Young Girls In The Sex Industry

As I continue to learn more about human trafficking and the sex trade in Dallas, the more I am running into young girls.

A group of women and myself were at a strip club recently and met two teenage girls. One girl was 18 and married to a man that is, as she put it, "a bit older" than herself. This young girl confessed that she had fears of how her marriage may turn out due to her own parents divorcing. I think everyone can relate to this, a fear of rejection and failure. While we were talking she asked me for marriage advice and I opened up to her about my own fears and how I could relate to her. I told her that marriage isn't always easy but that when you have good communication with your spouse and Christ in the center there is Hope and Help even during the toughest times.

The other teenage girl we met has a family history of women in her family getting into the strip club business and passing it down to their daughters from one generation to the next. As unbelievable as it may sound, this is happening here in Dallas.

These encounters have confirmed the need for the continuation of this type of ministry: Meeting the girls where they are at in brothels and strip clubs and bringing Jesus' love into dark places.

In Luke 7:36-50, Jesus' love for the woman is fearless and bold. A woman who leads a sinful life follows Jesus into a Pharisee's house that Jesus is eating at. She washes Jesus' feet with her tears, kisses them and pours perfume on them. Jesus faces the risk of being rejected and judged by the Pharisee as He defends the woman's actions. Jesus' love extends to messy people in messy circumstances. His example challenges myself and other women who have volunteered their time with me in this ministry.

My research has led me to look into youth correctional facilities and places of generational poverty. I learned at a Girls Circle Training held at Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center that the common thread amongst girls in correctional facilities is sexual abuse.

I am expanding my ministry efforts into correctional facilities and communities where girls face tough life situations such as poverty, abuse and neglect. It is important to realize that many of these girls have been sexually abused and therefore the risk of them being bought and sold for sexual services increases significantly. They will be lured to people and places like pimps, brothels and strip clubs in search of identity, self worth, family, shelter and money. The plan of action is to give these girls life skills that will enable them to make healthy choices for their future regardless of the barriers their past may have made for them. Also to bring the message that the One who created them loves them and desires to have a relationship with them. Their worth in Christ is far greater than they realize.

In addition to this I am working with a counselor, Stephanie, who has developed a group therapy program for women and girls who are involved in the sexual exploitation business. Her program has been developed to help bring healing, restoration and transition to a new life with Christ.

Each one of the girls that we encounter during direct outreach is someone’s daughter, sister, granddaughter and possibly somebody’s mother.

I am asking for your help, skills, services, time and talents. Please consider how you could love these girls well.

Opportunities to Love Well

Prayer Partner:

I have created a 40 days of prayer guide for church and community groups to commit to praying for these women and girls.

IT Talents:

Do you have the knowledge and skill set of creating a website? We are in need of your help!!!

Advertising/Communications/Raising Awareness:

There is much to be communicated to the local community on what is going on in their community and how they can be a part of helping to change these girls' lives.

Preparation for Outreach:

Collecting Outreach Gifts Items:

Small gifts that you would give to a daughter, niece or a close female friend. Items such as Bath and Body works, Mary Kay, Redeeming Love books, Journals, Bibles, Christian Bookstore type gifts. If you have any questions about a donation please contact me.

Donations of food to take into the strip club or detention center such as deli sandwiches and baked goods.

We often offer to wash the women’s feet when going inside the brothels and could use donations of nail polish.

Direct Outreach:

Volunteer your time and come out with myself and other volunteers to do direct outreach to women and girls.

Financial Support:

Send Personal Checks to:
Faith Bible Church
Attn: Christina
201 1/2 E. Virginia
Suite 1
McKinney, TX 75069

To learn more or if you have questions please feel free to contact me.

Peace,

Christina

A Life Changing Conversation

October of last year, I had a life changing conversation with the first girl whom I had ever met, who was involved in the commercial sex industry. Her name is Kami, and I met her through dialing her phone number from an on-line ad. I was very nervous and fearful of rejection, when I dialed her number. She answered the phone and, by the Lord’s grace, she didn’t hang up on me when I told her who I was, and that I wanted to meet with her. She then surprised me even more, when she said that she would meet me at a public location in Dallas, a local Starbucks.

When Kami drove up to Starbucks and got out of her car, I immediately knew that it was her! She stood out in her appearance, clothes, make-up and all. She claimed to be 19 years of age. We talked for several hours and, believe it or not, we laughed and cried together too! She had a history of low self-esteem, and she had gotten involved in a bad relationship with her boyfriend, who told her that she would exchange sexual services for money, in order to help with finances. Through this conversation, she found out that he was not really her boyfriend, but a pimp with whom she had become involved.

During our time together, she showed me, on her body, where her pimp had "branded" her with a tattoo of his name and other symbols of ownership. These tattoos were a reminder to Kami that she was the property of her pimp, and it also let other men and pimps know that she was taken. She described her life as one of a slave. She was told daily what she was to do, including what she would wear, where she would go and what kind of posture and eye contact she was allowed to make around other men.

For the life of me, I couldn’t believe that this young American girl had allowed herself to be put into this horrible situation. I asked Kami if she had ever tried to leave her pimp and leave the life of prostitution. She responded, saying that she had just run away from her pimp and that it was not easy to leave her situation. Her pimp would physically abuse her, and if she tried to leave, he would also use daily tactics of control, intended to prevent her from becoming independent.

Kami and I also talked about God, and how much He loves her. I explained that He hated the sin and injustice that was in Kami’s life. We talked about how God wants a relationship with her, and that He is crazy about her. She wanted to believe God’s truth, but there were so many barriers in her life. Her barriers were not the same barriers that you and I face on a daily basis, but I am sure that you and I can both relate to feeling so overwhelmed by trials, that you wonder if God is really there in the midst of all the mess.

As Kami’s and my conversation was coming to a close, I gave her a phone number where she could reach me. I told her about several services that I could offer to her to get help, and I prayed for her before we parted. Kami was very grateful, but I knew that it was going to take God’s work in her life for that help to be substantial.

After meeting Kami, I was much more aware of how some girls get involved in the life of exploitation for money. It was sad, but it also gave me the knowledge, that I needed to continue in ministering to these girls...all of them.

I also became so much more aware of God’s heart for Kami and for all the others out there who are desperate for God's love and our help. God loves these girls so much more than I do, and I know that the only reason I have a heart and a desire to minister to them, is because it was His desire first. He has just allowed me to be a part of His plan. God continues to build my testimony daily, as I see his work in my life and the life of these girls.

God is continually connecting me with people who are interested in hearing more about these girls, and how they can help. I welcome the opportunity to get together with you, your friends, community group or church to discuss these things.

Psalm 139, Brownies and Brothels

I went to visit the brothels with two volunteers, Sara and Michelle. This outing was Sara and Michelle's first time to reach out, love and minister to women in brothels. They are both mothers and amazing women of God. They have such hearts for the Lord and pure motives in wanting to reach out to these women!

All three of us walked up to the first brothel door and rang the doorbell. A young Thai woman opened the door and I introduced the three of us. I then proceeded to tell the woman that we had something special for the girls inside and that we wanted them to know that we loved and cared for them. At first she didn't smile but then she saw how special the gift was. Michelle had made brownies to hand out to the women in the brothels. The brownies were wrapped in saran wrap with a Bible verse attached to it written in BOTH English and Thai, Psalm 139:13-16 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." When this woman saw that the bible verse was written in her very own Thai language she finally began to smile!!! I could tell that this gift meant much more to her because of this extra step that was taken!

As we approached the second brothel we waited in the screening room. This is the room that men wait at until the madame or a girl that works there comes to answer the door. In most all of the screening rooms we go into there are shrines to Buddha. This is an ever present reminder of the spiritual battle that is going on around us and inside the brothels. A friend of mine, Julie, recommended that I read the book Disposable People by Dr. Kevin Bales. This book is about researched modern day slavery and it highlights how religion is used to justify a girl's bondage in prostitution. In the book Dr. Bales describes the type of Buddhism that is followed in Thailand: "In the ladder of existence, women are well below men, and only if she is especially careful might a woman hope to be born as a man in her next life."

Since Michelle was aware that this could be the case for many of the Thai women we came across in the brothels she specifically chose Psalm 139:13-16. for them to read. She wanted them to know that they are valued and priceless in the eyes of Jesus, and that He has a plan and a purpose for each one of them!

I am still researching and learning about these Buddhist shrines and the religion behind them. I am eager to know what it means to the women inside and how it may affect the view of their self worth.

As we continued to knock on doors each woman was hesitant to open the door to us at first. I am sure they were thinking that we wanted something from them or that we came to pass judgment. Nope...we just came to pass out these brownies with nuggets of God's Truth on them in hopes of blessing each one of them! When they realized that we were not there to cause any trouble, one by one they would open up the doors to reach out for the brownies with nuggets of truth!

We offered to pray for these girls at several of the brothels. Each time they were speechless at first and didn't know what to say. Then once they processed our question they smiled and asked us to raise up their own personal prayer requests for them. I think these girls were taken back at the fact that church women would care enough to bake brownies for them with bible versus in their own language and then offer to pray for them!

Once again it was a day that I am so thankful to be able to do this ministry!! Both Sara and Michelle had their eyes and hearts opened in so many ways their first time out!

Please join us in prayer by praying that the verse would reveal to the women how precious they are to the One that created them. That it would also open up conversations between myself, the volunteers and the women in the brothels. We pray that some seeds of love have been planted! I am eager to see what will grow!!

If you would like to help support my outreach ministry I would greatly appreciate it!

To Donate Send Personal Checks to:
Faith Bible Church
Attn: Christina
201 1/2 E. Virginia
Suite 1
McKinney, TX 75069

House of Hope, Zacapa, Guatemala

I returned home yesterday from a mission trip in Guatemala. It was a wonderful opportunity for three churches (Faith Bible Church, Irving Bible Church and Bent Tree Bible Fellowship) to come together to be the hands and feet of Jesus to orphans and families in need in Guatemala! It was an amazing and intense time of service and ministry.

Our team spent 8 days serving with House of Hope in Zacapa, Guatemala. House of Hope (HOH) is an orphanage and a school that provides love and education, an ideal environment for the children to socialize with the surrounding community.

We painted both a church built by HOH and a HOH school, dug a trench for electricity improvements, played games with the kids, provided medications, prescription eye glasses and clothes for villagers and orphans.

We visited three schools in surrounding villages to share the gospel in the form of a drama. The drama was about a boy who faces many trials and tries to find meaning in life. He eventually finds meaning in his relationship with Jesus. Much to our surprise MANY of the kids were touched by the drama. Tears streamed down their faces as they watched it. These kids have hard and difficult trials in life and at home. They related to the drama in many ways and it touched their hearts.

We also visited the state orphanage in Zacapa to bring them gifts, sing songs and pray with them. The state orphanage differed from HOH orphanage tremendously. The kids at HOH were happy, joyful and had house parents that loved them. The children at the state orphanage were attention deprived and desperate for the attention and love of our team members. After seeing the difference between these two orphanages, the vision of why HOH existed was clear.

Our team had the privileged of clearing a piece of land within the HOH complex. This land will be used to build an additional House of Hope home!!! Which means that they will be able to house and raise more kids!! These kids will have the opportunity of being given a place to live with house parents, an education and LOTS of love.

This mission trip was a life changing experience for every team member. Every where we went the children and local villagers were so thankful for our service. They showed us a lot of love and gratitude throughout the entire mission trip. We were given many hugs and words of praise. During our trip our team keep strong and unified through prayer and the encouragement of one another. I praise God for such a wonderful and fruitful experience!


If you would like to help support my outreach ministry financially I would greatly appreciate it!

To Donate Send Personal Checks to:
Faith Bible Church
Attn: Christina
201 1/2 E. Virginia
Suite 1
McKinney, TX 75069

She is Now Made a New Creation!!!

The Area Director of Young Life in McKinney, Scott Rhodes, asked me to be a Young Life Camp Leader for one of the Freshman cabins at Crooked Creek Ranch. Young Life is an AMAZING ministry that presents the gospel to all the teenage kids that attend the summer camp. It was an unexpected and last minute trip for me but God had it planned all along!

In my cabin I had a bright, fun and sweet young 15 year old girl in my named Olivia (not her real name). This girl truly stood out to me! She was drinking in EVERY word the speaker had to tell her about what Jesus had done for her on the cross and His gift of eternal life. God was pursuing hard after this young girl's heart!

During one of our cabin times Olivia had shared much of what was going on in her personal life between her and God. She was part of a broken home and had been hurt as a child. After Olivia shared this I meet with her one on one. With Olivia sitting across the table from me, I asked her if she had a relationship with Jesus to help her calm the storm that she was going through in her life. She confessed that she had a past and felt she needed to first forgive herself for her sins before she would allow Jesus in her life to lighten the load for her. Fear and shame was holding her back from the relationship she desperately wanted with her Lord and Savior.

Olivia and I talked about the Bible's truth and promise of Jesus forgiving her of her sins and washing them clean. I told her she couldn't do this on her own. That Jesus was crazy about her and He really wanted to have a relationship with her and help her in her times of need. As we parted I wasn't discouraged at all. God was continuing to write His testimony in Olivia and I was blessed to be apart of it.

The next day after the kids had their 15 minutes of quite time with God, Olivia walked into our cabin. She looked me straight in the eyes and said, "I had a good talk with God". I asked her what they had talked about. She tearfully and joyfully wept saying that she had accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She had told Jesus she couldn't do this life alone or face her trials by herself. She wanted His help and grace!!! Praise God!! She is now made a new creation!

This was a rich time for me and other Young Life Leaders in McKinney that walked along side teenagers learning about Jesus and His plan for them. The best thing is that we get to continue to walk along side them here at home!!

If you would like to help support my outreach ministry financially I would greatly appreciate it!

To Donate Send Personal Checks to:
Faith Bible Church
Attn: Christina
201 1/2 E. Virginia
Suite 1
McKinney, TX 75069

Prision Ministry

It has been a GREAT month doing outreach!!! There have been so many different opportunities to get the body of Christ plugged and I have been blessed to be apart of it all!

There has been some talk about a prison ministry called Seed Sowers. When I heard about this ministry I had to check it out to see how I could get the Body of Christ involved. A group of us went to visit these inmates to help them paint murals on the plain white walls of there dorm.

These were some VERY special women!!! The experience was unreal, unlike any other ministry I have seen. The inmates were broken and open for the Lord in their attitude and in their worship. I think we all learned more from them than they did from us!

Want to join us sometime?? I am bringing a group of women August 19th and September 9th to love and minister to the women inmates. Let me know if you would like to be apart of this group!! God can and will use you!


If you would like to help support my outreach ministry financially I would greatly appreciate it!

To Donate Send Personal Checks to:
Faith Bible Church
Attn: Christina
201 1/2 E. Virginia
Suite 1
McKinney, TX 75069

Salvation Comes To The Brothels!! (Febuary 2009)

I am in awe and overjoyed at the GREAT things God has done! Girls in the brothels have come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!!! God is truly amazing!! I HAVE to tell you the stories of these girls and how God worked in their lives. Since I have witnessed these miracles I feel that it is only right that I tell you all that God is doing in hopes of you also being encouraged in the same way that I have been.

In the first brothel God revealed that He had already been sowing in these two girls. The first girl said that previously, on THREE occasions a man had visited the brothel and paid for her services. When she went into the private room to service this man he was holding a Bible. He said he was there because God had sent him to tell her to get out of this business and that God had other plans for her! The second girl had been attending church for several months but had been hiding the fact that she works as a prostitute in a brothel. She said that she LOVED church but hated that she had to hide what she does in fear of being judged and rejected.

At the second brothel we started out loving these girls by washing their feet. While washing their feet I read John 13:1-17 Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet. After reading the scripture we told them, “this is the way Jesus tells us to love each other and that is why we have chosen to serve you in this way. We want you both to know that we don’t see ourselves as better than you, we only want to serve you.” Then I read Luke 7: 36-50 Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman. While reading the scripture both of the girls were in complete and total awe of the sinful woman’s faith and boldness! They truly listened like little children, waiting to find out what Jesus’ response was going to be towards the sinful woman that was weeping at His feet. They responded to Jesus’ response with, “That sinful woman is ME!! I can’t BELIEVE she followed Jesus into the religious mans’ house!!” Both girls did not take this scripture lightly or as just a story. They took it as Jesus Himself speaking directly to them. This scripture challenged them to no longer let society tell them who they are in Christ or hinder them from following Jesus, even if modern day Pharisees judged them!

In both brothels the Gospel of Jesus was shared and they were taught how to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. All four girls gladly chose to accept Him, some with tears of joy while praying the prayer of salvation! Witnessing this brought tears to my eyes as well!

I want to let you know that this was ALL God. His word brought these girls to Him and He made them ready to accept Him into their lives. I give HIM all the GLORY!!!!

If you would like to help support my outreach ministry financially I would greatly appreciate it!

To Donate Send Personal Checks to:
Faith Bible Church
Attn: Christina
201 1/2 E. Virginia
Suite 1
McKinney, TX 75069

Sharing the Gospel with Children!!

"Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

Ever heard of Good News Club??? You may know it like myself as Vacation Bible School. That is what I went to when I was a kid. See this kid to the left?? This is Eli. He was a trip to have in the Good News Club. His smile will make you melt for sure! At Good News Club many kids like Eli were presented the Gospel and Bible stories at Good News Club by volunteers that wanted to love these children. The kids sang songs, played games and had a BLAST. There were many volunteers that helped make this Good News Club possible and available for kids like Eli!!

If you would like to help support my outreach ministry financially I would greatly appreciate it!

To Donate Send Personal Checks to:
Faith Bible Church
Attn: Christina
201 1/2 E. Virginia
Suite 1
McKinney, TX 75069

Washing Her Feet...

Many women and girls are being exploited everyday. Their self worth is caught up in dollar signs instead of knowing their value in Christ. Christ was the first to acknowledge the value and worth of those in need! That is what led myself and others to minister to these women by washing their feet.

While washing their feet I read John 13:1-17 Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet. After reading the scripture we told them, “this is the way Jesus tells us to love each other and that is why we have chosen to serve you in this way. We want you both to know that we don’t see ourselves as better than you, we only want to serve you.” Then I read Luke 7: 36-50 Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman. While reading the scripture both of the girls were in complete and total awe of the sinful woman’s faith and boldness! They truly listened like little children, waiting to find out what Jesus’ response was going to be towards the sinful woman that was weeping at His feet. They responded to Jesus’ response with, “That sinful woman is ME!! I can’t BELIEVE she followed Jesus into the religious mans’ house!!” Both girls did not take this scripture lightly or as just a story. They took it as Jesus Himself speaking directly to them. This scripture challenged them to no longer let society tell them who they are in Christ or hinder them from following Jesus, even if modern day Pharisees judged them!

Through this the Gospel has been shared and girls have come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior! God revealed that He has already been sowing in many of these girls. His word brought these girls to Him and He made them ready to accept Him into their lives. I give HIM all the GLORY!!!!

If you would like to help support my outreach ministry financially I would greatly appreciate it!

To Donate Send Personal Checks to:
Faith Bible Church
Attn: Christina
201 1/2 E. Virginia
Suite 1
McKinney, TX 75069