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Prostitution
is such an ugly word. We don’t want to think about people who
are
working in this way. Until I moved to Thailand 22 years ago, I thought
that people working in prostitution had made a bad
“choice”
for their lives. And then I started talking to many young women working
in bars and nightclubs, prostituting themselves, and I learned that the
money they made was going to support their mothers and fathers and
brothers and sisters. It was paying for food and housing and education
for their siblings. They told me that they knew that they were
“sacrificing” themselves for their families. Their
low
level of education meant that they couldn’t find jobs which
could
bring their families out of poverty. As daughters, they felt they owed
their lives to their family, to help them to survive and thrive - no
matter what.
I met many girls who were victims of human trafficking: they had been
told that they could have “good jobs” to support
their
impoverished families, working as waitresses or house-maids if they
would go to Thailand from Burma or Laos or China. When they arrived in
Thailand with traffickers, no such jobs waited for them. Rather, they
were raped and forced to sexually serve many men. Their traffickers
kept them working in prostitution by threatening to kill them or their
family members.
All over the world - including Europe - poverty drives many women and
girls into prostitution. But what about women and girls who are from
wealthy countries who prostitute themselves? What we know is that most
women in prostitution from Western Europe and North America were
sexually abused as children. The emotional trauma of that experience
does damage to the heart and soul that is beyond measure. Often, they
run away from home to escape the abuse. And far too often, those who
offer to “help” them on the streets will entrap
them in a
down-ward spiral of drug dependency and prostitution. Of course, not
all sexually abused girls and women enter into prostitution. But abuse
creates a vulnerability that can be exploited by those with evil
intent.
And so, my BIG question those 22 years ago in Thailand - and my BIG
question now is: what can Christians DO? What can Christians DO to
shine the light of God’s love into the dark places of
prostitution and human trafficking? What can Christians DO to make any
difference about subjects that are so overwhelming - and evil?
I hope that all of you are asking that question. I have answers for
you!
Pray!
Usually when Christians see people in prostitution, or go past sex
clubs and sex bars, they prefer to look the other way, so not to be
“polluted” by that “dirty
stuff”. I’d
suggest doing the opposite. Look right into the situation and pray
God’s grace, mercy and love be shown into the hearts and
lives of
ALL of those involved - the women, men, owners, workers. Pray that God
would do God’s work there. Pray over newspaper articles and
TV
programs that address the issues - that God’s love would
pierce
the darkness. I’m convinced that God is working through the
prayers his people! And if you feel led, ask God to direct you to a
place of doing more….
Research! Find out who is doing what in your community, state or
country to directly touch the lives of people in prostitution and
victims of trafficking. Look for Christian individuals and groups as
well as NGO’s and governmental organizations. Ask about how
you
or your church can help. How can we be servants in the name of Christ
to those who are “on the front lines” - whether
they be
Christian or not?
Prepare to be surprised!!! Twenty-two years ago when I began praying
and researching about prostitution in Thailand, I never imagined what
would happen. I had no idea that God would clearly call me to spend my
life helping Christians all over the world to share Christ’s
love
with people being abused and exploited in prostitution, offering
economic and spiritual alternatives. God’s spirit is moving
around this world, calling people to do things they never thought
possible. In God’s kingdom, even what we think of as a
“small thing”, God will multiply way beyond what we
can
dream.
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I’ll leave you with some resources! Make
sure that you have the 2 books that your EBF Anti-Trafficking Working Group
has produced! These two books provide Bible studies, theological
reflection and practical ideas. If you don’t have them, you
can
request them from the EBF office in Prague:
My “book of the month” that I highly recommend is: Escaping the Devil's Bedroom:
Sex
Trafficking, Global Prostitution and the Gospel's Transforming Power,
by Dawn Herzog Jewell.
It powerfully tells the stories of people who are transforming and
being transformed by God’s redeeming love. It’s
inspiring!
You can order it from www.amazon.co.uk
Requests:
If you
know of ways that Christians in your community or country are
ministering in Christ’s name to people in prostitution or
victims
of trafficking please tell me about them! Do you have questions?
Don’t hesitate to write and ask me! God’s Love and
Blessings to All of You!
Lauran
Bethell,
(Rev.
Lauran Bethell serves as Global Consultant, helping Christians to
minister in Christ’s name to victims of human trafficking and
prostitution. She is a missionary with International Ministries
ABC/USA, and is based in The Netherlands. Lauran is writing for News
& Views on a regular base to keep us informed.)
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