Psalm 108:5 NLT 

Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.

May your glory shine over all the earth. 

Why Is It Important for the Church to Unite Against Human Trafficking?

Join Love Never Fails for our Faith in Action Church Coalition Summit, a gathering designed to equip, educate, and mobilize churches to stand together against human trafficking and protect the most vulnerable in our communities.

This year’s Summit will feature a special emphasis on:

Protecting Our Children in an Online World

Technology is evolving faster than ever, and children and families are navigating a digital world that previous generations never experienced.

We will bring together experts in child development, child protection, online safety, artificial intelligence, and trauma to help us better understand the risks and realities children face online. Participants will leave with greater awareness, practical tools, and resources they can use within their churches, families, and communities.

Introducing our Summit Speakers

Pastor Dr. Courtney Miller - Master of Ceremonies

Dr. Courtney Miller is a licensed clinical psychologist, pastor, speaker, and writer whose work bridges Christian faith, mental health, and everyday life. She is the founder of Thrive Christian Psychological Services, a telehealth practice serving women, mothers, couples, and ministry leaders across California. Alongside her husband, she serves as Co-Executive Pastor of Encounter Church in San Leandro.

Through her clinical work and ministry, Dr. Courtney is passionate about helping churches and caregivers create environments where children are protected, supported, and able to thrive emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.

Dr. Courtney Miller is a licensed clinical psychologist, pastor, speaker, and writer whose work bridges Christian faith, mental health, and everyday life. She is the founder of Thrive Christian Psychological Services, a telehealth practice serving women, mothers, couples, and ministry leaders across California. Alongside her husband, she serves as Co-Executive Pastor of Encounter Church in San Leandro. Through her clinical work and ministry, Dr. Courtney is passionate about helping churches and caregivers create environments where children are protected, supported, and able to thrive emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.

Megan Escoto

Megan Escoto is a former first responder now working in Child Abuse Prevention. She holds degrees in Social Justice, Criminal Justice, and Behavioral Science. Megan chose a path in public service after experiencing abuse as a child, spending time in the foster care system, and surviving labor trafficking for five and a half years as a young adult. She saw how victims can fall through the cracks of systems meant to protect them after multiple hospital visits and interactions with healthcare workers and law enforcement failed to identify trafficking. She sits on a legislative panel reviewing California legislation related to sex crimes and other forms of gender-based violence, and is a published author.

Pastor Eugene Johnson - Speaker on AI and The Church

Eugene Johnson is a founder, investor, author, and speaker who helps leaders in business and ministry scale their organizations and develop ironclad leaders.

Raised in one of New York City's toughest neighborhoods, he launched his first business at 18 and has since built companies across sales, marketing, finance, and fintech, recruiting and training more than 800 people. He was one of the top sales executives at Meraki before its acquisition by Cisco.

Today he is the founder and CEO of Revi, the AI-native commerce operating system for restaurants and physical commerce, serving thousands of merchants across the US and Latin America. A man of deep faith, a husband, and a father, Eugene lives by one motto: "Let no man steal your vision, because no man gave it to you."

Emerald May Rubio, LMFT

Emerald May Rubio is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, collectivist healer that facilitates healing circles for survivors of sexual violence, as well as the founder of Set Free Marriage and Family Therapy, Inc. With over 23 years of experience serving youth and families, she specializes in trauma-informed care for children, adolescents, adults, and neurodiverse individuals. 

Because of her lived experience overcoming decades of trauma, Emerald brings deep empathy in helping individuals and families heal from complex trauma, including physical, emotional, sexual, intergenerational, and racial trauma. Her work centers on empowering clients to break generational patterns, reconnect with their authentic selves, cultivate safe supportive tribes, and build meaningful, purpose-driven lives. She integrates somatic practices, movement, art, and expressive therapies to support diverse learning and healing styles.

As the eldest daughter of 9 kids, a wife, mother to 2 teenagers, a second-generation Filipina raised in the Bay Area, Emerald is deeply rooted in family and community. Through the years, Emerald has become a bold advocate for fellow survivors of human trafficking and sexual violence, serving on the Love Never Fails AI Advocate Panel and contributing to policy efforts and survivor-centered initiatives with California Survivor Coalition. This year she was appointed to serve on the Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Board. Through her clinical work, leadership, and advocacy, Emerald is committed to creating pathways for healing, resilience, and lasting change in the community.

Sergio Di Martino - Senior Leader at Love Never Fails ITbiz Tech Academy - Speaker Leader

Elizabeth Quiroz, MA - Survivor Speaker Leader

Elizabeth Quiroz is an Indigenous speaker, author, entrepreneur, human trafficking survivor advocate, and community leader. Her Native American roots include the Mayan people of the Yucatán Peninsula, the Hñahñu (Otomi) people of the State of Mexico, and the Pipil people of the Nahua Confederation.

Elizabeth earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology with Distinction from Sonoma State University and a Master of Arts in Social Justice and Human Rights with Distinction from Arizona State University. She is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Christian Leadership: Ministry Leadership at Liberty University, with the goal of advancing faith-based human rights advocacy for people transitioning through the justice system.

Drawing from her lived experience with foster care, human trafficking, addiction, incarceration, and recovery, Elizabeth has dedicated her career to supporting marginalized communities and survivors. She currently serves as a Program Manager with Felton Institute, works as a human trafficking victim advocate in the Bay Area, and is the co-founder of Redemption House of the Bay Area, an organization working to establish safe housing for survivors of human trafficking.

Elizabeth is also a sought-after speaker on human trafficking, addiction and recovery, criminal justice reform, and survivor leadership. She serves on the Sonoma County Human Trafficking Task Force, co-facilitates a peer-led support group for survivors, coordinates street outreach, and mentors at-risk youth. Her memoir, Purified in the Flame, shares her journey of overcoming trafficking, addiction, incarceration, and the foster care system while encouraging other survivors to use their voices for change.

Her leadership has been recognized through numerous honors, including the American Red Cross Humanitarian Hero Award, Sonoma County Woman of the Year, the Love Never Fails Journey to Freedom Award, and the 2025 SFCAHT Modern-Day Abolitionist Award.

Vanessa Marie Johnson - Founder of Love Never Fails

Vanessa Marie Johnson has developed children in dance, teaching hundreds, ages 3-25, lyrical, flags, hip hop, and mime since 2000. In 2010, one of her 14-year-old dance students was sold into human trafficking. Although she was eventually located and is now being restored, Vanessa encountered many others who, like her student, were US-born women, men, and children trapped in modern-day slavery.

Her response was to launch Love Never Fails, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring, educating, and protecting those involved or at risk of becoming involved in domestic human trafficking. Love Never Fails has educated thousands of children and community members on the issue of human trafficking, opened six homes that provide long-term safe housing and restorative services for over 400+ women, men, youth, and children impacted by human trafficking, and launched an IT Academy connecting under-served community members with financially sustainable careers. Vanessa believes that the issue of human trafficking can be solved through love expressed in prayer, safe housing, mentoring, job training, outreach, and education.

Vanessa also worked for 23 years in leading technology and sales organizations in the IT industry. She retired from Cisco Systems in January 2019 to lead Love Never Fails full-time. Her professional hope is to inspire and motivate people to develop businesses and themselves. Vanessa is a grateful mom to two adult children, three grandchildren, and is raising her 12 year old brother. She has a B.S. in Information Systems Management, from University of San Francisco, Masters in Psychology from California Southern and is Substance Use Disorder Registered Counselor I (#23253).

Vanessa is a sought-out keynote speaker, a Professor of Computer Science and Information Systems for Peralta Colleges, and published author of the Fight For Love workbook. Vanessa serves as Board Member of East Bay Interagency Council, Thrivent Financial Pacific Sierra Board Chair (About Thrivent Financial | Thrivent Member Network). She is the former board chair of Oakland's Violence Prevention Coalition and former vice chair of Contra Costa and Solano County Family Justice Center Board. 

Bishop Jerry W. Macklin, Keynote Speaker

Bishop Jerry W. Macklin, a native of San Mateo, California, is the eldest son of Church of God in Christ parents, the late Pastor Albert and Helen Macklin. Bishop and Lady Vanessa founded Glad Tidings Church of God in Christ in Hayward, California, in 1978. With more than forty (40) active ministries, bringing life and hope to a diverse community, this servant church is a dynamic voice throughout Northern California. Today, Glad Tidings International continues to mobilize and equip hundreds of caring people to respond to communities in crisis, at home, and abroad. In 1992, Glad Tidings established Northern California Community Development Corporation (NCCD). For the past 30 years, Glad Tidings partnering with civic and community leaders, has remained at the forefront of neighborhood development, significantly revitalizing this marginalized South Hayward community, including developing and building more than 120 residential units. 

Bishop has served on multiple boards, including St. Rose Hospital, Patten University, Executive Board Member for Prison Fellowship USA, Hayward Community Policing, County Donor Network, California State University – East Bay, and Presidential Search Committee.

 Bishop's leadership has spanned four decades in the Church of God in Christ, including the National Publishing Board, Superintendent – National Sunday School, and founding Chairman of AIM, Auxiliaries in Ministry Convention. 

In 1998 Bishop Macklin was consecrated as an Auxiliary Bishop, and in 2001 founded NorCal Metropolitan Jurisdiction. In 2004, Bishop would be elected to the Church of God in Christ General Board. In 2007, he would ascend to the chairmanship of PCCNA, Pentecostal-Charismatic Churches of North America, representing more than 20 Pentecostal denominations. Also in 2007, Bishop was elevated to the office of 2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop serving 12 years. Today Bishop Macklin is honored to serve as First Assistant Presiding Bishop under the leadership of Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard.

In 2019 Glad Tidings Church embraced a new name reflective of a changing community and a broadening vision, Glad Tidings International Church of God in Christ. As a speaker for the World Pentecost Conference, this global reach stretches worldwide, including Haiti, Brazil, Germany, India, Nigeria, South Africa, and Indonesia. Bishop Macklin's leadership and expertise resulted in his appointment by Presiding Bishop Blake to lead the COGIC response to humanitarian crises and events, including the hurricanes Katrina (Louisiana), Harvey (Houston), and Dorian (The Bahamas). Dispatched to the Republic of Haiti following the most recent catastrophic earthquake (2010), Bishop would lead the effort to erect a new COGIC School, Orphanage, Guest House, and Medical Clinic. Over the next seven years, Glad Tidings would continue to support the Haiti outreach, annually sending 12-16 skilled workers to maintain newly constructed buildings. 

Bishop Macklin has received numerous citations, honors, and awards, including Hayward's highest Humanitarian and Lifetime Achievement Award and the distinguished Bay Area's Most Influential African American Clergyman award. In our Nation's Capital, Bishop Macklin representing the Church of God in Christ delivered the invocation for the 113th United States Congress. He and Lady Macklin, married for 48 years, are blessed with five children, two sons, three daughters, and thirteen (13) unique grandchildren.

Keynote Speaker: Bishop Jerry W. Macklin

Bishop Jerry W. Macklin, a native of San Mateo, California, is the eldest son of Church of God in Christ parents, the late Pastor Albert and Helen Macklin. Bishop and Lady Vanessa founded Glad Tidings Church of God in Christ in Hayward, California, in 1978. With more than forty (40) active ministries, bringing life and hope to a diverse community, this servant church is a dynamic voice throughout Northern California. Today, Glad Tidings International continues to mobilize and equip hundreds of caring people to respond to communities in crisis, at home, and abroad. In 1992, Glad Tidings established Northern California Community Development Corporation (NCCD). For the past 30 years, Glad Tidings partnering with civic and community leaders, has remained at the forefront of neighborhood development, significantly revitalizing this marginalized South Hayward community, including developing and building more than 120 residential units. 

Bishop has served on multiple boards, including St. Rose Hospital, Patten University, Executive Board Member for Prison Fellowship USA, Hayward Community Policing, County Donor Network, California State University – East Bay, and Presidential Search Committee.

Bishop's leadership has spanned four decades in the Church of God in Christ, including the National Publishing Board, Superintendent – National Sunday School, and founding Chairman of AIM, Auxiliaries in Ministry Convention. 

In 1998 Bishop Macklin was consecrated as an Auxiliary Bishop, and in 2001 founded NorCal Metropolitan Jurisdiction. In 2004, Bishop would be elected to the Church of God in Christ General Board. In 2007, he would ascend to the chairmanship of PCCNA, Pentecostal-Charismatic Churches of North America, representing more than 20 Pentecostal denominations. Also in 2007, Bishop was elevated to the office of 2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop serving 12 years. Today Bishop Macklin is honored to serve as First Assistant Presiding Bishop under the leadership of Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard.

In 2019 Glad Tidings Church embraced a new name reflective of a changing community and a broadening vision, Glad Tidings International Church of God in Christ. As a speaker for the World Pentecost Conference, this global reach stretches worldwide, including Haiti, Brazil, Germany, India, Nigeria, South Africa, and Indonesia. Bishop Macklin's leadership and expertise resulted in his appointment by Presiding Bishop Blake to lead the COGIC response to humanitarian crises and events, including the hurricanes Katrina (Louisiana), Harvey (Houston), and Dorian (The Bahamas). Dispatched to the Republic of Haiti following the most recent catastrophic earthquake (2010), Bishop would lead the effort to erect a new COGIC School, Orphanage, Guest House, and Medical Clinic. Over the next seven years, Glad Tidings would continue to support the Haiti outreach, annually sending 12-16 skilled workers to maintain newly constructed buildings. 

Bishop Macklin has received numerous citations, honors, and awards, including Hayward's highest Humanitarian and Lifetime Achievement Award and the distinguished Bay Area's Most Influential African American Clergyman award. In our Nation's Capital, Bishop Macklin representing the Church of God in Christ delivered the invocation for the 113th United States Congress. He and Lady Macklin, married for 48 years, are blessed with five children, two sons, three daughters, and thirteen (13) unique grandchildren.

This conversation is not about blaming parents, children, or technology. We are all learning how to navigate a world that has changed incredibly quickly. Instead, this Summit is an invitation for the Church to respond with grace, wisdom, education, discernment, and action.

We believe the Church has an important role to play in creating communities where children are protected, families are supported, survivors are welcomed, and people are reminded that their value and identity extend far beyond the digital world.

Together, we can become better equipped to recognize vulnerability, respond to exploitation, protect the next generation, and point people toward the hope, purpose, and restoration found in Jesus Christ.

Come ready to learn, connect, and discover how your church can put faith into action in the fight against human trafficking.

$15 Ticket - please RSVP Here to join.

Doors Open at 8:30 AM, Program will promptly begin at 9:00 AM.

Plenty of parking available. Breakfast and lunch included!