In a world where darkness too often overshadows light, some people bravely step into that shadowed space, illuminating paths for others to find hope and healing. Michelle Frank, Chief Program Officer for Rescue America in Denver and co-founder of Safe Places for Women, is one of those extraordinary souls. From her early days in ministry to now equipping leaders in the Anti-Trafficking landscape, she has walked beside those who have experienced trauma. Recently, Michelle channeled her journey and insights into her debut book, Leading After Loss: How to Navigate Grief and Brave New Beginnings. Through her work and her words, she’s a guiding light, showing that while grief is formidable, resilience and renewal can flourish in its wake. In today’s interview, Michelle opens up about her mission, her book, and the courageous journey that has led her here.
“Ked and I have been in this beautiful nonprofit anti trafficking work for the last 18 years, and have been in full time vocational ministry for nearly 30 years in the local church. We worked in a nonprofit for restorative care housing for men in 2004, that was where the Lord did our equipping. Eventually the Lord sent us back to Kentucky where then we realized and saw the vast need in the anti trafficking landscape, there’s so much sexual exploitation. We thought coming back to Kentucky was us coming back to birth a 24/7 restorative care home for men, but actually we were being called to found, build and create a 24/7 restorative care home for women that have been trafficked and exploited. And so we took the leap of faith, kind of a remove, relocate, replant kind of a journey, and it was on location where the Lord really equipped us. We birthed that organization through much faith, much prayer, much sacrifice. And we began that work of ministering to survivors and opened our first home in Kentucky in 2010. And it just grew all across the country from there. To start our first organization, my husband Ked had a staff of about 120 in seven cities and 11 homes and counting.
As you can imagine, you give your life to Jesus and then you are entrusted with this Kingdom assignment as a founder. And you’re like, ‘Ok, Lord, we want to steward this mission and honor You and serve women and be able to see the Kingdom be manifested through people all over the country, carrying out this mission too. In 2022 I joined Ked to serve in our Kentucky location. Ked had the vision of 21 homes by 2025.
In May of 2022 things took a sharp turn in a very devastating kind of way. And, it became clear that there were different visions between Ked and his chairman on how to move forward with Refuge for Women. It was the beginning of the end of our time leading the ministry we founded.
I would find solace in prayer and getting alone with the Lord to journal my heart, journal my tears, journal my prayers, journal my concerns, ‘God, where are you? What’s going on? Please, turn this thing around!’ Ked ended up resigning, as did I. When God called us out here to Colorado, I did not want to bring my journals and the Lord was like, ‘No, you need to take your journals.’ My goal is always to honor and obey Him even when it’s hard. So I brought my journals to Colorado.
What I realized in my role at Rescue America is that my job is to serve leaders that serve in homes across the country. I started hearing story after story of leaders that have experienced loss, be it with their boards, other staff with, with survivors, with their own family members, with church leaders and I’m like, ‘wait a minute, Lord, I think you’re going to heal us so that we can help minister to people in their pain.’ That’s a big reason why I wrote the book, because I’m sitting on calls day after day, hour after hour, ministering to leaders. And it made me realize our story is not unique at all. So the book was a response to healing, a response to the Lord calling me to write it. The book was a response to serving other leaders that go through pain, loss, grief, and trial and hardship and to bring hope.
There were some really traumatic things that happened to Ked and I, but that’s not the end of the story. So the emphasis is the goodness of God, and the faithfulness of God. You’re never disqualified to begin again. And by God’s grace we began again. And now we serve Safe Places for Women and I’m so grateful for the Lord’s strength to get back up. The book is an anthem of hope that we do not despair in our circumstances. And what I pray the readers hear is may we not lower God’s nature to the level of our experience or circumstances or our loss, but may we raise our circumstances and experiences up to the nature of God. And that is the heart of the book. We all go through loss, pain, grief and suffering out of our control but when we get back up, we stay on mission. Don’t give up and don’t lose heart. So while it’s a book about our journey, the massive exclamation point is the goodness of God.
As our conversation draws to a close, Michelle’s words echo a powerful truth: while the weight of loss and hardship can feel insurmountable, there is a strength beyond ourselves, always willing to uplift us. Her journey shows that healing doesn’t mean forgetting our struggles, rather, it’s about surrendering those burdens to God, trusting that in His hands, even our darkest moments can lead to a brighter path. Michelle’s story is one of profound faith and resilience – a testament to the miracles that unfold when we let go and allow God to guide us forward. As she continues her work at Rescue America and Safe Places for Women and through her writing, she reminds us all that hope is within reach, no matter how far we may feel.
