My purpose in writing this blog is two-fold.
1. to let all our families, friends, and supporters know a future ministry for our team.
2. to ask for prayer for ministry.
A ministry that has touched my heart ever since having the opportunity to participate in is what I call ‘Bar Ministry’ which I had the chance to do with my time in Thailand on the World Race. I was at first pretty nervous to go into bars and talk to women who are labeled prostitutes. I also know my mom was pretty worried back at home only reading blogs about my experiences.
But it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the women I met, seeing them as beautiful daughters of the Lord. The sex-trade industry has set a fire in my heart that anytime I hear stories of sex-trafficking, prostitution ministries or remember Thailand, I get fired up!
And we have been told that we will have the chance to do some Bar Ministry during our time here in Panama. We will be going to a Casino with around 40 prostitutes from around the world. We women will spend time with the women there, get to make friends, and share Gods love with them. Our men will either get to make friends with the men in the casino, or will spend time in Intercessory prayer for us.
**Many thoughts may be running through your mind right now,
but I want to tell all you parents not to worry! YWAM has been to this casino before and all is safe.
The girls will be in groups and will NEVER be alone during our ministry!**
Sex-trafficking is a huge problem in our world that many are just beginning to understand or even have knowledge of. But it’s real. It’s there and it is affecting more than 27 million women, men and children around the world. That’s 27 million too many if you ask me!
We will be going to this casino both the nights of Tuesday April 16, 2013 and Tuesday April 23, 2013. And as we are going to be in constant prayer about it, I would ask that you all would join us in prayer as well. If I learned one thing in Thailand- Prayer makes a big difference.
Prayer Requests:
-For the women. Some may be here by choice, needing a job to support family. Others may be here by force.
-For the team. This is a new, intense ministry for many of them. Prayers for strength and boldness and God’s Spirit and love to flow through them. For open eyes to see God’s children as He sees them, not as the world has perceived them.
-For the Casino. That it would close. That there wouldn’t be a place for men to come and for women to be bought.
-For Truth. Freedom. Light in the darkness.
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor."
Isaiah 61:1-3
