Thank You For An Amazing 2009 & Happy New Year!

As we come to the end of the year 2009, we are amazed to look back at all that God has accomplished over the past 12 months. He has truly been showing off what He can do through any willing vessel. Beauty From Ashes™ has expanded to greater spheres of influence and God is stretching our tent pegs to affect a greater number of lives than ever before, and we could not have done it without the faithful support of friends like you. Thank you for believing in and partnering with us, allowing us to achieve the following:

AWARENESS & PREVENTION
• Held XXX Ministry and Strip Club Outreach Trainings in Detroit, Daytona, Fort Myers & Las Vegas
• Launched Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and additional Myspace pages for social networking with victims, survivors and over-comers of Commercialized Sexual Exploitation, as well networking with other slavery abolitionists
• Produced 12 Song Private Label CD, Child of God
• Hands That Heal (HTH) Human Trafficking Trainer of Trainer’s certification & was guest speaker in Atlanta. Hosted HTH Training in Fort Myers, FL
• Appearances on local and national television programs including Rod Parsley’s Breakthrough Ministries, Healing Today Show as well as several radio programs

REACH & RESCUE
• Partnered with the Pink Cross Foundation for Outreach in Las Vegas at the AVN porn expo, the world’s largest
• Organized 24 hr prayer for all days of the following porn expos across the nation: AVN, New York and Exxxotica Miami Porn Expos
• Held monthly Strip Club Outreaches to our adopted club, serving meals and distributing gifts that included written, audio and visual forms of the Word of God in addition to beauty supplies and “fluff items”
• Participated in weekly street outreaches to victims of human trafficking and commercialized sexual exploitation where hundreds of names were added to the Lamb’s Book of Life
• Launched FREEdom™ Homes Initiative and established the FREEdom™ Advisory Team
• Initiated National 40 hour fast for porn addicts in the church

RESTORATION
• Provided support through the Rahab’s Hope Fund to survivors of human trafficking across the nation as well as transportation to local residential programs
• Facilitated emergency short term placement and housing as well as long term residential care
• Raised and donated thousands of dollars to local residential treatment program where victims were placed in addition to providing basic care needs; hygiene items, clothing, toiletries, medicines, bibles, journals, etc.
• Provided educational assessment testing, curriculum, enrollment in private schooling, as well as tutoring
• Provided assistance with resumé building, interviewing skills and job placement
• Established 1st Beauty From Ashes™ safe home; the FREEdom™ Home
• Partnered with national organizations to facilitate restoration services to survivors relocation, education, medical and emergency services
• Provided placement and case management services

ADVOCACY
• Established presence in and local partnerships with Lee County Human Trafficking Task Force, Department of Homeland Security Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Lee County Sheriff’s Department, Fort Myers Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigations and Licensed Therapists
• Made numerous court appearances on behalf of victims of human trafficking
• Partnered with local and national NGOs, law enforcement, licensed therapists, attorneys, judges, probation officers, Department of Juvenile Justice, health care providers in interest of human trafficking victims
• Accepted invitation to join national campaign, War On Pornography, with leaders such as Focus on the Family, American Family Association, Morality and Decency, Citizens for Community Values and the Witherford Institute

Extra special thanks to the FREEdom™ Advisory Team:
Arnie Coones, Station Manager 89.5 Praise FM
David Caton, President of the Florida Family Association
Roger Gannon, Lindell & Farson, P.A.
Laura Lederer, Former Senior Advisor on Trafficking the United States Department of State
Mary C. Lewis, L.C.S.W., Co-Chair of Lee County Human Trafficking Task Force & Former Executive Director of Our Mother’s Home of Southwest Florida, Inc.
J.D. Mallory, Senior Pastor Naples Assembly of God
Nancy Sampson, Sanibel Community Church & Stonecroft Ministries leader
Steve Siler, Music for the Soul Founder & Executive Director, Producer of Somebody’s Daughter
David Smythe, J.D. Candidate 2010 University of Georgia School of Law
Timothy Snodgrass, D.O. General Medicine Physician
Nola Theiss, Coordinator of Training/Outreach, Esperanza Project, Lee County Human Trafficking Task Force & Executive Director of Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships, Inc. Patrick Trueman, Former Chief of Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section of the United States Department of of Justice

Additionally, we would especially like to thank Judi Setzer, Esq., Donald Miltner, Yvette Haran, Joe Gonzales and Mike Zeleski for their invaluable service and assistance.

We are very grateful for everyone who has partnered with us. Your involvement has allowed us to make remarkable progress in 2009--and we look forward to greater elevations in 2010. On behalf of the hundreds of women, men and children that now have hope that they too can be over-comers of the sex industry & human trafficking because of your help--thank you. Together we are better and are making a difference.

OUR MISSION:
To prevent, rescue and restore victims of sex trafficking.

OUR PURPOSE:
To educate the community, advocate for the victims, implement reach, rescue and restore programs and provide safe homes where they can go to heal emotionally. mentally, physically and spiritually. These are homes where victims will receive comfort, security, safety, love and learn to become over- comers.

God is passionate about the fatherless, orphans, afflicted & the homeless.

"Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
Rescue the weak and needy;
Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked."
Psalm 82:3-4 NASB

If you'd like to make an end-of-year donation, click HERE to donate securely by credit card or PayPal. Or mail your check to 5100 S. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 318-148, Fort Myers, FL 33907. BFA is a 501c3 non-profit organization and your donation is tax deductible. To receive end of the year tax credit, please make sure your donation is made by December 31st.

In His love and passion to see victims become over-comers,
Steve & Julie Shematz

Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries
Where Victims Become Over-Comers
239.939.9218
877.4BFA SOS (423.2767) International Toll Free Help Line
Beauty From Ashes

AWARENESS & PREVENTION • REACH & RESCUE • TEACH & DEMONSTRATE • TRAIN & SEND

Home for the Holidays ~ Merry CHRISTmas!

‘Tis the season, but for what? Giving and receiving presents? Perhaps, but that’s not all. Being kind to one another and loving everyone? Well, if you’re a Christian, that’s what you’re supposed to do all the time anyway. Singing songs and going to church? That’s closer to the truth, but even so, it can still be just an empty ritual with no meaning or impact. Sadly, this is the case with the majority of our culture, even self-professing ‘Christians’ to whom Christmas is little more than an excuse to overeat, take the day off and think about what they want for themselves. We barely even acknowledge Christ anymore and certainly the majority of our culture is reluctant to even say the word Christmas. ‘Happy Holidays’ has become the refrain from most retailers and corporations, even though buying gifts for this unspecified holiday happens to have a deadline of December 24th. We have traded the manger for the mall and adoration for avarice.

The ‘true meaning of Christmas’ for which countless movies, holiday specials and children’s books have searched is not about happiness, kindness or even families, although these are all good things; it is about the God of the universe becoming a human baby to live and die as one of us. The true gift of Christmas is that of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son, who came down from heaven and subjected Himself to the same trials, sorrows and pains that all of us face. When we fail to recognize Christ in Christmas, we are denying the very Creator who made us and the Savior who purchased us with His own blood. When we make it about crass commercialism, greedy materialism or even feel-good humanism, we are forgetting who He is and making this sacred day about us.

As you celebrate Christmas with your family and loved ones, remember His love for you and the ultimate outpouring that culminated at the cross of Calvary. Remind and tell others of the greatest gift of all that is freely available to every one of us, ready to transform our hearts as soon as we accept it. We at Beauty from Ashes are continually awed by the unfathomable love of the great God we serve, and we are seeing that love manifested here in our safehome. We have two over-comers of sex trafficking who are now residents here, having for the first time, a home and a family for the holidays. Our home and our hearts are full and all of us hope and pray that you and yours will have a wonderful, Merry, Christ-centered Christmas full of His peace.

In His passionate love & grateful service,

Steve & Julie Shematz
Founders, Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries
Where Victims Become Over-Comers
239.939.9218
877.4BFA SOS (423.2767) International Toll Free Help Line
Beauty From Ashes Ministries

AWARENESS & PREVENTION • REACH & RESCUE • TEACH & DEMONSTRATE • TRAIN & SEND

FREEdom™ Home for the Holidays

Dear Family, Friends & Partners,

It's that time of the year again with less than 12 days before Christmas. It has always been a very special time of year for Beauty From Ashes, and this year has been exceptionally wonderful.

Thanks to your support, Beauty From Ashes was able to raise $735 for the women's New Life Dream Center through our jewelry sale and because of your generous donations, we have been able to give hundreds of dollars worth of basic care needs, bibles, journals, clothes and beauty supplies to the ladies residing there.

Additionally, we were able to assemble 50 Christmas gift bags for our 6th annual strip club outreaches that include the following items: 3 forms of the Word: Bibles, CDs & DVDs, along with purses, makeup kits, hair & nail products & jewelry. We will be delivering them to our adopted club Thursday, December 17, along with a homemade meal of lasagna, spinach salad, garlic bread and delicious deserts. We also plan on delivering them to another local club that Pastor Julie met the owner at the AVN porn expo. Delivery date TBD. We are able to do this because of YOU and your faithfulness in supporting us. Thank you!

While we have worked very hard to support other restoration programs over the past 7 years, the time has come that we need assistance for what God has entrusted to us. He has opened the doors of which we've dreamed and need your help now more than ever. It is with great joy that we are finally able to establish our own safehome for victims of sex trafficking! Due to our community partnerships with law enforcement and outreach abilities to attract victims, we already have a waiting list of survivors needing to be placed in our first FREEdom™ Home. Residents are due to begin moving in this week, and we anticipate a full home for Christmas. To God be all the glory for the great things He has done!

In the mean time, below is a list of items we are in urgent need of:

SAFEHOME

Set of bunk beds

Twin Size Sheets

Plastic Hangers

Dresser

Floor lamp

Walmart Gift Cards (For food, clothes, pharmaceutical, etc.)

You can give your tax deductible gift of love securely online HERE or contact us to provide these items directly to us.

Your gift will restore physical, emotional, and spiritual health to rescued girls by providing them things like safe shelter, medical care, nutritious food, vocational training, compassionate counseling, and where possible, reintegration with a loving family.

Receive the Beauty From Ashes' Child of God 10 song CD when you donate $35 or more to the FREEdom™ Homes Fund.

OFFICE SPACE

Literally, we have received such a blessing that we cannot contain it anymore! (Malachi 3:10) Beauty From Ashes is in desperate need of a larger space for our offices and art studio. We would consider a residential home for this as it will also provide much needed housing for our staff. If you or someone you know have available home or space, please contact us ASAP.

VOLUNTEER TRAINING

God is answering our prayers & sending in laborers; however, many more are needed. We are having a Reach, Rescue & Restore Victims of Commercialized Sexual Exploitation & Human Trafficking Training, Tuesday, December 15th 6-9pm. We also have need of help in the following areas:

Administrative

Accounting

Shopping

Gift Assembly

Prayer

If you are interested in joining our FREEdom™ Team, please contact us.

We are seeking community partnerships with churches, business's, organizations and individuals that will join with us for ongoing support. God has stretched our tent pegs and territory for such a time as this. We cannot do this alone and need you, your church, your small group, organization &/or business to come along side us to assist in reaching, rescuing & restoring the lives of precious orphans that have become victims of sex slavery. Will you help us and consider doing a fundraiser and/or have us come to your organization to do an awareness presentation on human trafficking? Committing to monthly support or one time giving in any amount will enable us to do that which God anointed us to do.

Time is of the essence, every minute 2 children are being forced into prostitution world-wide and it is estimated that 100,000 - 300,000 minors a year are being forced into child sex slavery every year here in the USA. Less than 2 months ago, the FBI rescued 62 females from the horrific nightmare of sex slavery and none of the 52 minor victims are receiving the help experts say is necessary to overcome such trauma and rejoin society. READ STORY The need is great for restoration homes and we have stepped up to the plate to make a difference. We need your help. Will you lock arms with us as slavery abolitionists? We can make a difference one life at a time this Christmas.

In Him & His passion to see victims become over-comers,

Pastor Julie, Steve & the FREEdom™ Team

Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries

Where Victims Become Over-Comers

239.939.9218

877.4BFA SOS (423.2767) International Toll Free Help Line

www.BeautyFromAshes.org

Christmas Gifts With Purpose

You are buying Christmas gifts, so why not

use your buying power

to combat human trafficking & have purpose?

HANDMADE JEWELRY

Necklaces, bracelets and earrings handmade by an over-comer and donated to BFA as 'seed'. We are sewing it ALL into the fertile ground of the Women's New Life Dream Center by selling the one of a kind pieces at Word of Life Church (2120 Collier Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33901) starting tonite and during all services (Fridays 7:30 & Sundays 8am & 10am). If you're in the area, stop by and use your buying power to support the 26+ year restoration, residential program that currently has 50 women, 2 teens (one pregnant) and 4 babies. While you're there, stay for the services and experience an encounter with the Lover of your soul!

CHILD OF GOD CD

With your giving of at least $30 (+ $5 shipping & handling), we'll send you our private label 10 song CD filled with inspirational music that is guaranteed to move you deeply into a closer relationship with our Creator. Featuring our theme song, Child of God, produced by Music for the Soul, this gift is the gift that will keep on giving each time you listen to it. To order CLICK HERE.

CHILDREN'S GIFTS

As you consider the perfect Christmas gift for your children, grandchildren, or church’s children’s ministry this holiday we highly recommend Music for the Little Soul. Created by Dove Award winning songwriters Music for the Little Soul is all of the most beloved Bible stories in song. Also included are 15 lullabies, 30 Christmas songs, and lots of great new Praise & Worship just for kids.

This 164 song set is only $49.95 - that’s ten full length albums for only 31 cents a song! – and comes with instrumental tracks to all of the songs so your Sunday school or home school group can perform them! 328 tracks in all! An amazing value!!! Or buy just Vol. 1 or Vol. 2 – five albums - for just $29.95! To order or to hear samples and preview the lyrics just CLICK HERE

TOGETHER WE ARE BETTER & ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

Pastor Julie Shematz & the FREEdom™ Team

BEAUTY FROM ASHES

Our mission is to prevent, rescue and restore victims of sex trafficking.

Our purpose is to educate the community, advocate for the victims, implement reach, rescue and restore programs and provide safe homes where they can go to heal emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. These are homes where victims receive comfort, security, safety, love and learn to become over-comers.

Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries, Inc.

Where Victims Become Over-Comers

239.939.9218

877.4BFA SOS (423.2767) International Toll Free Help Line

www.BeautyFromAshes.org

AWARENESS & PREVENTION • REACH & RESCUE • TEACH & DEMONSTRATE • TRAIN & SEND

National Human Trafficking Crisis

I've been out of a life-long nightmare of sexual abuse, trafficking at the hands of my birth-mother, prostitution, and shame since the fall of 2007. But, I never thought anyone would understand or care to know my story and the pain and redemption I've experienced. I believed I was alone. I have literally been told by Christian leaders that I was not welcome in their churches or lives because of my past.

Finding Beauty for Ashes and gaining a mentor like Julie meant the difference between walking in the fullness of God's plan for my life or going back to the shadows I had grown accustomed to. In the team of Beauty From Ashes, I finally have a family who know me as Sarah* and make me feel like I really can do all things through Christ; love truly is redeeming my life. Through BFA's support, I am truly seeing God's word come alive because He has a plan and has given me hope and a future so much greater than my past.

The vision that God has given Beauty From Ashes for the FREEdom™ Children's Home is vital to rescuing children trapped in darkness like I was and restoring what the evil of the world has stripped them of: dignity and worth and a sense of feeling like you belong somewhere. One of the deepest cries of my heart since being prostituted at the age of 6 was for a safe home and to have a family. Safety and placing the orphan in a family is the heart and intention of our Father God, and FREEdom™ Children's Homes need to be a reality and soon. - Sarah*

Currently, the United States of America provides federal funding only for illegal immigrants of human trafficking; millions of dollars has gone to a 'victim assistance' organizations that have no residential housing in addition to only supporting short term (30 - 90 days) assistance.

It is estimated that a minor female sex trafficking victim is raped for profit 8-30 times a day & the average age of a prostituted person in the USA is 12-14. They need long term residential & restoration assistance. It is estimated that 300,000 minors a year are being forced into prostitution right here in the land of the 'Free'. 90% of runaways & throwaways will be lured into prostitution within 48 hours & 100% in 3 days. We have a national crisis on our hands. These are our citizens & our orphans.

We are on the front lines working, with individuals like Dr. Laura Lederer & the Triple S (Stop Sex Slavery) Network in Washington, to change this discombobulated funding stream. However, until the funding is worked out to provide assistance to the organizations that are actually reaching, rescuing & restoring the victims of human trafficking, private donor's support are crucial to doing something about our national problem. It's our problem, they are our residents, our children & they are victims of rape for profit in every neighborhood in the land of the 'Free', which the national report on domestic minor sex trafficking revealed in July of this year.

To view the Healing Today Show television interview sharing my testimony, the problem of human trafficking in our back yards & the vision of the FREEdom™ Children's Home, click HERE. (What I consider to be the most thorough & my best interview ever :+)

Currently, Beauty From Ashes, in partnership with the New Life Dream Center, are providing restoration care to 45 women, three teens (one pregnant...who we found out today that DCF has offered a full ride, 4 year college scholarship to, due to her outstanding progress with us! She wants to be an ICE agent & rescue other minors & women from human trafficking!) & 3 children in addition to over 80 men who were once johns, pimps &/or sex addicts. Local & federal law enforcement as well as other sex industry/anti-trafficking organizations from across the nation have placed women in our safe home. It's estimated that nearly half the females receiving love, care, education, life skills & basic needs are human trafficking victims, yet we've not received any federal allocated funds for victim assistance. Less than 5% of the residents have a means of support for their recovery & it costs an enormous amount of money to clothe, feed, house, counsel & provide basic services to these people.

Beauty From Ashes is providing case management services to these victims including tutoring, private & home schooling curriculums, medical & probation appointments, etc., in addition to weekly intervention initiatives to reach & rescue people bound in sex slavery.

We also plan on providing Christmas gifts to all the female residents due to the fact many of them have no family support. We have become their family. Additionally, we will be providing gifts and a holiday meal to the employees of the local strip club we have adopted & served for over 6 years.

Will you help us continue to reach, rescue, restore & advocate for the rights of children, men & women like Sarah* & the others? We need your help financially.

As a show of appreciation for your giving, for a minimum donation of $30, we will give you our 1st private label CD, Child of God produced by Music for the Soul. It is a compilation of inspirational songs that lead you through the journey of what a victim of sex trafficking faces to find the reality of hope, healing & restoration through Jesus Christ. It is guaranteed to move you deeply and inspire you into a deeper, loving relationship with your Creator.

Please join with us today to abolish slavery in the United States of America & assist us in setting the captives free to be all that God destined and purposed them to be. Together we are better & can make a difference!

You can give securely online by clicking HERE or send cash, check or money order to Beauty From Ashes to 5100 S. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 318-148, Fort Myers, FL 33907.

Thank you, may the Lord richly bless you as you give & Happy Thanksgiving from Steve, myself and the FREEdom™ Team!

*Name changed for confidentiality.

In His passion & love to see victims become over-comers,

Pastor Julie Shematz
Over-Comer, Founder & CEO

CSE & Trafficking Victim's FREEdom™ Story

Beauty From Ashes Child of God CD

Use your buying power to fight human slavery

in the United States of America!

Beauty From Ashes proudly presents

our 1st private label CD, Child of God,

produced by

Music for the Soul

featuring our theme song,

Child of God.

CLICK HERE to view video with song

She's not a prostitute,

she's a child of God

& she's beautiful!

100% of the proceeds will go to provide

specialized programs & restoration homes

for victims of commercialized sexual exploitation & trafficking.

The 10 song CD:

Child of God

Not Too Far From Here

Time For a Breakdown

Every Single Tear, Somebody's Daughter

Keep Breathing

In the Image of God

Binder of the Broken

No One Can Love Me Like You Do

Twenty Three

For minimum donation of $30 + $5 shipping.

To order: CLICK HERE

Give the Christmas gift that keeps on giving

& creates a climate of hope.

Child of God CD & More News

REACH & RESCUE:
Last week's strip club comfort meal outreach resulted in one dancer accepting Christ in the locker room & the team praying for nearly all employees. We served Thanksgiving dinner early with a delicious meal of turkey breast, buttery stuffing, spinach salad & yummy pumpkin cupcakes & tiny pies. The outreach ended early in order to facilitate housing in the New Life Dream Center for a minor human trafficking victim & her two infant children rescued by our county sheriff's department.

Street outreaches with Word of Life Church resulted in 31 names being added to the Lamb's Book of Life. All outreaches resulted in human trafficking tips for law enforcement.

We hit the streets every Wednesday & the 2nd Saturday of the month. Our next strip club outreach is December 17th. If you are interested in donating Christmas gift items; bibles, journals, children's toys, gift cards & bags or preparing meal items, etc., please contact us.

AWARENESS & TRAINING:
The 3 day Anti-Trafficking & Caregivers Hands That Heal Training began last Saturday & will go through the next two Saturdays 9am - 3pm @ Word of Life Church. You can drop in for these trainings & if all three are attended you can become certified to be a trainer of trainers for FAAST (Faith Alliance Against Slavery & Trafficking).

Pastor Julie attended the 8 hour RCPI Human Trafficking Training sponsored by the Lee County Sheriff's Department Tuesday and has been invited to speak at FGCU's Human Trafficking Symposium in January 20-27.

If you are interested in hosting a training, raising awareness in your school, church or organization, please contact us. We can provide experienced speakers & over-comers to share their first hand & experiential knowledge regarding commercialized sexual exploitation and trafficking. Awareness is key to intervention & prevention of the 2nd largest crime in the world right now. Human trafficking is happening everywhere. We'll help you to learn, look & report. Together we can make a difference!

RESTORATION:
Currently the New Life Dream Center has 43 women, 2 teens (one pregnant) & 3 babies, in addition to approximately 80 men in the residential, recovery program/safe home. Less than 90% of the residents have the means to support the cost of keeping them there & we estimate that 1/2 the females are sex trafficking victims. They have been providing services to victims for over 26 years, including to former johns & pimps. With a 90% success rate with graduates, they have demonstrated they know what they are doing when it comes to recovery from commercialized sexual exploitation, human trafficking, sex addiction, domestic violence, drug & alcohol addiction. They need your help. Will you please consider giving today to help restore a life? For secure online giving: CLICK HERE

BEAUTY FROM ASHES CHILD OF GOD CD:
Use your buying power to fight human slavery! What better gift for Christmas than our 1st private label CD, Child of God, produced by Music for the Soul? 100% of the proceeds will go to provide specialized programs & homes for victims of commercialized sexual exploitation & trafficking. The 10 song CD: Child of God, Not Too Far From Here, Time For a Breakdown, Every Single Tear, Somebody's Daughter, Keep Breathing, In the Image of God, Binder of the Broken, No One Can Love Me Like You Do & Twenty Three is available for minimum donation of $30 + $5 shipping. To order: CLICK HERE

BEAUTY FROM ASHES INTERNSHIPS:
Partnering with Word of Life Church's Intern Program, Seizing the Final Victory (STFV), we are offering internship opportunities. We are also in need of housing for these world changers. If you are interested, please contact Pastor Julie.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Beauty From Ashes is in need of assistance in the following areas: bookkeeping, administration, websites/social networking, picking up & inventorying beauty supply donations, meal preparation & gift assembly for outreaches. Join our FREEdom™ Team and become a sex slavery abolitionist! Contact Pastor Julie for details.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
We care about you & have a team of intercessors that pray for you. Please send your requests to: prayer@beautyfromashes.org

GLOBAL WEEKLY PRAYER:
Join us & other slavery abolitionists every Friday 8-9am EST to pray for the victims of commercialized sexual exploitation, human trafficking & the organizations reaching, rescuing & restoring them. Prayer Guide: CLICK HERE

Thank you for your love, encouragement & support. Because of you, we are together making a difference one life at a time. We love & appreciate you.

In His love & passion to see victims become over-comers,

Pastor Julie & the FREEdom™ Team

Reach, Rescue, Restoration, Awareness, Prevention & Care-Giver Training

THE #1 DESTINATION FOR AMERICANS TO HAVE SEX WITH CHILDREN IS THE USA:
Watch this informative documentary clip, Playground, and become informed. Awareness is the first step to combating this national crisis, it will lead to intervention & prevention. Together, we can make a difference! CLICK HERE

OUTREACHES:
In an effort to reach victims of commercialized sexual exploitation & sex trafficking, we do street & strip club outreaches weekly & monthly, respectively. This past week 8 individuals gave their hearts to Jesus on the streets during the Word of Life Church Food Mobile Outreach. We also were able to educate & bring awareness about sex trafficking to individuals living in one of the lowest income areas of Fort Myers in addition to distributing food & clothing to over 40 families.

AWARENESS, PREVENTION & CARE-GIVING:
Beauty From Ashes will be presenting the Hands that Heal Anti-trafficking & Caregivers Training November 14, 21 & 28th from 9am - 3pm at Word of Life Church, on the campus of the New Life Dream Center. Registration & cost of materials required. For more information: CLICK HERE

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Beauty From Ashes is in need of assistance in the following areas: bookkeeping, administration, websites/social networking, picking up & inventorying beauty supply donations, meal preparation & gift assembly for outreaches. Join our FREEdom™ Team and become a sex slavery abolitionist! Contact Julie for details.

BEAUTY FROM ASHES INTERNSHIPS
Partnering with Word of Life Church's Intern Program, Seizing the Final Victory (STFV), we are offering internship opportunities. We are also in need of housing for these world changers. If you are interested, please contact Pastor Julie.

WATCH THE 91.5 Kingdom FM JULIE SHEMATZ & PASTOR GASPAR ANASTASI INTERVIEW for the God Has the Answer Today Show: CLICK HERE

RESTORATION:
Currently we have numerous women, including a pregnant teen, we are assisting in providing care to. Their urgent needs have ranged from basic hygiene items, underwear, medicine, bibles & clothing to school supplies & home school curriculum. Pastor Julie is teaching the teen 5 days a week due to her assessment levels being grade levels 1-3. Because of your love & generous giving, we are able to be Christ's hands & feet to these precious individuals.

We need your help financially to continue to provide for victims of sex trafficking and the innocent children in their care. Will you please prayerfully considering giving a gift of love for desperate girls & women? Please give as you are able & thank you for your continued support, prayers & encouragement. You can give securely online HERE or send your check, cash or money order to 5100 S. Cleveland Avenue, Ste 318-148, Fort Myers, FL 33907.

Lastly, please agree with us that the captives be set free & prisoners released in the name of Jesus. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed! May they receive the revelation of who God is, how much He loves them & who they are in Him in order that they may walk in the fullness of all He destined them to be!

In His love & passion to see victims become over-comers,
Steve, Julie & the FREEdom™ Team

Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries
Where Victims Become Over-Comers
239.939.9218
877.4BFA SOS (423.2767) International Toll Free Help Line
www.BeautyFromAshes.org

AWARENESS & PREVENTION • REACH & RESCUE • TEACH & DEMONSTRATE • TRAIN & SEND

#1 Destination for American's having sex with children is America

Do You Know Me?

ICE Gives Voices To Victims of Human Trafficking in the United States

Happy Reformation Day!

As the world celebrates Halloween, it is sad to see how many Christians are joining in, participating in this decidedly un-Christian observance. Merely looking at the decorations and activities which are inspired by it should be enough to tell a follower of Christ that they are not to partake. The holiday is a celebration of death, darkness and horror, with central symbols being tombstones, witches and the undead. Some of the more outrageous celebrants will even have fun with the imagery of serial killers, cannibalism and other abominations to God and society at large. Certain theme parks even have special events that are so graphic and intense that they warn that children shouldn't come to them during this time. Truly this is a dark time of year.

This should not really surprise us, as the origin of Halloween was the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, the last day of the year for that culture. The belief was that Samhain, the Lord of Death, gathered the souls of the evil dead at this time and the veil between the spirit world and our world became thin, allowing spirits to pass between them. They marked it with ritual sacrifices and disguising themselves with masks. The druids who presided over these religious festivals are recorded in ancient writings as performing human sacrifices, observing the manner in which the body fell and the blood flowed for the purpose of divining the future. The divination of the future was a central part of the ancient festival of Samhain, and the whole history of the holiday is pagan at best and at worst, satanic.

The practice of divination alone, much less human sacrifice is clearly forbidden all through the scripture, but what is not a widely known is Ezekiel 13:18 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive? Veils for the people of every height, that sort of sounds like masks for children and adults alike, doesn't it? And what is the purpose? For the hunting of souls. By willingly participating in the activities of Halloween, Christian parents are not only exposing their children to a celebration of all things dark and demonic, but they are actually opening doors to invite these influences, ideas and even the spirits behind them into their homes, their lives and even their souls. Please, don't let your child be one of the victims of this powerful tool of satanic propaganda and compromise.

Well then, what should a Christian do on Halloween? Well, God is so amazingly good that He has graciously given us something else to celebrate on this day. Several centuries ago, on October 31, something important, no, something essential to all of Christianity happened. It was on this date in 1517 that Martin Luther took the Catholic Church to task for its unbiblical practices. He had been appalled and disgusted by the practice of selling indulgences (basically paying for your sins in advance, but with real money) and the lifeless religion he saw. He knew the Bible and he saw in it that it was not gold that gets you to heaven, it's not belonging to a church, and it is not even regular confession of your sins to a priest. No, he saw that salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone and His shed blood on the cross of Calvary. He was moved by God to nail his famous 95 theses to the door of the castle in Wittenburg, Germany and it just happened to be on October 31.

So, what do you do when someone says 'Happy Halloween'? Well, you could tell them that there is nothing happy about a day celebrating devils, demons, death, destruction and everything that is evil and unholy. But at the very least, you can tell them that you don't celebrate Halloween, because something much more important happened on this day in history. This is the day that God chose to return His church to the truth of His word and the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. That He loves them and gave His life for them and if they will simply believe and repent then they will be saved. Then wish them a Happy Reformation Day. FREEdom™ is calling.

Steve Shematz
President of Beauty From Ashes

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CALLING ALL SWFL SLAVERY ABOLITIONISTS:
Beauty From Ashes will be presenting the Hands that Heal Anti-trafficking & Caregivers Training November 14, 21 & 28th from 9am - 3pm at Word of Life Church, on the campus of the New Life Dream Center. Registration & cost of materials required. For more information: CLICK HERE

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Beauty From Ashes is in need of assistance in the following areas: bookkeeping, administration, websites/social networking, picking up & inventorying beauty supply donations, meal preparation & gift assembly for outreaches. Join our FREEdom™ Team and become a sex slavery abolitionist! Contact Julie for details.

WATCH THE 10/12/09 91.5 Kingdom FM JULIE SHEMATZ & PASTOR GASPAR ANASTASI INTERVIEW for the God Has the Answer Today Show: CLICK HERE
Pastor Gaspar Anastasi, founder of the New Life Dream Center & Word of Life Ministries, interviews Julie Shematz, founder of Beauty From Ashes Ministries. Julie shares her dynamic testimony of how she was rescued out of the sex industry and they discuss how they work together to abolish modern day slavery. BFA has been working to reach, rescue, restore and advocate for victims of human trafficking for 5 years and the New Life Dream Center has been doing it for 26+ years. This interview was taped for the God Has The Answer Today Radio Program on October 6, 2009, the 7th anniversary of Julie's public re-dedication to Christ after she left the commercial sex industry.

Thank you for your continued support, prayers & encouragement. Together we are better & are making a difference! Please agree with us that the captives be set free & prisoners released in the name of Jesus. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed! May they receive the revelation of who God is, how much He loves them & who they are in Him in order that they may walk in the fullness of all He destined them to be!

Happy Reformation Day!

In His love & passion to see victims become over-comers,

Julie Shematz & the FREEdom™ Team
Founder & CEO
Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries
Where Victims Become Over-Comers
239.939.9218
877.4BFA SOS (423.2767) International Toll Free Help Line
www.BeautyFromAshes.org

Slavery Abolitionists: Gaspar Anastasi & Julie Shematz

Become a Sex Slavery Abolitionist

We at Beauty From Ashes are sex slavery abolitionists. Human trafficking is human slavery. At the peak of the slavery trade, 80,000 people a year were being transported. In 2009, an estimated 800,000 a year are being considered slaves. 80% of that human trafficking is sex trafficking.

In an effort to restore these victims, we have placed them and have been providing basic care items to women & a pregnant teen in the New Life Dream Center, a safe/recovery home here in Fort Myers, FL. Currently, none of these residents we placed are able to provide the monthly cost of $760 for their care & there are approximately 40+ women & teens living there, not to mention around 80 men in a separate facility. Overall, less than 10% have financial support to pay for their living expenses, however, no one is ever turned away due to an inability to pay.

We established the Rahab's Hope Fund to provide financial assistance to qualified applicants & all recipients have been sex trafficking or commercialized sexual exploitation victims. Below is a list of items we have provided to New Life Dream Center residents in the past month and/or need to provide in the near future:

PERSONAL ITEMS:
Toiletries: soap, tooth brushes, tooth paste, lotion, deodorant, razors, etc.
Hair products; shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, styling products, etc.
Mini pads
Tampons
Kleenex
Tylenol/Ibuprofen
Make up
Perfume

MEDICAL:
Topical ointments
Over the counter STD treatments

CLOTHING:
Bras
Underwear (no thongs; sizes 7 - 14)
Pajamas
Robes
Maternity: Size 14 pants, 42D bra
House slippers
Shoes: Sizes 7.5 - 10
Dresses
Skirts
Pants

SCHOOL SUPPLIES:
Notebooks
Pencils, markers & pens
Pencil sharpener
Text books ($10 - $18)
Work books ($10 - $23)
Sketch pads
Clock
Play Money Kit ($18)
Folders
Journals
Chalk

BIBLES:
Adolescent Bible ($30)
Life Application NLT Study Bibles ($40 a piece)

EDUCATION:
PACE Curriculum Grades 1-4 ($100)
ABEKA Home School Curriculum ($1045 a grade level)

MISCELLANEOUS:
Calling Cards
Walmart Gift Cards
Twin Bed Sheets
Drinking Glasses

We do this in addition to facilitating doctor appointments, working with probation, immigration, law enforcement, the county school system, judges, home schooling, coordinating with attorneys and other non governmental agencies in order to provide recovery assistance to these victims. We also provide support to family members of victims and by means of our website & social networking reach thousands daily. We also do weekly & monthly outreaches on the streets & in strip clubs of Fort Myers, which also costs money. We distribute gift bags that include the Word of God either written, spoken or in video & contact information, in addition to beauty supplies, gift items, etc. Monthly, we deliver & serve meals to the employees of our local adopted club, which typically costs around $100 an outreach.

In the past week, between the street & club outreaches, 34 people received Christ as their Lord & Savior and many other were prayed for in the following areas; finances, deliverance, healing, restoration, strength, courage, faith, etc.

Beauty From Ashes is also presenting the Hands that Heal Anti-trafficking & Caregivers Training November 14, 21 & 28th from 9am - 3pm at Word of Life Church, on the campus of the New Life Dream Center. Registration & cost of materials required. For more information: CLICK HERE

We need your help financially to replenish the funds used in order for us to continue to reach, rescue, restore, advocate, raise awareness & educate on commercialized sexual exploitation & trafficking. Will you please consider giving what you can today & help make the difference in a precious child's or woman's life?

We can all talk, read books, tweet, attend seminars, workshops & conferences on human trafficking until we are blue in the face, but until we are willing to take action, nothing is getting done. Fact is, most action takes money & restoration costs a lot of money! Beauty From Ashes has been working to reach, rescue & restore these victims for over 5 years & the New Life Dream Center been providing restoration services for over 26. Please consider becoming a slavery abolitionist (doesn't that sound cool?!) by giving a tax deductible donation today and/or become a Purpose Partner by committing to Beauty From Ashes by giving monthly. For every dollar you give, we'll give 10% to the New Life Dream Center directly, in addition to the items/services we provide for the victims recovering there!

To give securely online, CLICK HERE or send check, money order or cash to 5100 S. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 318-148, Fort Myers, FL 33907. For gift-in-kind donations, please contact me. Thank you for your generous giving! We can abolish slavery & restore lives one at a time.

Together we are better & are slavery abolitionists!

In His love & passion to see victims become over-comers,
Julie Shematz & the FREEdom™ Team
Co-Founder & CEO
Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries
Where Victims Become Over-Comers
239.939.9218
877.4BFA SOS (423.2767) International Toll Free Help Line
www.BeautyFromAshes.org