Jen Sensenig, Founder

It was like any other ordinary day doing my errands on the Route 30 outlet gauntlet.  I sat there at the light at Target, waiting my turn to go.  Looking to the right, I observed the brown brick building with the wrap-around porch that was there.  Acupressure the sign read. There wasn’t anything noteworthy about that except for the crudeness of the hand lettering that spelled it out.   Noticing that the curtains were closed tight, I watched a man walk up the front steps of the porch and go in.  Instead of moving on with my morning, I made a right into the acupressure parking lot. The side blinds of the business were down as well.  

Earlier that month, I attended a human trafficking training. I learned about the earmarks of trafficking locations and how to identify them, as well as the trafficking victims.  The awareness of human trafficking occurring in the United States had entered my conscious radar. I semi-acknowledged its existence in the larger cities of our country. I had taken the training so that I was equipped and prepared to identify trafficking “IF” it was real… “IF”.   Being equipped was one thing. Being prepared for “IF”  to become real was completely different.  “Preparing” was allowing the heart-racing agitation of disbelief to turn to passionate conviction as the reality of human trafficking occurring in my serene, country backyard settled into reality.

I conducted outreach at the acupressure location, observing that it had all of the trademarks of trafficking as men frequented it at odd, random hours. Different women sat in the side window, curtain half-drawn as they applied their make-up for the day. Occasionally, I would have the opportunity to talk to “Katrina," one of the women who lived there.  She would tell me her story of being in Lancaster for a few weeks and the cousin that she was there “visiting”.  Months later, I would still see her in that side window and watch as men from all walks of life visited her. 

I was convinced that there was a darker side to the acupressure location that involved trafficking, and I went to the state police precinct with the evidence of what I suspected. I learned that the acupressure location was under investigation for prostitution and trafficking.  Over the course of the next year, I was involved with further outreach and observation alongside the troopers at this location.  Culminating in a  multi-state sting effort, this crime ring was dismantled.  However, new suspected trafficking locations were opening within Lancaster County, and the need to create awareness within our community was apparent.   In response,  L.I.G.H.T. (Lancaster Initiatives aGainst Human Trafficking) was formed as a grassroots task force to bring awareness and education on the national and global issue of human trafficking to Lancaster County. Through our advocacy, it became clear that there was an urgent and enormous gap in after-care for survivors. Nationally, there just weren’t enough shelter beds.

This realization illuminated the vision for The Harbor. A long-term restoration home to provide the extensive, holistic, and Jesus-centered care and services that survivors who had experienced extreme abuse, trauma, and PTSD needed. In 2011, with a growing mission, increasing financial need, and a step of faith, they sought to legitimize their non-profit status by registering as a 501c3. Finding the name L.I.G.H.T. already registered, leadership fasted, asking God what He wanted His organization to be called.

As I prayed during this time, I read in a Max Lucado devotional a reference to Jesus as "the North Star,” the true light that leads us to freedom, life, and restoration. A series of affirmations followed, including the North Star’s historical significance during the Underground Railroad guiding the slaves to freedom.  This was coupled with the memory of “Katrina,” the woman from the initial trafficking location.  Images of her would flood my heart as I asked the Lord if we were supposed to launch North Star Initiative.  He would remind me that it was about the individual person and that His heart would always be about restoring “the one”.   The name, North Star Initiative, would represent the hope for the survivors at The Harbor, the ultimate restoration Jesus alone can bring in a shattered life.