Matt and Laura: EXODUS ROAD

                 “Ordinary” SUPERHEROES 

The surge of evangelical-supported NGOs in the anti-trafficking sector significantly undermines authentic anti-trafficking efforts by commercializing the narratives surrounding human trafficking. The prioritization of religious objectives and profit-driven motives overshadows the critical support and advocacy that victims genuinely require.

The struggle against human trafficking and exploitation has unfortunately evolved into a lucrative enterprise for cunning and innovative fraudsters. It is indisputable that incidents of human trafficking and exploitation happen with alarming frequency. Nevertheless, it is crucial to engage in a genuine fight while promoting an accurate and honest understanding of what human trafficking and sexual exploitation entail. The framing of this narrative is of utmost importance. Misleading accounts can obscure the true nature of the battle, diverting attention and resources away from those who genuinely require assistance.

I wish to explore the backgrounds of Matt and Laura Parker, the founders of Exodus Road. These individuals appear to manipulate and misrepresent the realities of trafficking and exploitation, thereby misleading both donors and potential supporters with a fabricated narrative. Originating from a modest background, the Parkers have established a lucrative non-governmental organization that raises significant funds. There are concerning methods and operational strategies employed by Exodus Road to promote their “product.” While the endeavor to combat human trafficking, particularly the sexual exploitation of children, is both commendable and essential, it is precisely at this juncture that the Parkers appear to engage in unethical distortions of the truth.

It is crucial to continue the battle against human trafficking and exploitation. A comprehensive understanding of the definitions and implications of trafficking and exploitation is essential. Unfortunately, the Parkers have been known to distort and sensationalize these issues to maximize financial contributions from well-intentioned donors, particularly within the evangelical community. This demographic often falls victim to misleading narratives. They are repeatedly informed that young girls are subjected to rape and coerced into sexual slavery. While such occurrences do exist in certain regions globally, this is not the overarching narrative that Matt and Laura have constructed for their organization.

The core misunderstanding lies in the distinction between “sex work” and “sex slavery.” Matt Parker recognizes that presenting the issue as “sex slavery” will appeal to an evangelical audience, thereby enhancing the marketability of his product. Addressing human trafficking and exploitation involves navigating a complex landscape filled with various nuances. It is essential to engage in the right struggle and to guarantee that resources are directed toward the appropriate causes.

This article aims to highlight and establish a pattern of unethical storytelling and misrepresentation of facts. To begin, let’s examine the current biography of Matt Parker on the World Border Security Congress website, where he is promoted as a speaker for an event taking place from March 25th to 27th, 2025, in Madrid, Spain.

Matt Parker

            “Matt Parker: Parker is a globally recognized leader and former nonprofit CEO with over 20 plus years of experience in human trafficking investigation and advocacy. He has collaborated across 8 plus countries on policy, training, and capacity-building efforts, partnering with global organizations to combat trafficking and support vulnerable communities.

            A current member of The Exodus Road’s International Advisory Board, Mr. Parker has also chaired the Freedom Foundation in Thailand and The Exodus Road USA. Through his consulting firm, Nonprofit Growth Solutions, he advises on nonprofit growth and leadership development, continuing his mission to strengthen the fight against human trafficking worldwide.

https://world-border-congress.com/speaker/matt-parker/

With this background in mind, let’s take a closer look at Matt and Laura Parker’s story in their own words. You can find a video titled “Ordinary” on the Exodus Road website, located under the section labeled “How We Started.”  https://theexodusroad.com/how-we-started/

The video opens with a dubious and potentially deceptive assertion made by Matt Parker, who alleges to possess firsthand knowledge of “little girls being raped for profit 10 times a day.” This is an abstract statement to pander to well-intentioned but uninformed donors. This alarming claim raises significant concerns, particularly given that Parker was living at the time in northern Thailand, where he ran a girl’s home for an organization known as the “Joy to the World Foundation.” His base of operations was in Chiang Mai; however, the video distorts his narrative by incorporating images from “Soi Cowboy,” a well-known area in Bangkok, which is situated several hours south of Chiang Mai. This misrepresentation not only undermines the credibility of Parker’s claims but also obscures the geographical context of his work. The question I have about this video is, why label yourself as an average, ordinary missionary who just stumbled upon a problem?

In the video, Laura Parker expresses that “trafficking wasn’t really on our radar.” While her husband Matt claims, “We didn’t know much about it, we started to learn.” Despite their relocation from Colorado in 2010 to work at the Joy to The World Foundation, Girl’s Home located just north of Chiang Mai, the video contains two notably misleading assertions. Firstly, Parker’s bio claims he possesses over 20 years of experience in human trafficking and advocacy, yet his statement in the “Ordinary” video suggests they merely stumbled upon the issue. This discrepancy indicated that their actual involvement in anti-trafficking efforts spans only 14 to 15 years. It raises questions about the necessity of portraying themselves as typical missionaries who serendipitously recognized and addressed a pressing problem. While I am inclined to accept the claim of over 20 years, it is important to note that the Joy to the World Foundation, which operates the girls’ home, was established to combat human trafficking and prostitution.

https://www.joytotheworldthailand.org/history

Joy to the World Foundation, Thailand started in early 2000 by Bill and Mary Lee Moritz.”

Interestingly enough; Joy to the World quotes the issue as prostitution, whereas the Parkers sensationalize the issue with over-the-top claims of “sex slavery.” The Parkers intend to be HEROES in the story. It would be a noble cause if they were interested in helping victims of human trafficking, however, they fabricate to build their persona and sell their product.

The next important issue from this video is Matt’s blatant hubristic claims that he was the only individual to intervene for trafficked girls. As previously mentioned, the purpose of Joy to the World Foundation, which the Parkers worked with, was established to keep young girls out of prostitution. Parker claims in the video that law enforcement was so impressed with him and his work on anti-trafficking investigations. He states, “They said we have never seen anything like this before.” Once again, the Parkers moved to Thailand in 2010. They formed The Exodus Road in 2012. The International Justice Mission (IJM) has been operating in Thailand since 2000.

“IJM has worked in northern Thailand through IJM’s Chiang Mai field office (FO) since 2000, partnering with government authorities on hill tribe Thai citizenship cases and cases of sexual violence against children. Over the early 2000s, IJM was involved in work to target the sex worker industry.”

IJM stands as one of the foremost organizations globally dedicated to combating human trafficking. Comprising a team of highly skilled law enforcement personnel, legal experts, and humanitarian specialists, IJM has established a robust collaborative relationship with the Thai government and various police agencies. Since the early 2000s, numerous other organizations have also been active in Thailand, contributing to the fight against trafficking. In light of this context, I find Matt’s assertions to be misleading and fundamentally untrue. Law enforcement officials were not swayed by his claims, as they were already aware of similar information and reports provided by other non-governmental organizations. The tendency of Matt and Laura to manipulate narratives and distort facts is evident in their approach.

In the video, Matt asserts that “no one is looking for them. It was a pretty significant discovery for us,” highlighting his and his wife Laura’s self-proclaimed roles as the sole advocates for victims of human trafficking. This raises questions about their motivations and the authenticity of their claims. If their genuine intention is to assist children and protect them from trafficking and exploitation, one would expect them to present an honest account of the situation. Instead, they seem to fabricate a narrative that portrays themselves as “ordinary” individuals unexpectedly drawn into a grim world of crime and abuse. This approach appears to be a strategic choice, as the stark reality of human trafficking may not resonate as strongly with potential donors. Numerous reputable organizations are actively working to combat human trafficking at its core, yet they lack the celebrity status and financial resources that Matt and Laura possess. By positioning themselves as the “saviors” of vulnerable children, they effectively capitalize on the issue, demonstrating a remarkable ability to manipulate the truth surrounding human trafficking to serve their interests.

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