Ground Up Ministries

06/17/2026

Founded in 2016 as a survivor-led Child-Caring Agency (CCA), our vision has never wavered: A specialized safe house in every single county in Florida.

Exploitation doesn't stop at county lines, and a child shouldn't have to wait for rescue. We build sanctuaries from the ground up—but we can’t do it alone.

👉 Head to the link in our bio to see how you can help.

06/16/2026

Caught in the outfield... or just posing for selfies! 😜 Ground Up Ministries hit the Mighty Mussels game this past Saturday and had the absolute most fun.

We truly believe that every child deserves to experience pure, fun moments like these—where they can just laugh, be silly, and make lifelong memories. Big smiles, a beautiful sunset backdrop, and the perfect crew! 🏟️✨

06/15/2026

The headlines show the darkness. We exist to bring the light.

Seeing record-breaking child predator stings in our state is a sobering reminder of why our mission at Ground Up Ministries is so critical. Law enforcement’s job is to arrest the predators—our job is to protect and restore the survivors.

As a licensed Child Caring Agency (CCA) Safe House, we provide specialized, secure residential care and intensive clinical trauma therapy for survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) aged 10–17.

We don't just provide a roof; we provide a faith-based foundation where young girls can reclaim their divine identity and long-term independence.

The battle against exploitation requires all of us. Stand with us as we rebuild lives from the ground up.

Marion County and state officials on Thursday announced the arrest of more than 50 people in what is being called the largest child predator sting in the county’s history. Sheriff Billy Woods said the suspects included fathers, teachers, coaches and even a high school student.

06/05/2026

As of Friday, 56 children are waiting for a safe bed, and we’ve had to tell them, "We don't have room yet." With 21 children just rescued across Collier, Lee, and Hendry counties, the crisis is right on our doorstep. This is why we are pushing full force this week to cross the finish line for our new Living Stones Safe House. The house is ready—now we are racing the clock to turn our "No" into "Welcome Home.

How you can help: Every dollar brings us closer to opening these doors. Click the link below to partner with us and give these children the safe haven they urgently need.

👉 Give today: https://www.groundupministries.org/donate

06/03/2026

Record-breaking enforcement means more survivors are being rescued—and they need a safe place to heal.

With Florida announcing a massive anti-trafficking crackdown ahead of the 2026 World Cup the demand for specialized survivor care is rising.

Since 2016, Ground Up Ministries has been on the ground as a safe house for CSEC youth. We don't just offer a roof; we offer a foundation for healing, recovery, and a future.

It takes a village to protect our children. Will you stand with us?

Visit our website to learn how you can support our mission. www.groundupministries.org

05/29/2026

21 children were just rescued across Lee, Collier, and Hendry counties. We celebrate this victory by law enforcement—but as a specialized CSEC safe house, we have to tell you the raw truth about what happens next.

Right now, Ground Up Ministries is at full capacity. We are one of only four licensed entities in Florida equipped for this specific level of trauma-informed care.

But here is the devastating math: There are only 34 dedicated CSEC beds in the entire state. Because the beds don't exist, we are forced to say "no" far more often than we get to say "yes."
Law enforcement can pull them out of the darkness, but if there is no bed to put them in, the cycle starts all over again. Finding them is only half the battle. Building the infrastructure to heal them is the rest.

The press conference is over, but the crisis isn't. It's time to stop counting rescues and start building beds.

🔗 Read about the operation here: https://www.fortmyersbeachtalk.com/news/swfl-news/2026/05/rescue-operation-recovers-21-young-people-in-lee-collier-and-hendry-counties/

👉 Help us expand our capacity so we never have to say “NO. Text “Not4Sale to 44834 or visit our website at www.groundupministries.org

The National Child Protection Task Force (NCPTF) rescued 21 missing and endangered children across Lee, Collier and Hendry counties this week.

05/25/2026

True freedom is a costly, precious gift. Today, the team at Ground Up Ministries pauses to remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. 🕊️🇺🇸

As a ministry dedicated to helping child survivors of trafficking reclaim their lives, we understand deeply that freedom is worth fighting for. Today, we are grateful for the heroes who gave everything so that we may live in liberty.

We remember. We honor. We give thanks.

05/22/2026

With the upcoming holiday weekend, many of us are looking forward to a break from the noise. But for a survivor of commercial sexual exploitation, the internal noise of trauma doesn’t pause for holidays.

Since 2016, Ground Up Ministries has stood as a specialized sanctuary in Florida, addressing the complex mental health needs of youth who have survived C-SEC. Traditional settings often lack the resources required to handle high-acuity trauma bonds and severe psychological distress.

Our faith-based, residential program focuses deeply on holistic mental health recovery:
✨ 24/7 specialized staff trained in trauma-informed care
✨ Comprehensive clinical counseling and therapy
✨ Safe, structured environments to regulate the nervous system
✨ Spiritual mentorship to restore dignity and self-worth
True transformation happens from the inside out, but it requires a community to sustain it.

As we approach Memorial Day, consider making a lasting impact on a survivor’s mental health journey. Whether you choose to give financially, sign up to volunteer, or commit to praying for our campus, you are helping us build a foundation of safety.

🔗 Visit groundupministries.org to support a girl’s healing journey today.

05/18/2026

It takes a village to build a sanctuary.

We are officially in the licensing stage for our second safe house! Reflecting on 10 years of Ground Up Ministries, our hearts are full seeing our community partners pour so much love and healing into every single room.

The Science of Healing Spaces 🧠✨
What looks like beautiful artwork is actually trauma-informed design at work for our girls:
🌊 Nature & Coastal Scenes: Large-scale murals of mountains, water, and open horizons are scientifically proven to lower cortisol levels and calm an overactive fight-or-flight nervous system.
🗼 Whimsical Themes (like our Paris room): Reclaims a sense of lighthearted childhood wonder and identity that trauma so often steals away from teenagers.

A massive, heartfelt thank you to the incredible partners who show up with paintbrushes, tools, and open hearts. You aren’t just decorating walls; you are painting a canvas of hope and safety for these survivors. 🌟

Want to join our village? > We need your help to change the statistics. Visit the link in our bio (or comment below) to learn how you can partner with us on this next chapter! 🔗👇
🤝 Featuring our incredible partners:
Cape Christian

05/15/2026

🛡️ THE RESCUE IS ONLY THE BEGINNING

We were moved to see the recent news from our friends at the Tim Tebow Foundation about the 47 children rescued in New York. It serves as a powerful reminder of the battle we are fighting right here at home.

In 2025, Florida saw a historic effort where over 300 children were rescued from exploitation and dangerous missing-person situations—including 225 in major coordinated operations alone.

🚨 The Hard Truth
While we celebrate every child found, a devastating question remains: Where do they go next?

In the entire state of Florida, there are currently only 4 organizations providing specialized safe house beds for CSEC survivors, with a total capacity of just 34 beds.

• The Math Doesn’t Add Up: We are rescuing hundreds of children, but we only have room for a fraction of them to receive the specialized, trauma-informed care they need to heal.
• The Crisis is National: Even in states like New York, the shortage of dedicated beds remains a critical barrier to long-term recovery.

🏠 Our Mission at Ground Up Ministries
We believe a "safe house" should be more than a roof—it should be a sanctuary. At Ground Up, we are working from the ground up to expand these numbers. No child should be rescued from a nightmare only to have nowhere safe to sleep.

How you can help:
1. Pray for the 225+ children rescued in Florida this past year.
2. Advocate for increased funding and licensing for CSEC-specific housing.
3. Partner with us. Your support helps us maintain our "safe house" and work toward opening more doors for those who have lost everything.

Healing starts with a safe place to land. 🕊️