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.
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.
Kurt Swanson
Business Relations Advisor
& 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.
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.
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
Rusty Polinder
Advisor 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 its next steps focusing on international work. Rusty is married to Katie and has a son, Henry, and lives in Lynden, Washington.
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.
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.
*Though we are a faith-based organization, there are no faith requirements to receive education, complete programs, and receive certifications from ISA.
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.
Join ISA
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and how you can be a part of freedom.