Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. — Psalm 82:4
In Asia, where child trafficking continues to thrive as a multi-billion-dollar industry, one U.S. family and their international team are working to turn the tide. Michigan-born Seth Van Tifflin and his wife, Hlawn Hlawn Van Tifflin, founded In Better Hands in 2012 with one mission: to rescue vulnerable children and give them a safe, loving Christian home.
Today, the organization—an affiliated ministry partner of the Free Methodist Church-USA—operates safe homes and family-strengthening programs across Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Nepal, Vietnam, & the Philippines. Their work rescues abandoned babies and babies for sale, children fleeing abuse, widows struggling to care for their families, and refugees escaping conflict.
A Ministry Born from Urgency
Seth grew up in Michigan; Hlawn was raised in Myanmar. Together, they witnessed the devastating realities facing children across the region—poverty, exploitation, broken families, and widespread trafficking.
"What we saw could not be unseen," Seth recalled. "There were babies left without anyone to care for them and hungry children at high risk of being sold. We knew God was calling us to do something."
That call led to the creation of In Better Hands. Since then, the ministry has rescued or provided care for more than 800 children and vulnerable individuals.
Seth serves as the Executive Director, overseeing five core initiatives: Hope for the Child, Hope for the Widow, Hope for the Baby, Hope for the Village, and Hope for the Refugee. Hlawn serves as the International Liaison, strengthening relationships across borders. Seth and his family reside in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Together with their team, they ensure that each rescued child receives medical care, a healthy diet, education, and a Christ-centered family environment.
The urgency of the work is underscored by the 2024 U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report, which notes that children from Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos remain at high risk of sex trafficking in brothels, massage parlors, karaoke lounges, bars, hotels, and private residences. Many work illegal or dangerous jobs after being forced from school, and political instability—especially in Myanmar—has fueled a growing refugee crisis.
"Unfortunately, different forms of abuse and trafficking are very much a part of our world's reality," Seth said. "That's why we have safe homes in strategic locations—to protect children before traffickers reach them."
Stories of Rescue and Redemption
Grace was born on November 2, 2015. Her teenage mother and grandmother left their village seeking an abortion. There, they met one of In Better Hands' house mothers, who invited the young mother to stay and finish her pregnancy. "If you carry this baby, I will raise her," she said. Grace was born safely—and remains in the ministry's care today.
Pauline was born in 2016 after her 14-year-old mother was raped by a schoolteacher. Ashamed, her parents forced her to leave home. She, too, sought an abortion, and again, an In Better Hands housemother intervened. Today, Pauline is thriving, and her young mother attended a Christian school with the ministry's support.
These are just two of many children whose lives have been redeemed through simple acts of courage and compassion. You can read more stories of hope here.
New Projects: Homes of Safety and Hope
One of the organization's newest facilities is called Home of Hope in northern Thailand—a dedicated safe home for children who have been orphaned, abused, abandoned, or are at high risk of being trafficked. The home has already begun receiving children.
Another major effort, Home of Refuge, is underway to care for vulnerable refugee youth fleeing violence in Myanmar. With the conflict intensifying, the need for shelter and stability is greater than ever.
Challenges: Complex Moral and Legal Obstacles
Rescuing children across multiple countries is rarely straightforward. Seth and his team must navigate legal systems that lack clear child-protection mechanisms. They may also face difficult moral dilemmas when a child's home is unsafe but not legally defined as abandonment. Practical dangers are common as well, including travel through conflict zones or remote villages. In addition, cultural challenges, especially the shame that prevents families from seeking help, can make their work even more challenging.
"Every situation is different," he said. "We pray, we seek counsel, and we always choose what is safest for the child."
According to Seth, the greatest challenges are not always the rescues themselves, but the systems that are trapping the children, such as poverty, addiction, and broken families, the lack of education, political instability, refugee displacement, as well as fear, shame, and silence surrounding abuse.
"There is always another child who needs help—that's why prevention, safe homes, and family support matter so much."
The Personal Cost and Strength behind the Mission
Working so closely with suffering daily inevitably brings emotional strain. When asked about how he manages mental health, Seth replied that behind the heavy weight of the mission, several anchors sustain, balance, and strengthen him.
The first among those is his unwavering commitment to serving God - "I know that God has called me and my family to serve Him in this way." With daily spiritual disciplines such as reciting scriptures and prayers, he is anchored, especially when faced with difficult decisions. He is also grateful to be blessed with a dedicated team and a loving family who share the burden and bring him balance and joy. Lastly, the hundreds of redemption stories from the children In Better Hands have also been a source of strength.
"Seeing a rescued child laugh again—that restores us," he said.
Looking Ahead with Hope
Guided by faith, Seth's hopes for the future remain rooted in the mission's core values: integrity, love, respect, and humility.
For the children, he dreams that "every child in our care grows up knowing they are loved by God, receives a strong Christian foundation, and breaks generational cycles of poverty and exploitation."
For the Ministry, he hopes to expand into areas where children are most vulnerable, strengthen the current homes, increase outreach in villages, and rescue many more in need.
For his family, "While we continue serving with unity and joy, I pray my children grow up with compassionate hearts and a love for Jesus," Seth shared.
The vision of In Better Hands is to minister to the lives of the rescued children holistically—spiritually, physically, socially, and educationally. "Ultimately, we desire to instill a Christian foundation into their lives—rescuing them for Christ," Seth said.
For more information, visit In Better Hands website
