MEET THE BOARD
Judi Worgess
Overview:
Judi Worgess is Co-Founder of IHIJC, and President of the Board of Directors. She has been married to her husband Earl for over 35 years and together they have raised 5 children, all of whom are grown. Their 3 grandchildren are their delight! Judi is an active member of her church, First Baptist Church of Mt. Holly, and is a born-again believer in Jesus Christ. She recently retired as a speech-language specialist in the public schools and continues to work part-time at a private facility. Judi enjoys skiing, going to the beach, reading, travelling, and lifting the poor and needy.
The Human Trafficking Connection:
Judi first began reading about human trafficking in Asia, through information from World Vision, and thought it was the most horrific thing she had ever heard! Several years later, she found information about A21 Campaign’s global anti-trafficking work at a Women of Faith conference. She began to educate herself on the A21 website, and her heart was broken. She asked God what she could do. At the same time, Judi attended a workshop at a NJEA conference and was shocked to find that human trafficking was happening in NJ. That was a fact with which she couldn’t live! Judi saw A21’s Walk for Freedom on their website and began to ask friends if they would help host a Walk for Freedom. Her pastor allowed her to announce it in church, and shortly thereafter, IHIJC was born!
The Spiritual Driving Force:
Judi grew up in a Catholic family and is thankful for her early introduction to Christ. In college, through a dynamic campus ministry, Judi drew nearer to God, til midway through college, God supernaturally revealed Himself to her. Reflecting on the passion of Christ on the cross, at a church service, Judi understood how much Christ suffered for her. Understanding her own sinful condition, in her mind, she began to tell Jesus He shouldn’t have done it, that the cost was too high. Simultaneously God revealed to her that if He had not gone to the cross, she would be eternally lost. In her mind, she stopped arguing, and received the gift of salvation. The Holy Spirit began working in her life and after graduating from college, seeking to grow closer to God, she responded when co-workers invited her to First Baptist Church of Mt. Holly, and has been there ever since! She has become grounded in the Word, and God has become her all in all!
Linda J. Wiles
An Overview:
Linda J. Wiles, LCSW is Vice President of the Board of Directors. She is the proud sister to eight siblings and the fun aunt to over 60 nieces and nephews. Linda is an ordained minister at Living Hope Christian Church. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Linda has over 35 years experience in both the public and private sector in administration, program development, clinical supervision, consultation, and providing clinical services to children, youth, adults, and their families. She is currently employed as a clinical supervisor at Children’s Continuum of Care
and Aktep Behavioral, LLC. At Children’s Continuum of Care and Aktep Behavioral, LLC, Linda also performs assessments, training, and Intensive In home individual and family therapy. Ms. Wiles is certified in treating complex trauma. She is currently providing clinical services to survivors of human trafficking and their family members. She has received and presented numerous trainings on human trafficking throughout the United States and abroad. Linda has received additional specialized training from The New Jersey Department of Children and families with New Jersey Child Welfare Training Partnership on Human Trafficking: Survivor Identification and Engagement for therapists. Linda enjoys spending time with family, traveling, physical activity, and shopping.
The Human Trafficking Connection:
Linda first became aware of human trafficking when she was the Director of Youth Residential Services at The Lester A. Drenk Center, which was later renamed as Legacy Treatment Services. As Director of Youth Residential Services, one of the programs that was developed was The Family Care Provider Program. The Family Care Provider Program was the Burlington County Juvenile Shelter and would provide shelter, crisis intervention, and host home services to children and youth in crisis. At the Family Care Provider Program, Linda encountered runaways from as far away as Kentucky. She met a young teenager who had been visiting New Jersey on her honeymoon to her over 40 year old husband. She had been involved in a bar fight. It was later learned that her parents had traded her for a piece of land. At the time, Linda knew this was not right and began learning about human trafficking. Linda later became involved with In His Image Justice Coalition, after meeting the President,
Judi Worgess at a Trades of Hope party. A short time later, she was asked to provide a clinical assessment and expert testimony for an elementary aged child rescued from her grandparents who were believed to be traffickers. Linda is also the founder and director of Wiles Counseling Associates She has conducted conferences, provided clinical and administrative consultations to government officials, counselors, pastors, and child workers in Colombia, South America for several decades on issues of program development, crisis intervention, child safety,
addictions, and human trafficking. Ms. Wiles also provides training, clinical and administrative consultation and clinical assessments and treatment within the United States in New Jersey, Connecticut, and North Carolina.
The Spiritual Driving Force:
Linda is number 6 out of 9 children. Along with her 7 sisters and one brother, she was raised by two parents and attended the Catholic Church every Sunday. At the age of 15, Linda learned that Jesus Christ personally died for her loved her, and had a purpose for her life. She made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and began a life- long relationship that would be led by the Holy Spirit. Currently Linda is very involved in family ministry at Living Hope Christian Church. She serves as deaconess and is a member of the primary ministry team.
Linda disciples women, provides training, assists with outreach, and is very involved in children’s ministry. Linda is very passionate about helping those affected by human trafficking and that each victim has worth beyond measure in God’s eyes and is made in His very image.
Isabel Castro Bivins
Overview:
Isabel Castro Bivins is a board member of In His Image Justice Coalition. She’s been working in the hair industry since 2017. She was born and raised in New Jersey, grew up in the church, and is dedicated to her church family. She believes in growing with your church so you can build each other up and spread the gospel. She likes hiking, kayaking, and rollerblading with friends.
The Human Trafficking Connection:
Isabel grew up around Judi in church, First Baptist Church of Mount Holly. She officially got introduced to the organization around 2016 when her mother would volunteer her for different events. She later found her own love for IHIJC in 2021. She loved the passion for the mission and wanted to be a part of spreading information that could save hundreds of lives.
The Spiritual Driving Force:
Isabel grew tired of selfishly living for herself. She felt God pushing her to get out of her comfort zone and stand up for people that were suffering. If Jesus cared so much about his creation to come down to earth to pay for our sins, shouldn’t she? This drove her to get more involved in IHIJC and become a board member. As she gets older, she realizes that life is ever changing and you have a limited perception and understanding of it . For this reason, trust and reliance on God is crucial and strives to learn how to live under the guidance of God.
