A Community Awareness Event

It’s Time to Talk: Protecting Our Children from Predators

On April 26, Changing Destinies Ministry hosted a Community Awareness Event called “It’s Time to Talk” at Bible Tabernacle in Carthage, NC. This gathering was created to start an honest, faith-filled conversation about one of the hardest topics we face today: protecting our children from predators.

We partnered with The Invictus Project to bring our community together around education, prevention, and hope. Our guest speaker, Whitney Miller, shared powerful insight on child exploitation and trafficking, and how these crimes are often much closer than we think.

Whitney helped us see how predators are targeting children inside our very own homes—through phones, gaming platforms, social media, and even trusted relationships. She walked us through common tactics predators use, warning signs to watch for, and practical steps families can take to stay alert and informed.

During the event, we explored:

• How child exploitation and trafficking really happen in our communities

• The online spaces and apps predators often use to reach children

• Red flags in behavior that may signal grooming or abuse

• How parents, caregivers, and churches can respond and report concerns

• Ways to build open, ongoing conversations with children about safety

  
  

At Changing Destinies Ministry, we believe that protecting our children starts with a conversation. When we bring this issue into the light—together, as a community of faith—we break the silence that predators depend on. We also give survivors and families a place to find support, truth, and hope.

Our prayer is that “It’s Time to Talk” will be the beginning of many more conversations in homes, churches, and schools across our region. We invite you to:

• Talk with your children about online safety and boundaries

• Share what you learned with friends, church leaders, and neighbors

• Stay informed about the realities of trafficking in your own community

• Partner with ministries and organizations working to protect and restore lives

  
  

If you would like resources from this event or want to learn more about how to host a community awareness gathering at your church, please reach out to us. Together, we can stand in the gap for vulnerable children and help create a safer, more informed community.

Because protecting our children truly starts with a conversation—and that conversation starts with us.