When I held my daughter for the first time, I knew, without question, that I would do everything in my power to ensure my little girl would feel loved, cared for, and protected. I knew at that moment that being a father would be my greatest and most important calling in this life. Little did I know how God would use that time of being a father to prepare me for another calling…that of being part of a ministry that protects and cares for young girls all over the world!
I’ve had the privilege of visiting with fathers all around the globe who have the same protective love for their daughters that I do. Unfortunately, oftentimes due to extreme poverty and cultural obstacles, those fathers are limited in their ability to completely provide that protection, and it breaks their hearts.
I remember a time when I was visiting one of our safe houses in Nepal to learn more about how our staff protects the girls that they intercept until they can be returned to their families. During that visit, the parents of a girl staying at the safe house arrived to take their daughter back home. I watched as they entered the house, fell at the feet of one of our staff, and wept. Looking up, the father profusely thanked our incredible team member for rescuing and caring for his daughter. His love for her was palpable.