BFA 'Breaking Free' Life Skills & Support Group Begins November 17th!

"The best of our churches tend to welcome those captive (to alcohol, drugs, homosexuality, promiscuity, and so forth.) at first, but if they don't 'fix' pretty quickly, they will probably be despised. We like success stories--powerful testimonies. A captive in our midst soon wears out her welcome if she doesn't get with it pretty quickly.  In gracious contrast, God stands by us until we are free.  He uses various forms of discomfort to woo us to Him, but He never forsakes us.  God is the only One who is not repelled by the depth & length of our needs."  -Beth Moore, Breaking Free

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!     
His faithful love endures forever.
Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!     
Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.
For he has gathered the exiles from many lands,     
from east and west, from north and south.

 Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom,     
imprisoned in iron chains of misery.
They rebelled against the words of God,     
scorning the counsel of the Most High.
That is why he broke them with hard labor;    
they fell, and no one was there to help them.
“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,     
and he saved them from their distress.
He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom;     
he snapped their chains.

Let them praise the Lord for his great love     
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
For he broke down their prison gates of bronze;     
he cut apart their bars of iron.
Some were fools; they rebelled     
and suffered for their sins.

They couldn’t stand the thought of food,     
and they were knocking on death’s door.
“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,     
and he saved them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them,     
snatching them from the door of death.

Let them praise the Lord for his great love     
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving     
and sing joyfully about his glorious acts."
Psalm 107: 1-3; 10-22 NLT

"Few truly know the unfailing love of God like the captive set free" - Beth Moore, Breaking Free

BEAUTY FROM ASHES 'BREAKING FREE' LIFE SKILLS & SUPPORT GROUP:
Beginning Wednesday, November 17th, 1pm-3pm, Barry University, Room 500-1, Fort Myers, FL 33907 BFA will be launching our new support group and life skills class.  We'll be using Beth Moore's Breaking Free:  The Journey, The Stories bible study through February 16, 2011.  If you are currently working in the sex for sale industry or a survivor desiring to acquire life skills and learn about who you were designed to be,  please call 239.939.9218 or email Julie Shematz for registration.  Registration required.  Free lunch will be served.

Additionally, BFA is seeking mature, stable, Christian women to attend this study that are willing to provide discipleship.  If you are interested in fulfilling Titus 2:3-4 and the Great Commission, please contact Julie.  Application and background check required.

Strip Club OutREACH, Human Trafficking 101, Bible Study, CNA Training & More!

STRIP CLUB OUTREACH:  Saturday, November 13th, the Beauty From Ashes (BFA) OutrEACH team will be doing our monthly outREACH to a local strip club.  The team will be serving a home cooked meal, giving away gift bags and sharing the Word of God with the employees.  We are in need of Bibles and cooks for these outREACHes.  Please contact BFA Food Coordinator, Tirzah Brown, if you're interested in preparing food and BFA Evangelist, Ann Peterson, for donations of Bibles.  

HUMAN TRAFFICKING 101, HEARING FROM THE VICTIMS & ADDRESSING DEMAND:  Sunday, November 14th 5:00-6:00pm, Wesleyan Diplomat Church, North Fort Myers, FL.  Beauty From Ashes (BFA) founder and human trafficking over-comer, Julie Shematz, will be presenting the multi-media presentation: Human Trafficking 101, Hearing From the Victims & Addressing Demand from a biblical perspective.  Event is sponsored by women's ministries. To register, contact Mary Cambell.   For more information on BFA presentations, CLICK HERE.  For BFA's calendar of events, CLICK HERE. 

BREAKING FREE BIBLE STUDY:  Beginning Wednesday, November 17th, 1pm-3pm, Barry University, Room 500-1, we will be presenting Beth Moore's Breaking Free:  The Journey, The Stories bible study through February 16, 2011.  We are seeking mature, stable, Christian women to attend this study that are willing to provide discipleship to the women to whom we've been reaching out in the area.  If you are interested in fulfilling Titus 2:3-4 and the Great Commission, or you are a sex worker or survivor desiring to acquire life skills and learn about who you designed to be,  please contact Julie Shematz for registration.  Free lunch will be served.  

CNA TRAINING:  BFA in partnership with ABM University & Theological Seminary we are offering full scholarships for certified nursing assistants.  No high school diploma is needed, if client can pass minimal testing of 8th grade reading level.  Career placement assistance and vocational rehabilitation services will also be provided.  If you are a victim, survivor or overcomer interested or have a client that may be, please contact us. 

CAR NEEDED FOR SURVIVOR:  Thanks to our generous partners, we have raised $700 for the human sex trafficking survivor, single mother, that we told you about 3 weeks ago.  We sill need another $800 to purchase the $1500 car for her to use as transportation.  Will you please consider giving a tax deductible donation today?  Any amount will be appreciated and it all adds up!  If you have a well running vehicle that you would like to donate, that will work too!  Please contact Julie Shematz.  See below how to give DONATIONS and please notate on donation 'Car'.  Any monies collected over the amount of car will be allocated to the Rahab's Hope Fund.  

FURNITURE NEEDED:  Washer and Dryer, Living Room Furniture- Coffee Table, Sofa and Chairs, Dining Table and Chairs, 2 Nightstands, Vacuum Cleaner and 4-5 Lamps are needed for a family that relocated from South Bend, Indiana to Fort Myers to serve BFA.  The couple, who both have college degrees (Elementary Education and History), are also in need of employment.  If you or anyone you know can help, please email Jeff & Jennifer Blye or call (574) 855-7215.

theCALL2XXX:  Join us for weekly global prayer to abolish slavery and for the organizations reaching, rescuing, restoring and advocating for the victims.  Fridays 8-9am EST For more information and prayer guide:  CLICK HERE

PRAY FOR BFA:  Please keep our outREACH this weekend in your prayers and the precious individuals we are establishing relationships with, as well as traveling mercies for team that travels cross state to participate.  May the women we reach out to be set free, have a hunger for God's Word, a revelation of His love for them, who He is, and who they are in Christ.  Agree with us for the work that has begun in the women's life in recovery to be completed.  May their faith increase,  their minds be renewed and bodies healed from the traumas and injustices they have survived.  And finally, please keep the BFA staff and volunteers physical and spiritual health lifted up as they serve tirelessly educating, advocating, reaching, rescuing and restoring.

PRAYER REQUESTS:  We care for you and have a team that prays over your every need.  Please send them to prayer@beautyfromashes.org

DONATIONS:  Your partnership is vital for us to continue providing awareness, advocacy, intervention, prevention and restoration services to victims of commercialized sexual exploitation and trafficking.  Please consider becoming a monthly partner by giving a tax deductible gift today.  For  $35 or more we will send you our  Child of God CD.  For secure online donations, CLICK HERE or mail your check, cash or money order to Beauty From Ashes, 5100 S. Cleveland Ave., Ste, 318-148, Fort Myers, FL 33907.

For the LATEST NEWS REGARDING DOMESTIC SEX TRAFFICKING, visit our home page:  http://www.beautyfromashes.org

BFA E-NEWSLETTER SIGN UP:  CLICK HERE

Thank you for your faithful and continued support of the enormous vision God has entrusted us with.  TOGETHER we are better and we are making a difference!  

In His lavish love and service,

Julie Shematz the BFA FREEdom™ Team

Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries  

Where Victims Become Over-Comers