Bethany Winz - One Dress. One Year.: One Girls Stand Against Human Trafficking

Mom and Dad, thank you so much for your encouragement and support and for not complaining too much when my friends and I lick the counters. It is in the safety of your love that I have found the courage to do the things Ive done. I love you more than words can say.

Michael, thanks for being the best big brother a girl could ask for. Im grateful for the hours we spend talking about everything from theology to school to silly stuff.

Tori, thank you for being a wise, kind, encouraging friend, and for always being up for something crazy. So much of who I am today is because of your friendship. Morgan, Erin, and Tabitha, thanks for the honest conversations and good jokes. I would be lost without you three.

To so manytoo many to name herewho came alongside my parents and raised me to know what it means to love and follow Jesus, I am grateful. Youve prayed for me, stood with me, and encouraged me. Thank you to my Pine Castle family, and especially to Pastor Sylvia, Mr. Andy, Veronica, Jarrod and Samantha, Mrs. Michelle, Mrs. Kim, Mrs. Mary, Mrs. Sondra, and the Jr. Interns. To my Family Discipleship Ministries family, both named and unnamed in these pages, thank you for your legacy. It is an honor to walk in your footsteps.

Thank you to my many Trevecca friends who have walked with me through college and to the professors who have challenged and encouraged me at every turn. Bree, Emily, and Kat, thank you for being my roommates during the writing process and putting up with me. Youre more gracious than I deserve.

Janet, thank you for going after this project and walking me through the process. This book wouldnt exist without you and your patience and encouragement.

Sue, thank you for how hard you worked to pull this together. You helped me find my voice in the midst of this story and figured out how to say things when I couldnt. Its been an honor to work with such a gifted writer.

Rebekah, Nicci, and the rest of the team at Baker, thank you for believing in this book and working to make it a reality.

Thank you to Alex and Brett Harris, Zach Hunter, Elaini, and so many others who helped me believe that I could do more than what was expected of meeven as a teenager. Thank you for your courage. It has given so many of us the courage we needed to take the next step.

To the musicians and writers who have carried me through the past few years, and especially the dark parts, thank you. And many thanks to the writers and teachers who taught me to love words and challenged me to become a better writer.

To all of you who lived this story with me and have allowed me to tell your part in it, thank you. To the countless people who have prayed for me, encouraged me, and helped me get the word out about The Dress Project, thank you. It would not have happened without you. And thank you to the many people who have helped me tell this story by giving feedback on content, grammar, and tone (or by talking me down off a ledge).

And Jesus, thank you for such an amazing year in the dress and all the things youve taught me through this experience. Teach me to steward this story well.