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Happy Reformation Day!

As the world celebrates Halloween, it is sad to see how many Christians are joining in, participating in this decidedly un-Christian observance. Merely looking at the decorations and activities which are inspired by it should be enough to tell a follower of Christ that they are not to partake. The holiday is a celebration of death, darkness and horror, with central symbols being tombstones, witches and the undead. Some of the more outrageous celebrants will even have fun with the imagery of serial killers, cannibalism and other abominations to God and society at large. Certain theme parks even have special events that are so graphic and intense that they warn that children shouldn't come to them during this time. Truly this is a dark time of year.

This should not really surprise us, as the origin of Halloween was the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, the last day of the year for that culture. The belief was that Samhain, the Lord of Death, gathered the souls of the evil dead at this time and the veil between the spirit world and our world became thin, allowing spirits to pass between them. They marked it with ritual sacrifices and disguising themselves with masks. The druids who presided over these religious festivals are recorded in ancient writings as performing human sacrifices, observing the manner in which the body fell and the blood flowed for the purpose of divining the future. The divination of the future was a central part of the ancient festival of Samhain, and the whole history of the holiday is pagan at best and at worst, satanic.

The practice of divination alone, much less human sacrifice is clearly forbidden all through the scripture, but what is not a widely known is Ezekiel 13:18 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive? Veils for the people of every height, that sort of sounds like masks for children and adults alike, doesn't it? And what is the purpose? For the hunting of souls. By willingly participating in the activities of Halloween, Christian parents are not only exposing their children to a celebration of all things dark and demonic, but they are actually opening doors to invite these influences, ideas and even the spirits behind them into their homes, their lives and even their souls. Please, don't let your child be one of the victims of this powerful tool of satanic propaganda and compromise.

Well then, what should a Christian do on Halloween? Well, God is so amazingly good that He has graciously given us something else to celebrate on this day. Several centuries ago, on October 31, something important, no, something essential to all of Christianity happened. It was on this date in 1517 that Martin Luther took the Catholic Church to task for its unbiblical practices. He had been appalled and disgusted by the practice of selling indulgences (basically paying for your sins in advance, but with real money) and the lifeless religion he saw. He knew the Bible and he saw in it that it was not gold that gets you to heaven, it's not belonging to a church, and it is not even regular confession of your sins to a priest. No, he saw that salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone and His shed blood on the cross of Calvary. He was moved by God to nail his famous 95 theses to the door of the castle in Wittenburg, Germany and it just happened to be on October 31.

So, what do you do when someone says 'Happy Halloween'? Well, you could tell them that there is nothing happy about a day celebrating devils, demons, death, destruction and everything that is evil and unholy. But at the very least, you can tell them that you don't celebrate Halloween, because something much more important happened on this day in history. This is the day that God chose to return His church to the truth of His word and the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. That He loves them and gave His life for them and if they will simply believe and repent then they will be saved. Then wish them a Happy Reformation Day. FREEdom™ is calling.

Steve Shematz
President of Beauty From Ashes

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CALLING ALL SWFL SLAVERY ABOLITIONISTS:
Beauty From Ashes will be presenting the Hands that Heal Anti-trafficking & Caregivers Training November 14, 21 & 28th from 9am - 3pm at Word of Life Church, on the campus of the New Life Dream Center. Registration & cost of materials required. For more information: CLICK HERE

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Beauty From Ashes is in need of assistance in the following areas: bookkeeping, administration, websites/social networking, picking up & inventorying beauty supply donations, meal preparation & gift assembly for outreaches. Join our FREEdom™ Team and become a sex slavery abolitionist! Contact Julie for details.

WATCH THE 10/12/09 91.5 Kingdom FM JULIE SHEMATZ & PASTOR GASPAR ANASTASI INTERVIEW for the God Has the Answer Today Show: CLICK HERE
Pastor Gaspar Anastasi, founder of the New Life Dream Center & Word of Life Ministries, interviews Julie Shematz, founder of Beauty From Ashes Ministries. Julie shares her dynamic testimony of how she was rescued out of the sex industry and they discuss how they work together to abolish modern day slavery. BFA has been working to reach, rescue, restore and advocate for victims of human trafficking for 5 years and the New Life Dream Center has been doing it for 26+ years. This interview was taped for the God Has The Answer Today Radio Program on October 6, 2009, the 7th anniversary of Julie's public re-dedication to Christ after she left the commercial sex industry.

Thank you for your continued support, prayers & encouragement. Together we are better & are making a difference! Please agree with us that the captives be set free & prisoners released in the name of Jesus. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed! May they receive the revelation of who God is, how much He loves them & who they are in Him in order that they may walk in the fullness of all He destined them to be!

Happy Reformation Day!

In His love & passion to see victims become over-comers,

Julie Shematz & the FREEdom™ Team
Founder & CEO
Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries
Where Victims Become Over-Comers
239.939.9218
877.4BFA SOS (423.2767) International Toll Free Help Line
www.BeautyFromAshes.org

Slavery Abolitionists: Gaspar Anastasi & Julie Shematz

Become a Sex Slavery Abolitionist

We at Beauty From Ashes are sex slavery abolitionists. Human trafficking is human slavery. At the peak of the slavery trade, 80,000 people a year were being transported. In 2009, an estimated 800,000 a year are being considered slaves. 80% of that human trafficking is sex trafficking.

In an effort to restore these victims, we have placed them and have been providing basic care items to women & a pregnant teen in the New Life Dream Center, a safe/recovery home here in Fort Myers, FL. Currently, none of these residents we placed are able to provide the monthly cost of $760 for their care & there are approximately 40+ women & teens living there, not to mention around 80 men in a separate facility. Overall, less than 10% have financial support to pay for their living expenses, however, no one is ever turned away due to an inability to pay.

We established the Rahab's Hope Fund to provide financial assistance to qualified applicants & all recipients have been sex trafficking or commercialized sexual exploitation victims. Below is a list of items we have provided to New Life Dream Center residents in the past month and/or need to provide in the near future:

PERSONAL ITEMS:
Toiletries: soap, tooth brushes, tooth paste, lotion, deodorant, razors, etc.
Hair products; shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, styling products, etc.
Mini pads
Tampons
Kleenex
Tylenol/Ibuprofen
Make up
Perfume

MEDICAL:
Topical ointments
Over the counter STD treatments

CLOTHING:
Bras
Underwear (no thongs; sizes 7 - 14)
Pajamas
Robes
Maternity: Size 14 pants, 42D bra
House slippers
Shoes: Sizes 7.5 - 10
Dresses
Skirts
Pants

SCHOOL SUPPLIES:
Notebooks
Pencils, markers & pens
Pencil sharpener
Text books ($10 - $18)
Work books ($10 - $23)
Sketch pads
Clock
Play Money Kit ($18)
Folders
Journals
Chalk

BIBLES:
Adolescent Bible ($30)
Life Application NLT Study Bibles ($40 a piece)

EDUCATION:
PACE Curriculum Grades 1-4 ($100)
ABEKA Home School Curriculum ($1045 a grade level)

MISCELLANEOUS:
Calling Cards
Walmart Gift Cards
Twin Bed Sheets
Drinking Glasses

We do this in addition to facilitating doctor appointments, working with probation, immigration, law enforcement, the county school system, judges, home schooling, coordinating with attorneys and other non governmental agencies in order to provide recovery assistance to these victims. We also provide support to family members of victims and by means of our website & social networking reach thousands daily. We also do weekly & monthly outreaches on the streets & in strip clubs of Fort Myers, which also costs money. We distribute gift bags that include the Word of God either written, spoken or in video & contact information, in addition to beauty supplies, gift items, etc. Monthly, we deliver & serve meals to the employees of our local adopted club, which typically costs around $100 an outreach.

In the past week, between the street & club outreaches, 34 people received Christ as their Lord & Savior and many other were prayed for in the following areas; finances, deliverance, healing, restoration, strength, courage, faith, etc.

Beauty From Ashes is also presenting the Hands that Heal Anti-trafficking & Caregivers Training November 14, 21 & 28th from 9am - 3pm at Word of Life Church, on the campus of the New Life Dream Center. Registration & cost of materials required. For more information: CLICK HERE

We need your help financially to replenish the funds used in order for us to continue to reach, rescue, restore, advocate, raise awareness & educate on commercialized sexual exploitation & trafficking. Will you please consider giving what you can today & help make the difference in a precious child's or woman's life?

We can all talk, read books, tweet, attend seminars, workshops & conferences on human trafficking until we are blue in the face, but until we are willing to take action, nothing is getting done. Fact is, most action takes money & restoration costs a lot of money! Beauty From Ashes has been working to reach, rescue & restore these victims for over 5 years & the New Life Dream Center been providing restoration services for over 26. Please consider becoming a slavery abolitionist (doesn't that sound cool?!) by giving a tax deductible donation today and/or become a Purpose Partner by committing to Beauty From Ashes by giving monthly. For every dollar you give, we'll give 10% to the New Life Dream Center directly, in addition to the items/services we provide for the victims recovering there!

To give securely online, CLICK HERE or send check, money order or cash to 5100 S. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 318-148, Fort Myers, FL 33907. For gift-in-kind donations, please contact me. Thank you for your generous giving! We can abolish slavery & restore lives one at a time.

Together we are better & are slavery abolitionists!

In His love & passion to see victims become over-comers,
Julie Shematz & the FREEdom™ Team
Co-Founder & CEO
Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries
Where Victims Become Over-Comers
239.939.9218
877.4BFA SOS (423.2767) International Toll Free Help Line
www.BeautyFromAshes.org

The Altar of Sexual Adolatry & More News

The Altar of Sexual Idolatry

There is little disputing that one of the most effective tactics of the enemy is that of sexual immorality. Although our society and the world at large have gone to great lengths to not only excuse and condone, and even promote and glamorize lust, the Bible is clear that such behavior is sinful, deceptive and devastatingly destructive to those who indulge in it, as well as their families. Against this tsunami of iniquity, there are few voices crying out in the wilderness trying to reach the enthralled masses with the truth of God’s Word. One of these, certainly, one of the pioneers among these is Steve Gallagher. An over-comer of sexual sin himself, Gallagher founded Pure Life Ministries, a residential program for men who struggle with pornography and other forms of sexual addiction. It is from this perspective that, twenty years ago, he wrote At The Altar of Sexual Idolatry, a guidebook, a bible study, a battle plan to win the war each man faces with his own nature, the world and the enemy of his soul.

The first thing the author does, as you might expect, is show that sexual immorality is not just a ‘problem’ - it is sin it is not just a ‘lifestyle’ - it is idolatry. Anyone who is choosing to give themselves over to lust is rejecting the truth of the Bible. Someone who has continually made these decisions over a long period of time is not only trapped in the cycle of sin, but is often deceiving himself as to whether his actions are sins or not. He needs to gain a true perspective of the havoc his sins wreak on his life and his family’s, as well as on his eternal destiny. Fortunately, the book does not just focus on what is wrong, but it also provides tools and strategies to help make it right and to keep it that way.

Although many self help books stress the importance of dealing with the past, this book reminds the reader of the need to deal with the present. It outlines the dangers of blaming others (parents, spouse, even God) for the issues within our own hearts. While highlighting these tendencies, it also gives the cure for them: the selfless love of God, the same love that held Jesus to the cross, which enables believers to die to their own selfish tendencies. The slow process of renewing one’s mind with the scripture is expounded on, as well as how to combat the pride that keeps us from recognizing and allowing the Lord to heal our issues.

The rest of the book is dedicated to an examination of the three enemies of our soul: the flesh, the world and the devil, as well as how to defeat them. The strategies given to foster victory in the life of the reader are true repentance and brokenness, a commitment to holiness empowered by the Holy Spirit, and the all important grace of God. The last of these is not just a feeling, but a force, not merely an abstraction, but an absolute that protects us, not from the consequences of our sin, but from the very act of sinning itself. And that is the ultimate objective of the book, not only to help people break free from habitual sexual sin, but to liberate them from the dominion of sin in all areas of their life. If you or someone you know is bound up by sexual sin, I don’t hesitate to recommend this powerful, thoroughly biblical, life-changing book and its companion workbook. You can be released from the slavery of sexual idolatry. Freedom is calling.

By Steve Shematz
President of Beauty From Ashes & Sexual Addiction Over-Comer

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OutREACHes to Victims of Commercialized Sexual Exploitation (CSE) in Fort Myers, FL:
STREET: Wednesday, October 21 9am-12pm
STRIP CLUB: Thursday, October 22 7-10pm

HUMAN TRAFFICKING IDENTIFICATION, INVESTIGATION & COLLABORATION:
Thursday, October 22 10am - 3:30pm • Florida Gulf Coast University/Union Ballroom

RESTORATION/SAFE HOME:
The New Life Dream Center is home to approximately 37 women, 2 teens (including one that is pregnant), an infant & 76 men. The highly successful program has been providing assistance to victims of commercialized sexual exploitation, domestic violence, sexual addiction & other life controlling problems for over 26 years with out any governmental assistance & the majority of the residents have no means of financial of support for their rehabilitation. Housing, feeding, clothing and providing essential care to broken people takes a lot of money, will you please consider donating today? For online giving, please CLICK HERE: or send your check made out to the New Life Dream Center to the address below.

ANTI-TRAFFICKING & CAREGIVER'S TRAINING:
November 14, 21 & 28 9-3pm, Fort Myers, FL • Registration Required • Limited Seating
The Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAAST) anti-trafficking curriculum, Hands that Heal, is a comprehensive, Christian curriculum to train global caregivers who are front line providers of aftercare for women, children, and men that have been trafficked into the commercial sex industry. The curriculum is the result of a collaboration among more than 40 academicians and field practitioners from diverse backgrounds and organizations that address the needs of trafficked individuals. FAAST also developed Hands that Heal as a tool to inform and inspire churches, communities, organizations, and individuals around the world to engage in the battle against the injustice of human trafficking and to help equip them to provide transformational care to survivors.
PLEASE NOTE: Correction Community Based Curriculum is $35, not $25.
Academic Curriculum is $45 & Both are $75. For more information: CLICK HERE

WEEKLY GLOBAL PRAYER FOR CSE VICTIMS:
Please join us every Friday to pray for the victims as well as the organizations reaching, rescuing, restoring & advocating for these individuals. Prayer Guide: CLICK HERE

PRAYER REQUESTS: Email

TO SCHEDULE A CSE/SEX TRAFFICKING AWARENESS/TRAINING EVENT: Email

Thank you for your continued support & encouragement. Together we are making a difference!

In His love & passion to see victims become over-comers,
Pastor Julie Shematz & the FREEDom™ TEam

Beauty From Ashes
5100 S. Cleveland Ave., Ste. 318-148
Fort Myers, FL 33907

How Pimps Recruit Teens

HANDS THAT HEAL: Anti-Trafficking & Caregiver Training in Fort Myers, FL

80,000 slaves were transported a year during the peak slave trade
Currently 800,000 slaves are transported a year
Human Trafficking is Human Slavery
79% of Human Trafficking is Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking is modern-day slavery in which people are exploited and sold in the commercial sex industry. Holistic care is necessary for traumatized survivors to find healing from their abuse and to learn the skills needed to succeed in beginning a new life.

The Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAAST) anti-trafficking curriculum, Hands that Heal, is a comprehensive, Christian curriculum to train global caregivers who are front line providers of aftercare for women, children, and men that have been trafficked into the commercial sex industry. The curriculum is the result of a collaboration among more than 40 academicians and field practitioners from diverse backgrounds and organizations that address the needs of trafficked individuals. FAAST also developed Hands that Heal as a tool to inform and inspire churches, communities, organizations, and individuals around the world to engage in the battle against the injustice of human trafficking and to help equip them to provide transformational care to survivors.

Anti-Trafficking & Caregivers Training
November 14, 21 & 28 9am-3pm

Registration required. Limited seating.

Hands that Heal: International Curriculum to Train Caregivers of Trafficking Survivors
$35 Community-Based Edition utilizes a participatory training approach that can be used at the local level by churches, organizations and local community groups around the world.
$45 Academic Edition is designed as an undergraduate or graduate course to introduce future caregivers to the wide-ranging needs of survivors of sex trafficking, as well as to enhance the skills of current caregivers.
$75 Both curriculum's. All curriculum's come with training CD.

Presented by Beauty From Ashes
Where Victims Become Over-Comers
Providing Assistance to Victims of Commercialized Sexual Exploitation Since 2005

Word of Life Church
2120 Collier Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33901

For more information, call 239.939.9218 or visit http://www.BeautyFromAshes.org

Trafficking Over-Comer Appearing on TV & RADIO This Week

RADIO APPEARANCE:
Updated: WATCH INTERVIEW

Beauty From Ashes' Co-Founder, Julie Shematz, will be sharing her testimony of how she became an over-comer of commercialized sexual exploitation & anti-human trafficking reach, rescue & restoration efforts on the God Has the Answer Today Show with Pastor Gaspar Anastasi, Monday, October 13th, 6:15pm EST on Kingdom FM 91.5. You can listen online here: http://www.Kingdom.FM

TV APPEARANCE:
Updated: WATCH INTERVIEW
Pastor Julie will be sharing her beauty from ashes story and discussing human trafficking in the United States on The Healing Today Show this week, October 12 thru Sunday October 19, 2009. You can view the pre-recorded show multiple times:

The Healing Today Show Thursday at 12:30pm EST

DIRECTV 376
Dish Network 267
Sky Angel 136

Watch "Live Stream" on http://www.WRXYTV.com:

Monday at 7:00pm EST
Wednesday at 10:00pm EST
Friday at 4:00pm EST


Or watch on the following SWFL channels:

Channel 49 WRXY Fort Myers

Channel 10 Comcast cable in Fort Myers, North Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Lehigh Acres, Alva, Bokelia, Bonita Springs, Captiva, Estero, Naples, Pineland, St. James City, and Sanibel Island

Channel 22 Comcast cable in Cape Coral, LaBelle and Punta Gorda

Channel 22 Comcast cable in Englewood and Port Charlotte

Channel 44 Comcast Cable in Arcadia

Channel 10 Marco Island Cable


The show will also be viewable on the following stations:

KFXB - Cedar Rapids/Waterloo/Dubuque IL
WLCF - Decatur IL
KNLJ - Jefferson City MO
WVUP - Tallahassee FL

Updated: WATCH INTERVIEW

Check your local listings to confirm airtime.

Interested in Pastor Julie sharing her story of how she was able to get out of sex trafficking & commercialized sexual exploitation? Desire to EDUCATE & train your church, college, university or organization how to effectively REACH, RESCUE & RESTORE victims of commercialized sexual exploitation & trafficking? Contact us by calling 239.939.9218 or email us at booking@beautyfromashes.org.

Do you have an testimony of becoming an over-comer of sex trafficking, commercialized sexual exploitation or porn? We'd like to hear from you! Please submit your condensed testimony of less than 500 words and/or a teaching, revelation or writing you have on how you became an over-comer to newsletter@beautyfromashes.org.

Are you a stripper, prostitute, webcam model or making porn & want out? Contact us by calling our toll free help line 877. 4BFA HELP (877.423.2767) or email Pastor Julie directly at julie@beautyfromashes.org.

Need prayer? Email us at prayer@beautyfromashes.org

2 Strippers Interrupt Church Service

On October 4th, 2002, in the privacy of her home, Julie Taylor made the decision to leave behind a life of seven years of being sexually exploited in the adult entertainment industry. Two days later, Sunday October 6th, she and a co-worker attended the morning service at Calvary Temple in Indianapolis, IN. Watch for the two women at the end of the video to see Julie and her friend's very public re-dedication.

Julie Taylor Shematz is the co-founder of Beauty From Ashes, a not for profit public charity that provides assistance to victims of commercialized sexual exploitation & trafficking.

She & her friend (both out of the industry since) took a leap of faith & dove into the river of life! Countless others have been set FREE as a result of her courageous decision to commit her life to the Lordship of Christ since.

For more information please visit Beauty From Ashes Ministries

REACHing Victims of Commercialized Sexual Exploitation

FORT MYERS OUTREACHES

As you are aware we have increased out outREACHes significantly now to include weekly STREET OUTREACHes and monthly STRIP CLUB OUTREACHes to victims of commercialized sexual exploitation & trafficking.

On Wednesday, September 23rd, the FOOD MOBILE went to LeHigh Acres & 12 more names were added to the Lamb's Book of Life! A whole lot of food, including frozen turkey breasts, was given out and lotsa prayer to hungry people. There were two individuals who received prayer for healing & were healed of their pain on the spot! To God be all the glory!

On Thursday, September 24th, the STRIP CLUB OUTREACH TEAM served home made fried chicken, Jamaican ribs, rice & pigeon peas, garlic mashed potatoes, fresh fruit, garlic dill pickles & cheese cake to all the employees of our Fort Myer's adopted strip club. Warmly met by all, the team got down to business right away ministering God's truth to the ladies as they started sharing their hearts, pain, struggles, dilemma and asking questions about God, religion & the Bible. 7 women were prayed for & 1 re-dedicated her life to Christ! The manager at one point told the team (in the locker room) as he passed through smiling largely, that there was 'too much talk & not enough prayer!' He even came in & sat down a couple of times sharing his desperation of being in the industry for 20+ years, how tired he was & his desire to be out of it with the team. There were tears, hugs, prayers, encouragement, phone number exchanged & the ladies told us they want us to come back more often!

Please continue to pray for the precious souls. We are astonished at the favor we have & the work we see God doing in their lives. Agree with us that the captives be set FREE, in the name of Jesus, to be all that God destined & purposed them to be.

We'll be back on the streets next Wednesday & our next club outREACH will be next Friday nite.

Please consider becoming a monthly FREEdom™ Partner with us. Your financial support enables us to EDUCATE the community, ADVOCATE for the victims, implement REACH, RESCUE & RESTORE programs and provide safe HOMES & shelters. To make secure online tax deductible donations: CLICK HERE. Mail cash, money orders or checks made out to Beauty From Ashes Ministries to: 5100 S. Cleveland Ave., Ste. 318-148, Fort Myers, FL 33907 & THANK YOU.

We appreciate your encouragement & support. Together we are better & are making a difference!

In His love & passion to see victims become over-comers,

Steve, Pastor Julie Shematz & the FREEdom™ Team

Sex Trafficking Victim Begins RESTORation in New Life Dream Center

We are pleased to announce that another victim of severe human trafficking was RESCUEd & traveled across the nation to enter our New Life Dream Center on Tuesday, September 23, 2009. The beautiful young woman's exploitation began when she was a minor and has officially begun her RESTORation journey to wholeness in our safe home. Please keep her, the other residents (almost 40 women, 7 children & 76 men) in your prayers.

To hear the testimony of a current resident (Tyra Bank's guest), an over-comer of domestic minor sex trafficking & commercialized sexual exploitation: CLICK HERE

To view the Fort Myers News Press video on the center featured with the front page story of Beauty From Ashes: CLICK HERE

FREEdom's Calling: What You Hanging Onto?

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? Mark 10:17

When Jesus came to earth, there was no room at the inn to receive Him. It reminds me of an episode of ‘Friends’ where Ross was dating this beautiful blonde, but when he saw her apartment, it was filthy and covered in garbage. Her response to his obvious disgust was to simply say ‘Come on in, just push that stuff over.’ Are we like that with God? We want Him, but we also have a lot of junk lying around. The world has marked us, our bad choices have scarred us and the attacks of the enemy have left us battered and bruised. Our ‘houses’ are pretty crowded indeed.

So, what was Jesus’ reply to the earlier question? After the young man affirms to Him that he has kept every commandment since he was young (which, of course, is impossible), He tells him that he only lacks one thing. Our Lord really is a master of understatement. The ‘one thing’ was to sell all of his possessions and give to the poor. Jesus knew that this man's great wealth was gripping his heart. If he couldn’t give up the riches of this world, he’d never be able to receive the riches of Christ. God wants us to love Him with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. And He doesn’t just want the good things; He wants it all. He said ‘Come to me all you who are weary’ (Matt 11:28) He wants our burdens. We are to cast all our cares upon Him. (1 Peter 5:7) He wants our worries. He became sin for us so we might become His righteousness. (2Cor 5:21) He even wants our failures.

What are you hanging onto? What is hanging on to you? The young man in the story above ‘went away sad for he had great wealth.’ Do you own your possessions, or do they own you? Are you like the rich young ruler, or like Jesus, who willingly gave up all the glory of being God to become one of us? Give it all to God; it all belongs to Him anyway.

Noah gave up his reputation, Abram gave up his home, Abraham gave up his son, Moses gave up riches, David gave up his kingdom, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.

What is God asking you to give up for Him? Freedom is calling you.

Steve Shematz
President, Beauty From Ashes Ministries

Outreaches to Victims of Commercialized Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking in Fort Myers Area

If you are reading this, hopefully you have a heart for women who have been commercially sexually exploited. With your help we can remove HUMAN TRAFFICKING from the landscape of Fort Myers! We are excited to tell you about a chance we have to serve with Beauty From Ashes during upcoming weekly FOOD MOBILE & monthly ADOPT A BLOCK street outreaches.

Word of Life Church has consistently been taking the FOOD MOBILE into some of the poorest areas of Fort Myers for years on a weekly basis handing out food, toiletries, furniture and clothing. Literally hundreds of people’s lives have been changed through this effective outreach strategy, not to mention communities transformed. Beauty From Ashes will now be joining them on Wednesdays from 9am - noon and began last week. 9 individuals gave their hearts to Christ and relationships have begun to be established in hopes to offer them a way out of destructive lifestyles and identify human slavery situations.

Beginning Saturday, October 3rd, Word of Life Church & Beauty From Ashes will begin reaching out to the community East of Lee Memorial Hospital (Broadway/Maple to Canal & surrounding blocks), recognized as a highly concentrated area for prostitution & illegal drug activities. We are literally ADOPTING THE BLOCK & offering our help to those in the community by mowing lawns, painting over graffiti, picking up trash, organizing games with children, face painting & temporary tattoos and visiting the elderly, in addition to handing out food, clothes & toiletry items.

A number of women who are being commercially sexually exploited will most likely be attending these weekly & monthly outreaches. This will be an awesome opportunity for us to reach out to the community and to develop relationships with these women.

In addition to these STREET OUTREACHES, we are just as excited to announce we have scheduled STRIP CLUB OUTREACHES 2 times a month through February 2010 for a total of 41 local outreaches to victims of commercialized sexual exploitation & trafficking! We'll be serving meals and giving away gift bags to the employees of the local clubs.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:
~ Food, food, food & more food, in addition to toiletries and clothing. Canned good & non-perishable items, toiletry, clothing items & furniture can be dropped off at Word of Life Church, 2150 Collier Avenue, Fort Myers, FL M-F 10am - 5pm.
~ Prepare food dishes for strip club outreaches. Please contact me.
~ Bibles; English & Spanish are needed, as well as, journals, jewelry & small gift items for women. Contact me.
~ Distribute flyers the week before the ADOPT A BLOCK event begins. Please contact Pastor Rob Jones at 239.274.8881 x250
~ Setting up and tearing down street outreaches. Contact Pastor Rob Jones at 239.274.8881 x250
~ Serving at the street outreach events. Contact Pastor Rob Jones at 239.274.8881 x250
~ Pray for divine appointments, favor, that stony hearts be made flesh, captives be set free and that many names be added to the Lamb’s book of life.

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

theCALL2XXX NEW YORK: Sept 25-27 (this weekend) is the east coast's largest porn expo & we need you to commit to praying for this event. Please answer this global mobilization of intercessors and sign up today. Everything you need to know & to promote this event is on our website: http://www.beautyfromahses.org

Interested in Pastor Julie sharing her story of how she was able to get out of sex trafficking & commercialized sexual exploitation? Desire to educate & train your church, college, university or organization how to effectively REACH, RESCUE & RESTORE victims of commercialized sexual exploitation & trafficking? Contact us by calling 239.939.9218 or email.

Do you have an testimony of becoming an over-comer of sex trafficking, commercialized sexual exploitation or porn? We'd like to hear from you! Please submit your condensed testimony of less than 500 words and/or a teaching, revelation or writing you have on how you became an over-comer to julie@beautyfromashes.org.

Need prayer? Email us at prayer@beautyfromashes.org

Sex Trafficking Fact Sheet

View FREEdom™ Children's Homes 4 America's Prostituted Children Video: CLICK HERE

Please continue to lift up those in our sphere of influence and agree with us that they receive a revelation of Who God is and who they are in Christ. May their hearts be softened by His love that will result in radical obedience as disciples of Christ fulfilling their destinies as children of God, establishing His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Your financial support enables us to EDUCATE the community, ADVOCATE for the victims, implement REACH, RESCUE & RESTORE programs and provide FREEdom™ Safe HOMES & Shelters. Please consider becoming a monthly FREEdom™ Partner with us. To make secure online tax deductible donations: CLICK HERE. Mail cash, money orders or checks made out to Beauty From Ashes Ministries to: 5100 S. Cleveland Ave., Ste. 318-148, Fort Myers, FL 33907 & THANK YOU.

In His love & passion to see victims become over-comers,

Steve & Pastor Julie Shematz

26+ Years of Restoration to Sex Trafficking Victims

For almost three years now, Beauty From Ashes has had the privilege to be part of an extremely effective restoration program, the New Life Dream Center here in Fort Myers, FL. With a 90% success rate, the facility is home to approximately 113 residents, including pregnant women & babies up to four years old. 100% of all the mothers that entered the program that did not have custody of their children were able to regain custody once they complete the program, if not before. The faith based program lasts for 18 months, during the final 6 months of which the residents acquire full time employment so that when they complete, they have a job, a savings account & have walked an intensive journey of inner healing where they move from being victims to over-comers.

26 years ago, before buzz words like human trafficking, commercialized sexual exploitation and child sex trafficking were popular, Pastor Gaspar Anastasi and his wife Michelle were taking these victims off the streets and offering them new hope, new life & new dreams. Pastor Gaspar embraced the great commission to make disciples of the nations and hundreds of lives have been transformed since. They have developed a program that has set the pace for successful restoration centers that have now been duplicated across the nation and in other countries. The New Life Dream Center has been a vital partner & resource to the restoration of sex trafficking victims. It was recently announced that the County Commissioner is giving the keys to the city to Pastor Gaspar and Word of Life Ministries for the effective work they have done to help restore lives and communities.

The New Life Dream Center for women needs community partnerships in order to continue to provide restoration services to victims of commercialized sexual exploitation, trafficking and domestic abuse.

To hear the testimony of a current resident (Tyra Bank's guest), an over-comer of domestic minor sex trafficking & commercialized sexual exploitation: CLICK HERE

To view the Fort Myers News Press video on the center featured with the front page story of Beauty From Ashes: CLICK HERE

It costs $760 a month to house, feed and provide inner healing to each resident. No one is ever turned away for an inability to pay and the program currently relies on private donations alone to maintain the daily operational costs. Fact is, it costs a LOT of money to provide care for over 100 people daily.

In addition, they are in desperate need of the following items:

Towels
Wash Cloths
Cleaning Supplies
Drinking Glasses
Plates
Knives & Forks
Plastic Bowls
Kitchen Wares
#10 Electric Can Openers
Toiletries
Toothpaste
Hygiene Supplies
Canned Goods & Non-Perishable Food Items

Will you please consider giving today and/or organizing your church or group to rally together to help support this amazingly effective program?

For secure online giving, CLICK HERE. Make checks out to the New Life Dream Center and mail to 5100 S. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 318-148, Fort Myers, FL 33907. To make non cash donations, contact Pastor Lucy Williams at 239.274.8881x243.

Thank you for your generous giving. Together we are better & are making a difference!

In His love & passion to see victims become over-comers,

Pastor Julie Shematz
CEO & Co-Founder Beauty From Ashes

p.s. Word of Life Ministries is home to Beauty From Ashes. :+)