{"id":1978,"date":"2011-02-06T16:26:09","date_gmt":"2011-02-06T21:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/?p=1978"},"modified":"2013-05-31T18:33:54","modified_gmt":"2013-06-01T02:33:54","slug":"how-to-minister-to-prostitutes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/how-to-minister-to-prostitutes\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Minister to Prostitutes"},"content":{"rendered":"
Keith Giles at his Subversive1 blog concludes his posts on\u00a0HOW TO START A MINISTRY TO THE POOR IN YOUR COMMUNITY – Part 5 of 5<\/a> with some information about ministry to prostitutes. Here is what he wrote:<\/p>\n MINISTRY TO PROSTITUTES \u2013 INTO THE REAL DARKNESS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n I’ve only been out about four times to the streets here in Orange County to minister to women caught in prostitution. Most of what I’ve learned is based on research and several crushing episodes of utter, empty defeat and failure.<\/p>\n This ministry is easily the most challenging and ‘outside my comfort zone’. It means entering a dark, dangerous world where you are an outsider and the level of commitment required is off the charts.<\/p>\n First, a little bit of background about the issue.<\/p>\n HARD TO QUIT<\/strong> HOOKED BY FEAR AND ADDICTION<\/strong> HUMAN SLAVERY<\/strong> It’s very shocking to realize that human slavery is alive and well in the United States of America. Just about a year ago the Orange County Police Department broke up the largest human trafficking\/forced prostitution ring in the history of this region. I remember it because it was just weeks before the Freedom Day on March 25th at Vanguard where hundreds gathered to protest slavery and bring attention to this very real problem.<\/p>\n America is the number one market for human sexual slavery. Anaheim, the home of Disneyland, is one of the largest markets for human trafficking in the Nation.<\/p>\n You can find out more information about this online at\u00a0STOPTHETRAFFIK.ORG<\/a><\/p>\n DIFFERENT TYPES 1) Street level- Normally these are homeless girls who have no pimp and work prostitution for the food and for drugs. It’s purely survival and quick cash. MINISTRY IDEAS<\/strong> *Mixed Teams<\/strong> *Pray, Pray, Pray<\/strong> *Bless Them<\/strong> *Gift Bags<\/strong> *The Pimps<\/strong> *Statistics<\/strong> For those who do get off the streets, the process means getting off the streets and then relapsing over and over again for a few years before finally, eventually, getting off the streets for life.<\/p>\n Of course, these statistics don’t tell the whole story. Some girls get off and stay off in one shot, some leave after several years, others after only a few months. But you should know what you’re getting into before you commit to such a challenging ministry.<\/p>\n GETTING THEM REAL HELP<\/strong> The challenge I’ve run into is the lack of resources for girls who are under 18, don’t have a Driver’s License, or a SS card. These are usually girls who are here illegally or runaways.<\/p>\n If the girl is over 18 you can send them to Teen Challenge and\/or another drug and alcohol treatment center where their addictions can be addressed and they can receive spiritual guidance and emotional healing. Sadly, most non-profit groups will not accept a girl who is under 18. Go figure.<\/p>\n What is really needed to minister to these girls is a long list of resources: As I said before, the most challenging and overwhelming ministry I’ve ever known is ministry to prostitutes. Not for the faint of heart.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nTo learn more about Human Trafficking and sex slavery, check out some of these posts:\r\n Keith Giles at his Subversive1 blog concludes his posts on\u00a0HOW TO START A MINISTRY TO THE POOR IN YOUR COMMUNITY – Part 5 of 5 with some information about ministry to prostitutes. Here is what he wrote: MINISTRY TO PROSTITUTES \u2013 INTO THE REAL DARKNESS I’ve only been out about four times to the streets […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1980,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[19],"class_list":{"0":"post-1978","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"tag-discipleship","8":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\n
\nMost girls who are on the streets will either get off and back into a normal life in the first three months or it will be another ten years before they can escape this lifestyle. Why? Because the work is so repugnant and degrading, at first, that if they’re ever going to escape it has to be in those first few months. Otherwise, they get trapped into this lifestyle through fear of their pimp and\/or through dependence on the drugs their pimp supplies them with.<\/p>\n
\nWhat keeps most girls on the streets is the fear of being abused or killed by their pimp, and\/or their need to keep an expensive drug habit going. Their pimps usually get them hooked on drugs as quickly as they can in order to control them. They know that no other lifestyle would afford their girls the kind of money they need to keep the drugs flowing, so the girls are essentially trapped into this life of prostitution.<\/p>\n
\nAnother difficult and impossible situation is where you have forced prostitution through organized crime syndicates. Many girls are here from Russia, the Ukraine, Romania, Thailand, Cambodia, and other impoverished nations. Many were tricked into coming here and are kept here by the threat of harm to their families back in their home country. They cannot leave, even if they desperately want to escape, because to leave would mean the murder of their mother, father, siblings, etc.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>You’ll encounter one of four different kinds of girls who work on the streets.<\/p>\n
\n2) Weekenders- These girls come and work to support their children or save money for college or other reasons. They are healthy and generally wear clean, attractive clothing.
\n3) Circuit Girls- These girls work a circuit throughout California, Nevada, Florida, etc. They wear exaggerated clothing (very Hollywood-esque). These look the most like obvious prostitutes and are the easiest to spot.
\n4) Transvestite- A man who dresses like a woman to turn tricks. Some have had surgery and take hormones to round off the illusion. You think it would be easy to tell the difference. You would be wrong.<\/p>\n
\n*Stay Up Late<\/strong>
\nDue to the nature of this ministry, to find the girls you need to be where they are, and that means on the streets between 12am and 4am. You’re guaranteed to loose sleep over this ministry.<\/p>\n
\nIf you go out you need to always stay in mixed teams of guys and girls. It’s a bad idea for guys to go out alone, since they might be arrested for soliciting, and it’s not safe for girls to go out alone either. Mixed groups of at least four people work best.<\/p>\n
\nPrayer is crucial since you are entering into the Enemy’s camp. This is where the Kingdom of Darkness clashes with the Kingdom of God. Expect a lot of spiritual attack at home and during the ministry time.<\/p>\n
\nYou mainly want to get to know these girls. As with other ministries weve discussed thus far, consistency is the key. Build a relationship. Buy them breakfast if they’ll let you. Listen to their stories. Ask them what they need and try to meet practical needs.<\/p>\n
\nOne local ministry to prostitutes brings gift bags to the girls with make-up supplies, gift cards to shops and food stores, clothing stores, etc. It brings down their guard and allows you a chance to smile, bless them, find out their names and ask if you can pray for them.<\/p>\n
\nBelieve it or not, getting to know these guys can be a significant part of the process. One ministry I know of actually spends a lot of time trying to help these guys change their lives and turn to Christ. If they do, the girls usually follow and the operation is shut down because the girls, and their pimp, have surrendered to Christ and are seeking to live a new life.<\/p>\n
\nSadly, 98% of the girls who are on the streets now will stay there, and die there. This means that out of every 100 girls you reach out to, only 2 of them will get off the streets and stay off.<\/p>\n
\nIf you encounter girls who are under 18 you should refer them to ‘Children of the Night’ (if you have one in your area) or even the local police department. These are minors who need to be rescued from this lifestyle.<\/p>\n
\n*Trained counselors
\n*Free shelter
\n*Addiction treatment
\n*Job Training
\n*Free Child Care
\n*Healthcare access (for health checkups, STD’s, etc.)<\/p>\nHuman Trafficking Posts<\/h2>\r\n
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