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Our Team

We are a small team of passionate abolitionists. 

Coming together from various backgrounds and experiences, our team relies on the generosity of advocates, volunteers, and those who want to make a difference in the fight against trafficking.


This is the backbone of International Saints & Abolitionists.

About Us: Team
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Joshua Parriera, M.A.

Executive Director

& President of the Board

Joshua Parriera is the Founder and Executive Director of International Saints and Abolitionists (ISA). Joshua received his Masters of Christian Studies from Regent College in Vancouver, B.C. and pastors a local church in Lynden, Washington, called The Anchored Church.


Joshua created  International Saints and Abolitionists (ISA) to uniquely address the problem of sex trafficking and equip the church to fight. Joshua aims to educate men and women to decrease demand to help eradicate sex trafficking. Through education and awareness, Joshua assists in the growing social, justice, and moral issues that are arising in the 21st century, with a heavy focus on the demand cycle of trafficking. 


Joshua is a gifted and passionate communicator who is enthusiastic about educating others about the truth of trafficking. Joshua speaks internationally on the realities of trafficking and its devastating effects on our culture by educating and advocating at conferences, businesses, groups, churches, universities, schools, city councils, and legislators on the effects of demand and its direct correlation to sex trafficking. Joshua believes that education can change the world, and it is our responsibility to educate the masses on the lies of our culture and what needs to be done about it. 

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Kurt Swanson

Business Relations Adviser

& Vice President of the Board

Kurt has served numerous organizations in order to fight for social justice and oppression. 


Kurt Swanson has been married for 31 years to Lani and has 5 children, along with 8 grandchildren. Kurt was born in Bellingham, WA, and since 1990 has worked in the real estate industry. Kurt has had the opportunity to work with many nonprofits and feels a call to focus his efforts on the protection and care of the most vulnerable, the kids, whether locally or around the world.  Kurt has also worked for Childcare Worldwide and Kidstown International in the past with a focus on child sponsorship. His love of seeing children free and safe is a part of his passion as he serves on the ISA board.


He currently serves on boards for 2 nonprofits, ISA and the other on missions work in Nepal and India. He was awarded the 2013 Whatcom County Realtor of the Year award by the Whatcom County Association of REALTORS and is the founder of  The Swanson Group

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Rusty Polinder

Adviser of Overseas Missions 

& Treasurer of the Board

Rusty Polinder is the Director of International Operations (Nepal and Thailand) for Kidstown International.


Rusty joined YWAM several years after high school, with a couple of years at Kuyper College. The YWAM experience led to Thailand for nearly a decade, where he worked with the Akha people in Northern Thailand through a local indigenous ministry in partnership with Christian Reformed World Missions. Rusty has a passion for overseas missions and has served as a missionary. His cross-cultural experience naturally stirred his interest in working for ISA and a passion for working with the underserved. 


His experience and devotion to Christ make him a great asset to ISA. His experience in overseas missions will assist ISA in the next steps focusing on international work. Rusty is married to Katie and has a son, Henry, and lives in Lynden, Washington.  

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Victoria Manderson

Trauma and Mental Health Advocate 

& Board Member

Victoria Manderson has worked in the Mental Health field for the last 12 years and currently manages the Supported Independent Living Program with Communitas Supportive Care Society


She holds a bachelor of arts with a major in psychology from the University of the Fraser Valley and is currently working on her Master's in Counseling Psychology at Yorkville University. 


Victoria is passionate about understanding the impact of trauma and finding ways to build resilience and overcome hardship. Her ability to focus on trauma and know the effects on the victim is a much-needed focus on trafficking research and development. ISA is excited to have an expert who is concerned and focused on the effects of trauma. 

Victoria was born and lives in Canada, advocating for those across all international borders. 

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Dana Parriera

Director of Abolition

& Secretary of the Board

Dana Parriera is the co-founder of International Saints and Abolitionists (ISA). She has developed her love for the human rights fight by volunteering in the past for other ant-trafficking organizations such as Agape International Missions (AIM), Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), and Engedi Refuge. As she served in a variety of ways, she saw the need for more of a focus on education and the prevention of trafficking. When the opportunity arose for ISA to be born, the connection of other organizations became another important aspect and focus as ISA now collaborates with many others to get more work done.


A big part of her vision for ISA is creating an online community where abolitionists are born, and other anti-trafficking orgs work with ISA to fight together. It is a dream come true to see the effects of that working. 


She is burdened by the pains of human trafficking and will do what she can to assist in the education of others so that they can always be free. With her love of writing and passion for truth, she is busy serving on the ground and behind a computer. She is married to the man of her dreams, and they have three beautiful children. 

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Lena Parriera

Marketing and Media Director 

Lena has a passion for those who are targeted for exploitation. She graduated at eighteen with her Associate Degree in Art and Sciences, with a focus on English. Her ability to write and edit are unequally matched and we are privileged that she shares her passion and talent with us.


We love her devotion to the freedom of all people and know that ISA is blessed to have her using her abilities to spread the message of hope to those with stripped freedoms.

Lena enjoys long walks, complicated coffees, and the ability to meet survivors and encourage them. 


Jesus First | Coffee Enthusiast | Freedom For All

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Melody Goff

Office Administrator

Mel Goff is an amazing asset to ISA and assists with the myriad administrative tasks required with a non-profit. Her passion and expertise in accounting and administrative skills allow the rest of the team to focus on other various tasks while she keeps all the books in order. 


Mel has always been passionate about helping people, but being part of an organization that works to stop human trafficking has increased it to a whole different level. She is honored to be working alongside Joshua and Dana, who have been called to vigorously oppose this pervasive blight on our world.


When she is not working, you can find her spending time with her 5 (almost 6!) grandkids, working on handmade cards, or finding ways to serve God’s people. She is also blessed to be married to her husband of 42 years, Scott. 

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International Saints & Abolitionists

Fighting so that all may be free!

Founded in 2018, International Saints & Abolitionists continue to educate the populous and join with other organizations to end human trafficking. With Christ leading, ISA strives to equip the saints to be abolitionists.


ISA has made an amazing impact through events, online training, documentaries, prostitution research, and campaigns that have produced real change, both in the United States and across the Globe. 

About Us: About
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Statement of Beliefs

Doctrine of God

We believe in one God eternally existing as one essence and three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, each of whom is fully God, yet there is one God.

Doctrine of Creation and Providence

We believe that God created the world from nothing and governs all things at all times in all places.

Doctrine of Humanity

We believe that all humanity is created in the image of God and possesses intrinsic dignity and worth.

Doctrine of Sin

We believe that sin has fractured all things, leaving the world in desperate need of salvation, available only in Jesus Christ. 

Doctrine of Salvation

We believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Doctrine of Prayer

We believe that all Christ followers are to pray without ceasing and fully relying on our Sovereign God to hear, guide, answer, and direct us.

Doctrine of the Church

We believe that the Church is the body of Christ sent into the world to shine forth the glory of God.

Doctrine of Revelation

God has made Himself known to the world in Jesus Christ, the inerrant and infallible Scriptures, and creation.

Doctrine of Resurrection and Consummation of the Kingdom of God

We believe that Jesus Christ is returning to the world in the future to judge the living and the dead.

About Us: About Us

 *Though we are a faith-based organization, there are no faith requirements to receive education, complete programs, and receive certifications from ISA.

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Support Our Mission

Help Empower the Anti-Trafficking Movement

Your donation is essential for this ministry to continue. Thank you for partnering with us.

About Us: Donate

Need Help?

To report human trafficking or to obtain information on services for trafficked persons...


Call National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free hotline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-888-373-7888 to speak with a specially trained Anti-Trafficking Hotline Advocate. 

You can text HELP to 233733.

Support is provided in more than 200 languages. 

Report missing children or child pornography to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678).


Report a possible trafficking situation anonymously online here.  

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