Brookville:“Tell the Storm How Big Your God Is”: Survivor Ambassador Harold D’Souza Delivers Powerful Keynote at OATH Project Golden Gate Gathering.
These powerful words reflect the faith, discipline, character and resilience of Harold D’Souza, an international inspirational speaker and Survivor Ambassador who has transformed the darkest chapter of his life into a mission of hope, awareness and service to humanity.
D’Souza was invited as a keynote speaker at the 2nd Annual OATH Project Golden Gate Gathering (Ohioans Against Trafficking Humans), held Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Golden Gate Park, 545 Upper Lewisburg Salem Road, Brookville, Ohio 45309.
The community gathering focused on raising awareness, supporting survivors and bringing people together to confront human trafficking. Proceeds and donations from the event benefited Gracehaven, helping advance its work supporting vulnerable individuals and survivors.
Jon Fugate, founder of The OATH Project, brought together an inspiring faith-centered program dedicated to awareness, hope, healing, and freedom. Throughout the event, Pastor Dan, Mandy, The Ridge Worship Team, Jon Fugate, the Fugate family, Simple Street, Whole Truth Ministries, and Gracehaven contributed powerful messages and ministry. The speakers and participants expressed tremendous respect and appreciation for Harold D’Souza’s compelling presentation on human trafficking, red flags, solutions, and survivor empowerment. His testimony created moments of profound silence and reflection. The genuine respect shown to Harold demonstrated a shared commitment: faith must inspire action, survivors must be heard, and freedom must become everyone’s mission.
D’Souza, President and Co-Founder of Eyes Open International (EOI), shared his lived experience of human labor trafficking and debt bondage. Harold D’Souza formerly served on the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, following appointments during the administrations of President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump.
His testimony left the audience deeply moved. There was pin-drop silence as D’Souza described the horrific realities of exploitation, fear, manipulation and bondage that he and his family endured. Yet his message was not centered on victimhood. It was a testimony of transformation, demonstrating how faith, patience and perseverance can turn trauma into triumph and pain into purpose.
One of the most impactful portions of his keynote focused on four practical areas: Red Flags, Problems, Solutions and Resources.
D’Souza encouraged the audience to recognize warning signs, understand the problems that create vulnerability, identify practical solutions and, most importantly, know where victims and survivors can find trusted resources.
Awareness, he emphasized, must lead to action. D’Souza shared a faith-filled principle that has guided him through some of life’s most difficult moments: “In God’s home, there is delay, but no denial.”
Reflecting on his journey today, Harold says: “This was a GIFT from God.”
For D’Souza, the word “gift” does not diminish the pain or injustice of trafficking. Rather, it describes how he has chosen to transform what was intended to destroy him into a calling to educate communities, protect vulnerable people and empower survivors.
His message of faith has reached supporters around the world. Fr. Valentine Luvara from Tanzania shared: “God bless Harold from above!!! Harold D’Souza is working for God’s people. He is doing a wonderful job!!!! Harold’s prophetic voice gives life to the multitude communities of God’s people. Best wishes from Tanzania.”
Harold and his wife, Dancy D’Souza, represented Eyes Open International at the gathering, standing alongside advocates, volunteers, faith leaders and community members committed to combating exploitation and supporting survivors.
D’Souza believes survivors should never be defined by what perpetrators did to them. Survivors possess lived experience, wisdom and leadership that can help communities understand trafficking in ways statistics alone cannot communicate.
As his keynote reached its conclusion, D’Souza left the audience with a powerful challenge rooted in his unwavering faith: “Do not tell God how big the storm is in your life! Tell the storm how big God is in your life.”
It was a fitting conclusion to a testimony built not simply upon survival, but upon faith, character, discipline, patience and service.
The OATH Project Golden Gate Gathering demonstrated that combating human trafficking requires an entire community. Families, educators, faith communities, nonprofits, businesses, law enforcement, government leaders and survivors all have a role to play.
Harold D’Souza’s journey reminds us that character is revealed through adversity, resilience grows through struggle, patience carries us through uncertainty, and faith gives us the courage to keep walking when we cannot yet see the destination.
For anyone experiencing trafficking, or concerned that labor exploitation, sexual abuse or LGBTQ harassment may be connected to trafficking in the United States of America, help is available through the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. In an immediate emergency, call 911.
To every survivor and every person walking through a storm: never allow today’s suffering to write the final chapter of your life. Hold onto your character. Practice patience. Walk with courage. Believe in your purpose. Keep your faith alive.
The storm may be enormous, but your faith, your resilience, and the God you believe in can be greater than the storm.
