February ePrayer Alert

Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries (BFA) exists to bring the Lord's love, hope and truth to the world, specifically women and children who have endured sexual exploitation, abuse and/or trafficking, and we are absolutely honored and grateful for every prayer said on the organization's behalf.  We continue to see His work both within the women we serve and within ourselves, and it is a privilege to be an advocate of His redemptive plans and purposes for every one of us.  Thank you so much for your commitment to pray for the staff, interns, volunteers and clients of BFA!

CLIENTS:  It is so challenging and difficult to rebuild life after having been subjected to abuse, exploitation, turmoil and chaos for years, but we are so proud of the way many of the women we serve have met these challenges head-on.  They know the work is worth it, both for themselves and their families, and we are grateful to walk alongside them as the begin believing in who the Lord has identified them as: beautiful, precious, beloved daughters of the Most High!  Please continue to pray for their hearts to not only receive healing, but to let go of any unhealthy thoughts and behaviors from the past, whether it be unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, hurt or anything keeping them from complete freedom in Christ.  Please pray their every need will be met, and for a greater awakening of the depths of the Lord's love for them.  Pray their friends and families not only see the difference in their lives, but then become drawn to the presence of the Lord.  Please pray against any attack of the enemy to try and draw the women back into a life of heartache and pain.  

OUTREACHES:  We love how the Lord draws women to BFA; sometimes they come across the website or Facebook page, or they hear of us from friends.  And other times it is through our strip club and low income area outREACHes, where we are given the opportunity to share Christ's love through words, deeds and even food.  Every one of our outREACHes is meant to bring glory to the Lord and to bring Truth to His children.  Please continue praying for discernment and wisdom, so that everything we do is led by the Holy Spirit.  Pray for new doors to open in His timing, for relationships to be built through His divine appointments and for His power to continuously go before us in order for His light to shatter the darkness.  Pray every heart and mind we encounter not only becomes aware of the Lord, but desires a life fully and wholly devoted to Him.  
  

PROGRAMS & SERVICES:  Our desire is that every program and service offered by BFA is rooted and grounded in the love of the Lord, allowing us the privilege of serving His children to the best of our abilities.  We want to constantly ask the Holy Spirit to lead, in order to offer programs and services that will best meet the needs of the women and children that we serve, while also trusting the Lord to introduce new services in His time.  Please pray for supernatural strength and wisdom, equipping the staff, interns and volunteers of BFA for every moment of every day.  

CURRENT NEEDS:  Please pray that our daily and monthly operational costs are met.  Everyday we are assisting numerous local and national victims in becoming overcomers through over 30 programs and services that we don't charge fees for.

EQUINE FACILITY:  It is a tremendous joy for BFA to have the ability to offer equine-assisted learning and horsemanship mentorship to not only the women we serve, but also their children.  The facility now has four horses, as Morning Star Spirit has been added to the team, joining Candy Man, Murphy and Handsome.  Please pray that under the instruction of our Equine Specialists in Mental Health and Learning, Julie Shematz and Marie Shelli, children and adults alike will be able to experience internal healing through experiences with the horses, allowing the Lord to move and work in ways often unexplained but done through His creation.  Pray for safety, good health and protection for all involved, and that these services are offered and directed the way the Lord desires. 

FUNDING:  The Lord is always faithful.  We continue to be amazed by His provisions and we are honored by every one of our supporters.  Please pray we always trust His plans, we direct His funds in the way He wants them to go and that He will continue to bring in every cent needed to operate BFA according to His will.

PARTNERSHIPS:  Just as the body of Christ has many members, it is through partnerships where multiple agencies and organizations come together to serve and love as many people as possible.  BFA is privileged to have established partnerships with other organizations and people, bringing greater effectiveness to the programs and services we are able to offer.  Please pray for additional partnerships when and how the Lord sees fit and for relationships built on trust, integrity and honor.  

EVENTS: Please pray for the many events we have scheduled for the month of February.  We have events ranging from our weekly support groups to speaking engagements at universities, churches, and community groups.  

VOLUNTEERS & INTERNS:  Only the Lord knows all that will happen this year, and we believe and are thankful that He is already raising up additional women to offer their time, talents and services to the work of BFA.  We are very grateful for the intern and volunteers we currently have, and it is their work that allows BFA to offer as much as we do, even with a small number of staff members. Agree with us that their lives be richly blessed.

STAFF:  Pray that our Founder, Julie Shematz, and Program Manager, Christa Hicks, would sustain balance and priorities as they work hard to prevent, reach, rescue, and restore victims of s*x trafficking and s*xual exploitation.  Please pray for constant strength, discernment, endurance and peace in order for them to lead BFA the way the Lord desires. 

DIRECTORS & ADVISORS:  Pray for a spirit of motivation, unity, and harmony among each Director and Advisor.  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:  Please be in prayer for every ministry and organization committed to following the Lord's lead into the darkness, seeing His redemption consume all shame, guilt, worldly label and pain.  Pray for unity to prevail in every circumstance, and for a greater network of like-minded people serving those affected by s*xual exploitation, abuse and/or trafficking.  Please pray for continuous protection not only for those among the organizations, but also their families and friends.   

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.

PRAYER REQUESTS:  Send us your prayer requests by CLICKING HERE

MONTHLY ePRAYER SIGN UP:  CLICK HERE

BFA eNEWSLETTER:  CLICK HERE to view our latest eNews and sign up to receive them in the future.

Finally, as we enter into the season celebrated for love, agree with us that all we serve and partner with with receive a deeper revelation of the love of our God.

"But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us." Romans 5:8 AMP

On behalf of Julie Shematz, the Beauty From Ashes™ FREEdom™ Team, and clients, thank you for your continued prayers surrounding this ministry.  

With sincere appreciation,

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

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

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ANNOUNCES $1.2 MILLION IN GRANTS TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ANNOUNCES $1.2 MILLION IN GRANTS TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

WASHINGTON - The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has announced the award of four grants totaling $1.2 million to support the development of strategies that protect children from commercial and sexual exploitation. These grants are part of the Department's national strategy to prevent and interdict child exploitation announced by Attorney General Eric Holder.

"Protecting our youth remains a priority with the Justice Department," said Laurie Robinson, Assistant Attorney General, OJP. "We are determined to have strategies in place that prevent, and if necessary, rescue and help children recover from exploitation. These grants will provide the resources necessary to reach the children and hold the perpetrators accountable."

OJP's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) will administer the awards, which will support selected Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces by making available improved training and coordination activities, help in developing policies and procedures to identify child victims, assistance in the investigation and prosecution of adult perpetrators and the identification and adoption of best practices for compassionate victim intervention. This grant program is authorized under the Providing Resources, Officers, and Technology to Eradicate Cyber Threats to Our Children Act of 2008, (P.L. 110-401, 42 USC 17601, et seq.) ("the PROTECT Act"). Eligible applicants under the competitive solicitation were the existing 61 ICAC Task Forces and affiliate law enforcement agencies.

Recipients include:

County of Alameda, Oakland, CA ($300,000)
Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Decatur, GA ($300,000)
City of Boston, MA ($300,000)
Cook County State's Attorney's Office, Chicago, IL ($299,999)
Information about the ICAC Task Forces can be found at http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/programs/index.html

In addition, OJP also announced the release of the bulletin Effects of Federal Legislation on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. The bulletin describes the findings of an OJJDP study that examined the impact of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 on the federal prosecution of cases of children who were sexually exploited for commercial purposes. The bulletin is posted at http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/228631.pdf.

Source: Department of Justice

Superbowl is Hot Spot Offering Sex For Sale in South Florida

Super Bowl is coming soon so are the traffickers

Super Bowl is a big event for most Americans whether they are madly in love with football or not. This year, the national event will take place in Miami Florida, where people know how to party and have fun. Many people are currently looking for the tickets to attend the game at the very last minute. Tickets are sold for more than 1500 dollars a piece along with the tickets at an exclusive clubs and bars for late night party.

By the way, do you know what else is will be going on in Miami? Sex trafficking and prostitution of women and children. Experts are well aware that big sports event like this is always coupled with increase in sex trafficking and prostitution. They are particularly concerned that this year may be worse than others as Florida is a hub of sex trafficking and child prostitution.

You can argue that sex should be treated just like alcohol, a method of entertainment. You may even go further to say that sex industry should be treated like any other industries. But, here is the thing; the products, commodities, or the people who are sold in the sex industry are different from a bottle of Vodka or beer. They are human, not commodities, with mind and soul. Whether they chose to enter the industry or not, it is damaging to them in every way, and the damage lasts for a long time. They suffer through psychological and physical problems including, depression, insomnia, Post-Traumatic Disorder, distorted liver system, sexual organs, or even joint pain as a result of being a commodity in the sex industry. They feel the psychological and physical pain when the customer throws her away out of frustration, whereas a bottle of Vodka will be broken but with no pain suffered by the Vodka itself.

So, dear sports fans, I hope that you have as much fun as you can on the day of Super Bowl. But, I wish you do so responsibly. When someone offers sex in Miami, consider my argument and think for a second to see if you would want anyone to treat your sister, mother, or even yourself as a bottle of Vodka or beer– a thing that can be possessed, abused, thrown away, and trashed at the end for the sake of your entertainment just because you paid for it. You may not think that your purchase for sex will not change a bit about human trafficking and sex industry in the U.S., but you, by doing so, become another person to set a trend that a big sports event is coupled with increase in prostitution and sex trafficking in the future.

To check out more articles on human trafficking written by Youngbee Dale, visit Norfolk Human Rights Examiner.

Source: Restore. Minor grammar edits to original article.

Path to Recovery & Upcoming Events

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12

None of us can escape the effects of spiritual warfare. We are all vulnerable, and the world fractures us in many ways throughout our lives. Consequently, we are unable to avoid traumas, some of which leave long lasting scars.

Particularly when they come during childhood, traumas can have profoundly detrimental effects. Even careful parents cannot keep children completely out of harm’s way. Kids will be traumatized one way or another, and many people spend much of their adult lives trying to overcome the effects of early traumas. Trying to overcome the effects of the early traumas is usually not recognized as such, because it takes the form of struggling through life, reading the latest self-improvement books, and feeling stuck with an annoying bad habit. These are attempts to change the trauma effects without looking at the trauma that produced the effects.

About a third of us have been traumatized as children in the form of physical or sexual abuse, many more suffer from the absences of good things that are necessary for emotional maturation, and help is not usually available. School failure, depression, anxiety, poor self-esteem, chronic physical illness, violent behavior, and disturbing sexual urges are some of the common after-effects of childhood traumas. When they go untreated, the children carry these effects along with them into adulthood. Woundedness, dividedness, isolation, and oppression are the result of leaving the trauma wounds unidentified and unhealed.

They really need for the people who love them to encourage them to find out where their pain is coming from, and to accompany them on their path to recovery. Without the help of a caring community around them, their woundedness, dividedness, isolation, and oppression will prevent them from getting to wholeness. The Life Model: Living From the Heart Jesus Gave You, page 21-22, Dr. James G. Friesen.

We at Beauty From Ashes™ are committed to providing the necessary survivor centered services for victims of commercialized sexual exploitation and sex trafficking.

In the aftermath of a trafficking experience, the physical and psychological control tactics used by traffickers, combined with the physical and sexual abuses perpetrated leave both deep emotional scars and physical damage. Hands That Heal: page XV, Beth & Cindy Lopez Hudlin.

Although their wounds seem daunting, our holistic, community-based approach gives them the best opportunity to heal as they embark on their path to recovery. Working with licensed Christian therapists and through community partnerships, we have been able to embrace the wounded and offer them the multi-faceted care they deserve.

Below is a quote from a resident, a former victim of domestic minor sex trafficking, currently living in our first FREEdom™ Home:

"While living in the FREEdom™ safehome, I am challenged by the commitment needed to pursue wholeness. I am encouraged by the fact that it’s not me healing alone, and it is God's power and presence in my life that is nurturing and healing me. The most impacting part of living in the FREEdom™ home has been the emphasis placed on an intimate relationship with Daddy God, healing and the importance of a healthy, safe and loving community. I’m learning what it means to live a life of abundance and joy here at the FREEdom™ home; I have celebrated my birthday for the first time, experienced Christmas in a healthy family setting, and even watched a football game while eating chocolate chip cookies. I am beginning to understand that through Christ's forgiveness and acceptance, I am clean. Seeing more brothers and sisters in Christ come alongside me is proving to me how much God wants me to heal."

Facing the new year in the middle of a national financial crisis, we need your help like never before. Will you please prayerfully consider coming along side us to help these precious women heal and experience healthy firsts? Your love gift will give a young woman hope that God truly desires wholeness out of her brokenness. It will help us to continue reaching, rescuing, restoring and advocating for them.

All donations are tax deductible. Write check to Beauty From Ashes and mail to 5100 S. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 318-148, Fort Myers, FL 33907 or give securely online HERE

For a minimum gift of $35 ($5 shipping), we'll send you our 10 song private label, Beauty From Ashes™ Child of God CD.

Thank you for partnering with us in supporting their path to recovery. Together we are better and are making a difference.

******************************

UPCOMING EVENTS:

ABC/NBC News Story on Beauty From Ashes, Julie and human trafficking Monday, January 18th.

Out of the Shadows Human Trafficking Conference, Julie Shematz will be speaking on behalf of victims, January 20, 25 & 27th at Florida Gulf Coast University. Beauty From Ashes will also be exhibiting hand made jewelry, bags, artwork & items made by over-comers.

Strip Club Outreach, January 28th, Fort Myers Beach, FL

Stiletto Project Art Show, Julie Shematz showing & art auction of paintings by over-comers, February 6th, Gallery AK1511, Venice, CA. Proceeds go to Treasures & Beauty From Ashes. To view Julie's entry, CLICK HERE

Life's Healing Choices Bible Study & Meal, Mondays Ongoing, 5:30 - 8pm, Fort Myers, FL

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: Contact Us

PRAYER REQUESTS: Contact Us

SCHEDULE A BEAUTY FROM ASHES' SPEAKER/EVENT: Contact Us

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

http://www.BeautyFromAshes.org

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

January 11th is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day ~ 20 Things You Can Do

• Today 27 million people are held in slavery
• 80% are Sex Slaves & Female
• 60% are Children
• 100,000 – 300,000 domestic minors are being lured into prostitution yearly
• The average age of a prostitute in the USA is 12-14 years old
• Every minute 2 children are being forced into sex slavery worldwide
• 90% of adult sex workers were victims of sexual abuse as children
• Florida is the #2 state for human trafficking (Texas #1 & California #3)
• Every year more than 1 million children are forced into global commercial sexual exploitation (CSE)
• Human trafficking will be the #1 crime worldwide in 2010

Most people don’t know that in 2007 the United States Senate designated January 11th as Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

20 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

1. Refuse to be part of the problem by being apathetic and doing nothing. Be pro-active.
2. Contact your organization, club, and church leaders to facilitate an event to raise awareness about the issue of human trafficking.
3. Invite a Beauty From Ashes™ over-comer to share their personal story of triumph
4. Schedule a Beauty From Ashes™ Reach, Rescue, and Restore training on how to effectively do outreach and provide survivor-centered services to victims.
5. Read the National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, so you can be educated and informed.
6. Watch and repost human trafficking videos from the Beauty From Ashes™ Youtube page.
7. Follow us and challenge your friends to do so as well. Repost and share the information we post:

BFA BLOG
BFA FACEBOOK FAN PAGE
BFA MYSPACE
BFA TWITTER

8. Start following human trafficking news on twitter. Retweet relevant news stories by adding a tag #.
9. Find out if your area has a local human trafficking task force and get involved. If your area doesn’t have one, contact your Sheriff’s department and coordinate the establishment of one.
10. Contact your local newspaper to see if they are running a story on human trafficking for the Awareness Day; if not, encourage them to do so and tell them about Beauty From Ashes™.
11. Find out about local slavery abolitionist groups in your area and volunteer your time.
12. Produce artwork that raises awareness about the issue of human trafficking. Take a picture and send the images to Beauty From Ashes™ Founder, JulietheArtist.
13. Take up a collection in your office, care group, Sunday school, or church service. Donate to bring hope through Beauty From Ashes™.
14. Sponsor a fundraiser for Beauty From Ashes™, ideas include: bake sale, car wash, marathon, bikeathon, swimathon, danceathon, walkathon, or garage sale.
15. Ask if your employer has a donor-match program for charity donations. Tell them about Beauty From Ashes™.
16. Businesses, please consider donating a percentage of your profits to Beauty From Ashes™.
17. Sponsor a resident survivor's basic care needs in the FREEdom™ Home ($600/month).
18. Sponsor a BFA outreach to victims of commercialized sexual exploitation and human trafficking. ($50-100/month)
19. Sponsor a BFA Rahab's Hope Fund candidate, a survivor of CSE & human trafficking, to go to school and acquire a higher education degree. (LPN & Cosmetology)
20. Sign up for BFA E-Newsletter and forward our email and blog link to 10 of your friends.

"The biggest hurdle for those of us who work in the anti-trafficking field is the simple lack of awareness of trafficking as a social issue, as a crime (by understanding the criminal elements, or definition), and understanding there is a pretty strong anti-trafficking response if you just know where to look.

Remember, if one of the toughest hurdles we have as abolitionists is the lack of knowledge about trafficking, one of the most important things to do is inform others." -John Vanek

BEAUTY FROM ASHES™ was founded by an over-comer of CSE & human trafficking. We have been providing assistance to victims of CSE & human trafficking since 2005.

BEAUTY FROM ASHES™ MISSION:
To prevent, rescue and restore victims of sex trafficking.

BEAUTY FROM ASHES™ 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

All donations are tax deductible. Write check to Beauty From Ashes and mail to 5100 S. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 318-148, Fort Myers, FL 33907 or give securely online HERE

Thank you for joining us and becoming a slavery abolitionist in 2010. Together we are better & can make a difference!

Passionate about seeing victims & survivors become over-comers,

Steve, Julie & the FREEdom™ Team
Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries

P.S. See ADDITIONAL THINGS TO DO in Comments below.

Funding FREEdom™ in 2010

· Today 27 million people are held in slavery

· 80% are Sex Slaves & Female

· 60% are Children

· 100,000 – 300,000 domestic minors are being lured into prostitution yearly

· Every minute 2 children are being forced into sex slavery worldwide

· 90% of adult sex workers were victims of sexual abuse as children

· Florida is the #2 state for human trafficking

· Every year more than 1 million children are forced into global commercial sexual exploitation (CSE)

· Human trafficking will be the #1 crime worldwide in 2010

· Currently there are less than 50 beds for the much-needed specialized services for domestic minors of sex trafficking in the USA.

Will you help Beauty From Ashes™ start

the New Year strong

and enable us to better assist

victims of CSE and human trafficking?

How Far Will Your Dollar Go?

$50 – Cost of BFA’s monthly strip club food outreach (25 – 30 meals)

$100 – Cost of BFA’s bi-monthly strip club gift outreach (25-75 gifts)

$125 – Cost of 25 Bibles

$20/day, $140/week & $600/month – Cost to clothe, feed, shelter, provide therapy, staffing & insurance to survivor in BFA FREEdom™ Home

$400/month – Cost of BFA administration

$3000 – Cost to relocate family of 4 (two children; 3 months & 2 years) from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Fort Myers, FL. Mother is CSE & human trafficking survivor who has worked as a hair stylist for 4 years. Husband wants to go into local drug rehabilitation residential program (Teen Challenge) while mother & children receive survivor-based assistance from BFA, including licensed therapy.

$415/month, $5000/year – Cost to acquire Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) degree for over-comer of CSE, mother* of three children (1, 3 & 8 years old) who has already acquired state nurses aide license & CPR training. She has been out of industry for 4 years.

$1000/month, $12,000/year – Cost to acquire Cosmetology Degree for CSE & human trafficking over-comer*, who has been free from slavery for 8 years and maintained full time employment.

*Rahab’s Hope Fund Candidates that have worked with BFA for 3-5 years. Both have demonstrated consistent maturity and a sincere desire to better themselves through higher education means.

You can give two ways:

1. Mail cash, money order or check made out to Beauty From Ashes Ministries to 5100 S. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 318-148, Fort Myers, FL 33907

2. Give securely online by clicking HERE

All donations are tax deductible. Your gift of love enables a victim and survivor to realize they can experience FREEdom™ to become an over-comer. Please notate in Memo if you desire your gift to go to specific area of need and thank you!

For a minimum gift of $35 ($5 shipping), we'll send you our 10 song private label, Beauty From Ashes™ Child of God CD.

Together we are better & are making a difference.

PLEASE NOTE: January 11^th is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Awareness is key to prevention and intervention. Join the slavery abolitionist movement and refuse to be a bystander. Contact us for resources, ideas and possible speakers.

The FREEdom™ Team

Beauty From Ashes Ministries