After church one Sunday, HOPE61 trainer, Pastor Charles Lubya, turned to me and said, “I have a person I want you to meet.” We pulled up to a small, light green building with beads covering the front, and only, door. Through the open window of our car, I could hear music coming from the building. Immediately, I recognized it as the song that Pastor Charles had written and recorded to raise awareness about human trafficking.
Inside, I met Patrick.
Patrick’s story is one of resilience, redemption, and purpose. He was trafficked in Kampala, Uganda, for labor. After escaping and trying to rebuild his life, he made his home in far eastern Uganda. There, he heard about a HOPE61 training happening nearby and decided to attend. Pastor Lubya was the trainer that day. During the training, he learned about human trafficking, what causes vulnerability to it, and how God has uniquely gifted each of us—individually and as church communities—to impact the community around us, ultimately preventing human trafficking. That day, something clicked.
Patrick knew how to cut hair. It was a simple skill; one he never imagined could be a way to make a living for himself or provide a means to positively impact his community. After the HOPE61 training, he realized God was calling him to open a barbershop, not just as a business but also as a ministry.
Today, he trains other young men how to cut hair. This simple act of sharing a skill creates a ripple effect. Young men learn a skill they can use to earn a living, making them much less vulnerable to being trafficked or becoming traffickers themselves.
But Patrick didn’t stop there. He also shares the greatest news, something more powerful than a haircut: the Good News of Jesus. I had the privilege of meeting one of the young men he had led to the Lord. That young man is now a Christ follower and actively serves in a local church, using his gift of music to help others.
Patrick’s story is a powerful reminder that God can use even the simplest gifts to bring hope and transformation.
