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Friday, March 23, 2012

NEWSLETTER: OutREACH Report, Documentary, Award Nomination, Events, & More!!


We are honored to share that our Founder, Julie Shematz, was nominated by staff for Florida Gulf Coast University's Graduate Student of the Year. Julie is currently in her final year of acquiring a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling. Students chosen as candidates for Student of the Year have demonstrated standards of excellence scholastically, as well as within their community and society as a whole. Daily, Julie exemplifies principles of excellence, whether studying, interning at The Salvation Army, leading staff and volunteers as the Executive Director of Beauty From Ashes, or horseback riding (her favorite self-care technique). She is MORE than an overcomer and already a winner in the eyes of those who know her!

MARCH STRIP CLUB OUTREACH REPORT: On Saturday, March 10th, our team witnessed God's power, love, and grace in a mighty way, during our monthly outreach to a local strip club. Upon arriving in the locker room of the club, team members set up a beautiful spread including homemade lasagna, tossed salad, fresh flowers, and yummy cookies for desert! Team members had not yet set down the food and packages when a young woman ran back to ask for help in building a new life. The young woman had been connecting with the team over the past year and contemplating seeking help for weeks prior to the outreach. She showed up at a local church the next morning and has been receiving weekly counseling and support services since then! The rest of the night was equally successful as team members were blessed to share hugs, tears, and listening ears with the women working. The evening ended with the distribution of gift bags that included beauty supplies, human trafficking information, and the best of all, God's Word. The bags were prepared with lots of love the previous night by a group of volunteers from SouthWest Florida Christian Academy, Florida Gulf Coast University, and the Fit For Eternity class at McGregor Baptist Church. CICK HERE for pictures of the outreach.

SUPPORT & LIFE SKILLS GROUP: A support and life skills group, Breaking Free, is being held in the Fort Myers area on Tuesday's from 7-8:30pm. The adult women's, closed group, is being led by a master's level mental health clinician.  If you are currently, or have been, involved in the adult entertainment industry and/or are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are eligible to attend. Registration required. To register and for more information, (239) 939-9218.

STAFF SEARCH: We are currently hiring for an administrative assistant/secretary position. CLICK HERE for more information. 

DOCUMENTARY FILMING: March 9th and 10th, a film crew from Life Focus TV in Chicago, visited to interview over-comers, Julie and Christa (Program Manager) and document the model of operations Beauty From Ashes follows to reach, rescue, & restore victims of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.  Beauty From Ashes will be featured in the  documentary on sex trafficking set to air on the Public Broadcast System in approximately 3 months. We'll keep you posted of the dates as we find out! 

BLOGS: Awareness leads to Prevention, Intervention, & Restoration! Check out our recent press coverage by the Fort Myers' News Press and WINK News, as well as our staff, interns, and volunteers' blogs on Human Sex Trafficking! 

"When people think of a human-trafficking victim . . . many don't realize a victim also can be local, such as Fort Myers resident Julie Shematz." News Press. Read more

FGCU students "tell WINK News they're trying to make people stop turning a blind eye to such a terrible issue, and their fight against human trafficking starts with some education." by Wink News. Watch news clip and read more

FLORIDA TAKES A STAND BY PASSING TWO NEW HUMAN TRAFFICKING BILLS! by Michelle Morton & Christa Hicks. Read more

BFA STAFF RETREAT:  "He gave me beauty for ashes. When I sat around the evening camp fire . . . God showed me how I represented the ashes being burnt and how through  the ashes came this beautiful fire that was burning bright." Michelle Morton. Read  more about the 5 days of camping and horseback riding along the banks of Suwanee River.



EAGLES AGAINST MODERN SLAVERY EVENT AT FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY," by Gabriela Diaz. Read more

PAST EVENTS: A group of student abolitionists, from Florida Gulf Coast University did an OUTSTANDING job coordinating and hosting Eagles Against Modern Slavery. Events, including 72 hours of prayer, spanned over 3 days and included a live performance by the local band, "Who Is Jon", free pizza and desserts, a documentary showing, and guest speakers including our founder, Julie Shematz. CLICK HERE for pictures of the event. 

Saturday, March 17th, Julie Shematz presented at Pure Passion in Fort Myers, FL. We, at Beauty From Ashes, were abundantly blessed by those in attendance; their willingness to serve and the immediate follow through they displayed was a great example of what it means to GET INVOLVED.   


UPCOMING AWARENESS/EDUCATION EVENTS: 
 Join us Friday, March 23rd and Sunday March 25th, at Sanibel Community Church; Julie Shematz will be speaking at their annual mission's conference. CLICK HERE for more information and directions.

Our NATIONAL SEX INDUSTRY OutREACH & AfterCARE Training is being held at Barry University July 26th-28th. 
Whether you have already started an outREACH, or are planning to, our seasoned, comprehensive, training will better equip you to professionally and holistically reach, rescue, and restore the marginalized populous of sex workers and trafficking victims.


95+ Page Manual/Topics Covered:
BFA Structure
BFA Operations Model
Human Trafficking & Sex Trafficking
Who are the Victims?
Bias & Prejudice
Mental Health Challenges
Strip Club/Sex Industry OutREACH
Building Your Team
AfterCARE
Community Engagement
Public Information
        Common Issues of Sex Workers & Boundaries
Mentoring
Self-Care
       Health Care Workers
  The Traffickers & the Facilitators

CLICK HERE for more information and to register.  Limited seating. 

Check out these events and others by  CLICKING HERE. To schedule an overcomer or BFA  at your event, 
 or call (239) 939-9218. 

MARCH PRAYER ALERT: Prayer is foundational to BFA and we covet yours. CLICK HERE for details on how to pray for us. 

DONATIONS:  We rely on private donations for program and operational costs.  Please consider giving a tax deductible gift today.  For $25 we'll send you our Child of God CD as our way to say thank you for partnering with us.  For secure online giving CLICK HERE or send your financial gift to 13300 S. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 56, Fort Myers, FL 33907. 

BFA E-NEWSLETTER:  CLICK HERE to sign up.

BFA FACEBOOK FAN PAGE & TWITTER:  Become a fan on the BFA facebook fanpage and follow us on Twitter.  Get informed and raise awareness by reposting and retweeting!  

In collaboration with United Way, the Salvation Army, and Lee Physician's Healthcare, from one location, we provide comprehensive and integrative services (medical, mental health, social, and spiritual) to victims of commercialized sexual exploitation. Thank you for your support.  Because of you, since 2005, we've served over 1000 clients and are recognized as a leading human trafficking service agency in the state of Florida. TOGETHER we are making a difference!

Committed to seeing victims become over-comers and victim-centerered services, shelters, and response protocols,

Christa Hicks & the BFA FREEdom™ Team
Program Manager

Beauty From Ashes Ministries, Inc
Where Victims Become Overcomers



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