JANUARY STRIP CLUB OUTREACH REPORT: On Saturday January 8th, 2011 Beauty From Ashes™ (BFA) had our monthly Strip Club OutREACH. We were blessed to have the founder of the Hope Project in Michigan, Amanda Chapman, and one of her volunteers, Sara Karnes join the team. The team prayed before the outREACH thanking God that He would do a new thing and asked for something radical; that 2 women would quit and leave the club that evening. God was faithful and answered our prayers! As a fragrant candle filled the musty locker room with a sweet aroma and praise music played, the team served up homemade baked ziti, an Italian salad with all the fixings, rolls, and mint and chocolate three layered cake to the employees. They listened intently as the women began sharing their heartaches and encouraged them with love, hope, and truth. Three women prayed to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior, 2 left the club immediately following their confession and another put in her notice to quit after finding out that BFA could provide to her a full scholarship to become an Certified Nursing Assistant! We were also exited to hear that the manager bought his girlfriend a 'pink' bible for Christmas that she is reading everyday! Additionally, the team was able to give away CD's of Bill Weise's testimony and Rick Pino's music to every employee and customer in the club. To God be all the glory for He will be faithful to complete the good work He has begun in each person's life! To view outREACH photos, CLICK HERE
JANUARY - NATIONAL SLAVERY & HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH: 1-11-11 was the National Human Trafficking Awareness Day and BFA hosted a corporate prayer gathering at Barry University from 8-9am. Community engagement is necessary in order to tackle this global and national problem. Awareness leads to prevention, intervention, and restoration. Here are 7 things that you can do to become a slavery abolitionist:
GET INFORMED - Read "Child Sex Trafficking: Definition, Scope, Recruitment and Control, Developmental Impact, Challenges, Intervention, Treatment and Advocacy" by BFA founder, human trafficking over-comer, and Florida Gulf Coast University graduate student, Julie Shematz. Watch the BFA home page for the latest in domestic human trafficking news.
SIGN UP for the BFA E-Newsletter and stay informed about legislation, trainings, outREACHes, and community engagement. To sign up,
SPEAK UP - Share the information by talking about it in person to your friends and family and through social media. Contact your local press and ask them to do a feature on the topic this month.
SCHEDULE AN EVENT in your church, school, business, club or group. For more information on BFA human trafficking presentations, CLICK HERE.
VOLUNTEER with agencies like BFA that are on the front lines making a difference.
GIVE OR RAISE FUNDS to support grass root, domestic, anti-trafficking, and victim service provider agencies.
PRAY & FAST that the captives be set free. For Prayer Guide,
For more information and how you can get involved in raising awareness about human trafficking, CLICK HERE
BREAKING FREE LIFE SKILLS & SUPPORT GROUP for former and current sex workers meets on Wednesdays from 1-3 pm at Barry University on January 5th. Free lunch and complimentary child care provided. Registration required. Contact Julie Shematz at julie@beautyfromashes.org or call 239-939-9218 to register.
theCALL2XXX: Join us weekly, locally and globally for 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 To meet with team locally, contact
PRAYER REQUESTS: We care for you and have a team that prays over your every need. Please send them to prayer@beautyfromashes.org or submit them through our website,
DONATIONS: Your partnership is vital for us to continue providing awareness, advocacy and reach, rescue and restoration services to victims of commercialized sexual exploitation. Please consider becoming a partner by giving a year end tax deductible gift today. For $25 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, 13300 S. Cleveland Ave., Ste, 56-623, Fort Myers, FL 33907.
BFA E-NEWSLETTER SIGN UP: CLICK HERE
BFA MAILING ADDRESS UPDATE: Our new mailing address is 13300 S. Cleveland Ave., Ste. 56-623, Fort Myers, FL, 33907-3871. Our physical location has not changed and is still at Barry University.
Thank you for your continued support. Together we are building momentum and making a difference!
Passionate to victims become over-comers,
Julie Shematz
CEO & Founder
Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries
Where Victims Become Over-Comers
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 NIV
