Becoming aware. Taking action.

 

NABWU LEADERS TAKE A CRASH COURSE IN MINISTRY TO WOMEN IN PROSTITUTION


Sorrow. Anger. Hope. Joy. These are some of the emotions that fifteen NABWU officers and executive board members experienced when they attended the 2008 International Christian Conference on Prostitution, September 7-13 at the Green Lake (Wisconsin) Conference Centre.

   

They met women and men who are ministering to women in prostitution on every continent, heard the testimonies of former sex trade workers, and rejoiced at the power of God to heal the pain of exploitation, tragedy, and horrendous abuse. They saw laughter and dancing, tears and frustration. They saw sisters and brothers of many nationalities and faith traditions (Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, charismatic, Anglican, Baptist) uniting to fight the sex industry, rescue its victims (male as well as female), and provide positive alternatives. They met young women who were exploring God’s call to such ministries, and older women who were leading the way.


Why are these nice, respectable Canadian Baptist women wearing badges that say, “Decriminalizing johns is a bad trick”? For Brenda Mann, Heather Thomson, and Donna Foster, it’s one way to oppose a movement to legalize brothels before the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Donna, in her 70s, leads Bible studies for women in prostitution.


They were convicted by women who had been betrayed, ignored, and rejected by the Church--and by the courageous Christians who are taking the love of Christ into the darkest street corners and brothels.


The conference ignited a passion in NABWU leaders for outreach to trafficked and prostituted women. When the NABWU Executive Board held its annual meeting at the close of the conference, members shared how they hoped to educate and activate the people of their churches and the women of their organizations.

 

Tricia Baptie (left) shared her testimony of childhood sexual abuse, prostitution, and redemption. She leading the battle against decriminalization of prostitution on Canada’s west coast. Hornrette Washington of New York (right) led the conference’s worship with incredible musical talent and infectious joy.


WHAT CAN WE DO NEXT?


NABWU leaders proposed these first steps:


PRAY

  1. •Rally my people (prayer group) to pray and fight

  2. •Add this issue to our leaders’ prayer calendar

  3. •Learn how to lead a prayer walk (drive) in local areas where the sex trade flourishes


EDUCATE

  1. •Invite one of the presenters at the conference to speak to my church or a regional Baptist women’s meeting

  2. •Raise the possibility of a meeting of this issue in my city /Association

  3. •Ask my denomination’s executive committee how we will educate our churches about this issue

  4. •Prepare a resolution for my national convention

  5. •Raise trafficking/prostitution as the overarching social issue of my organization for the next two years

  6. •Promote use of “Break the Chains” material

  7. •Put books such as Escaping the Devil’s Bedroom, Not for Sale, or Francine Rivers’ Redeeming Love  in my church library, on my organization’s reading list or book club, and in the hands of my executive

  8. •Present a drama based on Not for Sale

  9. •Use the Not for Sale DVD

  10. •Talk to my pastor

  11. •Talk to youth leaders about how to reach vulnerable girls in our churches and prevent them from being lured into prostitution and trafficking

  12. •Raise awareness at my local school


INITIATE ACTION

  1. •(In Canada) mobilize people to write letters and send postcards to MPs the decriminalization of prostitution

  2. •Encourage young women who are exploring a call to minister in brothels

  3. •Gather information from my local library and vice squad, and learn what precautions to take when doing research on the internet

  4. •Initiate and develop connections with women in street ministry

  5. •Explore ways that churches can teach the harmful effects of pornography (especially on the internet)






 

Join the fight against legalizing prostitution


Canadian Christian broadcaster Lorna Dueck (a good friend of Baptist women) has just produced an excellent program on the perils of legalizing prostitution in Canada. The November 13 edition of her program, Listen Up, features Tricia Baptie (the former prostitute pictured at right, below) and Michelle Miller, the Baptist leader of the Buying Sex is Not a Sport Campaign (and recipient of a 2009 Baptist Women’s Day of Prayer grant). Watch it!


Attend a conference on prostitution


The International Christian Alliance on Prostitution (which was initiated by Lauran Bethell) invites people interested in ministries to sex trade workers to plan to attend their next  conference: May 22-May 27, 2011, at Green Lake, Wisconsin.

More information will be posted on the Global ICAP websites.

Why not legalize prostitution?


In Ontario, Canada, three sex-trade workers are challenging the law that makes it illegal to run a bawdy house, communicate for the purposes of prostitution, or live off the avails of prostitution. “Prostitution is not a safe, legal career option,” argues Julia Beazley of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. “Let’s not pretend it can be.” Read the rest of her article on the web.


Learn more about Human Trafficking


In 2007, slave traders made more money than Google, Nike and Starbucks combined. Thousands of men, women, and children were bought and sold into slave labor or prostitution within their own country and across international borders, including our own. This modern-day slavery demands a prayerful and informed response from North America’s Baptist women. We invite you to educate the women in your church about human trafficking, and consider what you can do to show its victims the love of Christ.


One of the best online sources of information we’ve found is the new website for REED (Resist Exploitation, Embrace Dignity), directed by a Baptist woman, Michelle Miller, In Vancouver, Canada.


DOWNLOAD A FREE NEW STUDY GUIDE AND AUDIOBOOK



NABWU president Linda Weber is very excited about two new resources from the Not For Sale Campaign.Set the Captives Free is an eight-week Bible study resource guide available as a free download. Designed to compliment David Batstone's book, Not For Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade -- And How We Can Fight It, this study will allow groups large and small to not only learn more about modern-day slavery but get engaged in the abolitionist movement.
Download your free copy of Set the Captives Free today!


Not For Sale has partnered with Christian Audio to bring you a FREE download of the Not For Sale Audiobook (a $25 value)!

Not For Sale recounts David Batstone's investigative journey around the world as he uncovers the global slave trade.


SEE A NEW MOVIE


Coming soon to a theatre near you--Call + Response, a “rockumentary” that exposes the dark secrets of human trafficking and highlights leaders of the anti-slavery movement. Grammy award-winning artists perform. Profits from the movie will fund projects on the front lines of this issue.


READ A BOOK


Escaping the Devil’s Bedroom: Dawn Herzog Jewell tells stories of women trapped in the sex industry, the Christians rescuing them, and the Gospel’s power to change lives--with suggestions on how you can pray and act. Many of these stories come from ministries represented at the International Christian Conferences on Prostitution, which the author has attended. (Monarch $13.99)


Not for Sale: David Batstone reveals how modern-day abolitionists are trying to stop human trafficking for prostitution and forced labor. (HarperOne: $14.95)


The Natashas: The New Global Sex Trade: Canadian journalist Victor Malarek exposes the pimps, politicians, police, and predators caught up in the worldwide trafficking of women and  girls. (Arcade: $14.99)


SET UP A STUDY GROUP


Combat Sex Trafficking: It’s Everyone’s Cause: Today’s Christian Woman/Christianity Today International has assembled a comprehensive 40-page kit of articles about exploited women, those who minister to them, and those who are trying to stop the trafficking, PLUS suggestions for group discussion and action. NABWU has permission to make 1000 copies of this excellent material for use in our constituency.

Send your request to us, indlcating how many copies you will need.

  

GO ONLINE


www.abwmbreakthechains.org Bible studies, a prayer guide, fact sheet, and other resources prepared by American Baptist Women for their groundbreaking “Break the Chains” project.


www.salvationarmy.org

A free download of the Salvation Army's "Anti-Trafficking Manual"


www.notforsalecampaign.org

Educates world citizens on the plight of slaves around the world


www.stopthetraffik.org

A global coalition of organizations working together to fight human trafficking


www.castla.org

The first shelter for trafficked women in the US, offering a model for services to victims of trafficking.


www.icapglobal.org

Laurann Bethell is the convener of the International Christian Alliance on Prostitution, a network of agencies and practitioners represented at the International Christian Conference on Prostitution. See also the website of the North American affiliate, where you can download a list of ministries to people in prostitution.


Canadian Department of Justice offers a poster and booklet in 14 languages, entitled Don’t Become a Victim in the Illegal Trade in Persons.  


INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organization, with 187 member countries. Created in 1923, it supports and assists all organizations, authorities and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crimes such as human trafficking.





 

Lauran Bethell, (right) leads Baptists around the world in ministries to women in prostitution. Nancy Murphy (left) runs a not-for-profit yarn shop as a safe place for women who are abused.