Parish Spotlight: Saint Demetrios Takes a Stand in Protecting the Vulnerable

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Warren, Ohio has prayerfully embraced the Freedom Ministry as a vital expression of its Christian mission to serve “the least of these.” Through this partnership, our parish seeks to respond to one of the most tragic and often hidden crises of our time: the exploitation of women and children caught in the darkness of human sex trafficking.

As part of our involvement with this ministry, St. Demetrios Church invited Fr. Peter to speak multiple times to our parish community and the wider public. His presentations were sobering, eye-opening, and transformative. Not only did he speak multiple times in front of the entire community, he also led more intimate discussions with our GOYA and YAL Ministries. For almost everyone, it was the first time they truly grasped the scale, methods, and devastating human toll of sex trafficking. By lifting the veil of silence surrounding this crisis, Fr. Peter helped move our community from unawareness to understanding, and from passive concern to a desire for meaningful action.

In addition to raising awareness, Fr. Peter challenged us to consider how we, as a Christian community, can respond. He offered practical guidance for becoming proactive through vigilance, advocacy, prayer, and material support, all different yet impactful avenues in confronting this grave societal affliction.

Inspired by his call, our parish rallied in deeply tangible ways. We collected gift cards to directly support survivors in rebuilding their lives with dignity and autonomy. We also donated a large wooden Cross accompanied by a beautiful, hand-painted icon of Christ crucified to adorn the newly-established St. Barbara Chapel and “Shrine for Human Freedom”. This was an offering of faith meant to bring hope, healing, and the presence of Christ to all who enter.

Moreover, our parish continued to offer financial support, along with clothing and essential supplies, to assist survivors and those at risk. These contributions were more than charitable acts; they were expressions of love, solidarity, and obedience to Christ’s command to care for the wounded and oppressed. Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church will continue to support this vital ministry in every way we can, engaging in anti-trafficking efforts locally and nationally.

May God protect these vulnerable people by His grace and mercy, through the prayers of the Theotokos, Saint Barbara, Saint Demetrios, and all the saints!