We at Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries (BFA) have been busy and exited entering into 2013 with a continued passion and excitement to reach women affected by sexual abuse, exploitation and/or trafficking. We don't know all the Lord has in store for this year, but we trust and know it will be good and for His glory, and His love and hope will continue to set captives free. We can't begin to thank you enough for your ongoing commitment to pray for the staff, interns, volunteers and clients of BFA!
CLIENTS: We have seen women break free from unhealthy relationships, continue to pursue their educational dreams and take the necessary steps to either begin or continue rebuilding life. Please continue praying for each woman we are honored to serve; pray they recognize that through Christ they are able to have the strength and courage to change the lives of themselves and their families. Pray they continue to strive for healing and restoration. Pray they seek all the Lord has in store for them and that they rest in the knowledge that He is always good and faithful. Please also pray for the families of the women we serve as healing, renewal and restoration often needs to take place. We also ask for prayers for continued wisdom and discernment on how the Lord wants BFA to serve each woman, how BFA can be a constant source of His hope and love, and if and when He wants BFA to offer additional programs in order to serve His children in a greater capacity.
OUTREACHES: We are so thankful at how the Lord has continued to use outREACHEs to bring His truth, hope, love and joy to women throughout Florida and beyond. Our weekly inner-city outREACHes and our monthly strip club outREACHes, along with daily social media posts and life skills/support groups, have allowed BFA numerous opportunities to not only speak of the Lord's love, but to show His love in tangible, practical ways. Our Christmas party for the women we serve and their families was a night full of fun and festivities, and our prayer was that everyone could see and feel the love of the Lord. Please continue to pray as we constantly seek wisdom from the Holy Spirit for how He wants every outREACH to go, and that hearts are continuously opened to the Author and Perfecter of our faith.
PROGRAMS & SERVICES: Every program and service offered by BFA has the objective of serving the Lord will all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and then to be a source of encouragement and hope for women who have endured much but are now seeking help. Please pray for a constant posture of worship for all involved with BFA, allowing the Lord to lead everything we do. Through professional counseling and Christ-centered mentorship, we desire to see everyone we serve come fully alive through their identity in Christ alone, and we pray for the knowledge to offer the most effective programs and services we possibly can in order to best serve the community while being the hands and feet of Christ.
CURRENT NEEDS: Pray that our daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly needs to fulfill the call God has given us are filled according to His perfect will and timing. CLICK HERE for the entire list of our needs.
EQUINE FACILITY: We continue to be left in awe how the Lord is using the equine programs we are able to offer as a source of healing for both the women we serve and their children. We are extremely grateful the Lord is allowing the programs to continue even as our founder, Julie Shematz, will be participating in a four-month internship at the Eye of a Horse Equine Education Center in central Florida. Equine Specialist, Marie Shelli, comes to us with 18+ years of horsemanship, certification from EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning) in Equine Therapy, and over four years experience as an Equine Specialist at a girl's residential program in Wyoming. Please pray for her involvement with BFA and that the Lord will use her in mighty ways! For more information on the programs and facility, CLICK HERE.
FUNDING: We praise the Lord so much for how He continues to provide for our financial needs month in and month out, and we thank Him for both long-term supporters and the supporters He is currently preparing to begin a partnership with BFA. Please pray we always honor the Lord, those we serve and those who give by being good stewards of every dollar donated towards BFA.
PARTNERSHIPS: Any kind of ministry requires partnerships. No one organization can offer every service that everyone will need, which is why we are so thankful for the partnerships already established, allowing greater effectiveness in reaching women affected by s*xual abuse, exploitation and trafficking. Please pray these partnerships continue to flourish, and for spiritual, mental, physical and emotional protection for all involved. Please pray for new opportunities to open in order to develop new partnerships, and for wisdom and discernment in order to determine which partnerships should be created.
VOLUNTEERS & INTERNS: Please pray for a greater number of women to want to partner with BFA by offering their time and talents to the organization, and for the new group of interns that began in the Spring of 2013. We are so thankful for every volunteer and intern we have or had, and ask the Lord to continue expanding our volunteer base.
STAFF: Pray that our Founder, Julie Shematz, and Program Manager, Christa Hicks, would sustain balance and priorities as they work diligently to prevent, reach, rescue, and restore victims of s*x trafficking and s*xual exploitation. Please pray for constant strength and endurance and for the wisdom and discernment to run BFA the way the Lord desires.
DIRECTORS & ADVISORS: Agree with us that all advisors and directors be of God's perfect will for 2013 and that all directors will fulfill their roles and responsibilities to the organization. Pray for a spirit of motivation, unity, and harmony. Continue to pray that God would pour out His blessings on each member of our executive and advisory boards. Agree with us that their health, family, and resources be protected.
OTHER LIKE MINISTRIES/AGENCIES: All glory belongs to the Lord for the ever-growing number of ministries devoted to bringing Love, Light, Hope and Truth to the lost and hopeless. Please pray for unity within each ministry and within the Church as a whole, as we all serve the same King. Pray for protection, provision and discernment for not only those involved in the ministries, but also the families and friends of everyone involved. Please pray that everything we all do is based in honor, integrity and respect, and that partnerships continue to be formed as we all desire to see the Lord's Kingdom come, His will be done.
WEEKLY GLOBAL PRAYER: Please join us each Friday from 8-9am EST to intercede for victims of sexual exploitation, sex slavery, & sex trafficking, as well as the agencies servicing them. CLICK HERE for Prayer Guide. Locally, we meet in North Fort Myers at the Equine Facility. Contact us for directions.
BFA eNEWSLETTER: CLICK HERE to sign up to receive our monthly eNews.
Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all. For Jesus doesn’t change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he’s always totally himself. Hebrews 13:7 MSG
On behalf of Julie Shematz, the Beauty From Ashes™ FREEdom™ Team, and clients, thank you for your continued prayers surrounding this ministry.
Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries
Where Victims Become Over-Comers
"Survivors must be leaders in the development of services, shelter, and response protocols
to s*x trafficking.”
- National Report on Domestic Minor S*x Trafficking
- National Report on Domestic Minor S*x Trafficking
AWARENESS & PREVENTION • REACH & RESCUE • TEACH & DEMONSTRATE
TRAIN & SEND
TRAIN & SEND
