Human trafficking and child exploitation are not confined to major cities, said Josh Moody, chief operations officer of Covenant Rescue Group, based near Birmingham.
“It is happening everywhere regardless of the size of city, town or county,” Moody maintained.
Covenant Rescue Group, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was established in 2019 by founder and CEO Jared Hudson to fight the evil of human trafficking and child exploitation not only in Alabama but throughout the United States as well, Moody said.
Hudson is a former United States Navy SEAL and plans to be a candidate in 2026 for a U.S. Senate seat from Alabama.
Moody observed that Hudson and his wife, Lauren, have devoted their lives to fighting the evils of human trafficking and child exploitation through direct action and training law enforcement officers nationwide.
Since 2021, CRG, in cooperation with local enforcement officers, has trained more than 600 officers, conducted 50-plus operations, rescued 30 victims and helped with more than 200 arrests, Moody said.
In 2025, they have already conducted 14 operations, trained 262 officers, rescued 15 victims and been part of 78 arrests, he added.
Most recent operation
CRG’s most recent operation occurred Sept. 18–19 in partnership with the Wetumpka Police Department. Wetumpka is a small town north of Montgomery, Moody said.
In a press release following the arrests, Hudson said, “This operation is a critical reminder that the threat of human trafficking is very real. We are grateful for the Wetumpka Police Department’s partnership and commitment to protecting the children of Alabama,” he said.
“Working alongside law enforcement agencies is the foundation of what we do at Covenant Rescue Group, and together we are making a tangible impact,” the CEO added.
WSFA (Channel 12) in Montgomery reported nine suspects were arrested through an undercover child exploitation operation with the Wetumpka Police Department and CRG with help from the Elmore County District Attorney’s Office, Autauga County Sheriff’s Office and the Eclectic Police Department.
The station reported that according to Wetumpka police, the investigation “involved the suspects engaging in online communications with people they believed were minors.”
What CRG provides
CRG provides essential support and specialized training to law enforcement through its Sex Trafficking Operations Program (STOP), Moody said.
“We walk them through the setup of the operation, how to conduct the operation, how to interrogate and interview perpetrators, and then how to build a good solid case. Then we will run an operation at the end of the training,” he explained.
Moody stressed that the local law enforcement agency runs the operation. They chat online with the perpetrators and collect the evidence and make the arrests. “We are in a teaching and advisory role.”
He noted that CRG’s ultimate goal is to teach them how to do an operation and “then let them loose and let them do it on their own so they can continue to do those types of operations in their communities.”
Moody shared about an earlier training this year in Limestone County in north Alabama. “We trained their team and conducted an operation which resulted in nine arrests. Since then, they’ve conducted five or six operations on their own and arrested another 50-plus people,” he said.
Opening doors for the gospel
While CRG is not a faith-based nonprofit, it is run by followers of Christ, Moody said. Several staff members, including Moody, are members of Gardendale First Baptist Church. “We feel like this is where God has called us to make an impact … and that is the reason we do it.”
Moody added that each training event includes a gospel presentation.
“Jared shares the gospel everywhere he goes, whether people like it or not. So far, we’ve had no pushback,” Moody said.
Training events have opened the door for additional conversations, he continued. “People come to Jared after a presentation and say, ‘I didn’t know believers could be in this line of work … and be able to do it so well.’”
Education and church involvement
Moody said one of the keys to helping reduce human trafficking and child exploitation is education. Wherever Hudson speaks, he will say, “When you give your child a cell phone, you’re not only opening them up to the entire world, you’re opening the entire world up to them.”
CRG has developed a curriculum designed for parents and students to keep them safe online. “That’s where we see a lot this exploitation happening,” he said, noting the curriculum teaches parents what to look for and some resources they can use.
Moody said CRG is willing to come to churches to speak to parents and student ministry leaders. The training is offered at no cost to the churches. “That’s the way we can serve them.”
Training events for law enforcement also are provided at no cost.
While donations are sought to help support the nonprofit, Moody said prayer is what they need most.
“Prayer is more powerful than any amount of money that anyone could give us.”
For more information about CRG, email admin@covenantrescue.org or visit the website at covenantrescue.org.
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