.

 The Lord then spoke to me to go out on the tracks (I had never done street outreach before) and start meeting the women and girls there. That led to an invitation to have a weekly program at the youth detention center, psych hospital and adult jail.

The truth is, it can take years for many of the women and girls to be free from prostitution. There are several girls that we have been with for five years now.  There are few words to describe this journey that we have been on together. I have learned so much from each one and I am very grateful that they have allowed me to walk along side of them.  They are a gift to us—each a rare and precious jewel of great value.

2. How would you describe the role of RM and its impact in the fight to abolish trafficking? 

The ministry is a vessel for the Lord to move through so that He can bring healing to those who are suffering. The Lord is at the helm and we continually seek His face for His agenda and direction.

The spiritual component is often left out of most programs or it is an attachment and the survivors are expected to somehow figure it out on their own. RM intentionally weaves the Word into all that concerns them, letting them know that their heavenly Father cares deeply for them and has a wonderful plan for their lives.

3. What surprised you the most in learning about human trafficking?

It is such a complex issue and there is no cookie cutter solution. There are so many different levels of trauma and most of the programs focus on a specific area/need.  It has been very difficult to place our young women who have aged out of the system.

4. How has your vision been shaped in this process? 

People often say that I have the patience of Job, but one has to in order to keep showing up every day. A dear friend reminds me often that the Lord has called me to be faithful and I need to continue to trust Him for the results.

5. How can the average citizen get involved with RM or help in the fight against human trafficking?

The Ambassadors of Restoration Program is a small group (they can be anywhere in the U.S.) for those who are looking for non-direct service opportunities. We are seeking those who have a passion for Christ, who have a desire to learn about domestic sex trafficking and how RM is being used as a vessel to bring transformation.

Ambassadors of Restoration will have the privilege to attend monthly trainings, network with others who carry the same vision, develop leadership skills, be on the front lines in fighting domestic sex trafficking, and be part of the solution. For an application, please send an email to info@restorationministriesdc.org. We look forward to having you on our team.

[One unique way to get involved is to use GoodSearch, a new search engine that donates half of its revenue to the charities its users designate. Be sure to enter RESTORATION MINISTRIES DC as the charity you want to support. A mere 500 people searching 4 times a day will generate $7300 without ever taking out your wallet.]

6. What is one of your favorite memories from your time with RM?

There are so many it is hard to choose. But probably the most impactful was when a girl I was mentoring chose to tell me her story. She told me a whole year before she told her therapist and it just speaks of the relationship that we had built over a two-year period.

7. If you could travel any place in the universe for free, where would you go?

I have not done much traveling so it would be hard to choose. For a personal vacation I would like to go the U.S. Virgin Islands, and for ministry I would like to go to Bangkok and visit other ministries.

Thank you, Candace, for sharing you passion for RM with us!

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