BFA WEBPAGE UPDATE: A year after launching the new Beauty From Ashes (BFA) Ministries website, we have made some changes! Recognized nationally as a source for most recent domestic human trafficking news, conferences, documentaries, legislation, outreaches, etc., we've made it easier for you to connect to and follow us. Be sure to check out our new social media tab at www.BeautyFromAshes.org!
NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK (NCVRW): Every 9 seconds, a woman is battered by someone she knows or loves. Every 2 minutes someone is sexually assaulted. 73% of sexual assaults are perpetrated by someone the victim knows. 6 out of 10 rapes of young women occur in their own home or a friend or relative’s home. 60% of sexual assault cases go unreported. April 10-16th has been declared the National Crime Victims Rights Week by the Department of State, Office of Justice. For more information, click here: http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/
20th JUDICIAL COURT VICTIM'S PROFESSIONAL PANEL: Tuesday, April 12th, BFA founder, Julie Shematz, an over-comer of domestic and sexual abuse, and human trafficking, will be speaking at the Fort Myers Riverside Community Center from 11am - 12pm. The event, sponsored by the 20th Judicial Court and Lee County Sheriff's Department will run 9am - 5pm and events are planned all week commemorating the NCVRW. The panel will consist of Victim Advocates from various agencies and victims of crime. The victims of crime will openly discuss with the general public and criminal justice professionals, their experiences with every facet of the judicial system, the important role victim advocates played in their life, and will field questions from the audience. For more information, CLICK HERE: http://victimservicescoalition.org/Lee_County.html
STRIP CLUB OUTREACH: Saturday, April 17th, the night before Palm Sunday, the BFA outREACH team will be serving up a home cooked meal to employees from the locker room of our local "adopted" strip club and distributing outREACH gifts that include the Bible Promises Book, Julie Shematz's testimony DVD, makeup, toiletries, and Easter candies. To view gift bags & care packages distributed to local safe home, CLICK HERE: https://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=47173299291&aid=299595 Please keep the outREACH in your prayers.
FORT MYERS AREA PASTORS: If you are a local pastor willing to get out of your comfort zone and open your doors and arms to these victims, please contact us about your services and we will include your church's information in our outREACHes.
BREAKING FREE LIFE SKILLS & SUPPORT GROUP: Wednesdays at Barry University 1-3pm. For victims and over-comers of CSE and human sex trafficking. Child care and lunch provided. Registration required. Contact Julie Shematz at julie@beautyfromashes.org or call 239-939-9218 to register.
SCHEDULE BFA FOR AN EVENT: BFA provides education, in service, and trainings on human trafficking for social service agencies, universities, churches, groups, businesses, and clubs. To schedule a speaker and for more information, CLICK HERE
WEEKLY GLOBAL CORPORATE PRAYER: Join BFA 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.
PRAYER REQUESTS: We care for you and have a team that prays over your every need. Submit your prayer request via our website CLICK HERE.
DONATIONS: Your partnership is vital for us to continue providing education, 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.
NOTE FROM BFA FOUNDER: After a week of traveling to Birmingham, AL for the first annual "Victim's Issues: Through the Eyes of Victims" Conference (which was very well done), meeting new friends, networking, and spending the weekend with 40 amazing women of God who were vulnerable and transparent with no iPhone, internet, TV, makeup, shopping, bling, or fluff, I am fully refilled, recharged and refreshed. I want to thank Kris Holcomb, Martha Hilley, JoAnn Dorr, Charlie Andrews, Ellen Ling, and the Church of the Highland's Human Trafficking Care Group, for inviting me to speak and extending such warm southern hospitality to me and Mary Lewis, Chair of the Lee County Human Trafficking Task Force, during our stay in Birmingham. We had the honor and privilege of meeting and hanging out with over-comer, Tajuan McCarty, founder of the Wellhouse, Inc., a residential home for victims of human sex trafficking in Birmingham and encourage you to check out the Wellhouse Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thewellhouseinc. A huge thanks to the Sanibel Community Church's (SCC) Women's leadership team for planning a refilling "Woman at the Well" weekend and the women of SCC for Loving sooooooo Well! I also want to thank Ann Peterson, Crystal Hamilton, Nancy Sampson and Madeline Mayor for their leadership in my absence last Saturday at our monthly outREACH gift and care package assembly. Thanks to my husband, best friend, and right hand for overseeing BFA operations in my absence and loving me unconditionally for 8 years. As I enter into the last 2 weeks of this semester, concluding my first year being in full time graduate school, I can hardly believe it! We have come a LONG way! Most of all, thanks to YOU, our faithful supporters for your prayers, time, talent, encouragement, and support. We are in this together & TOGETHER we are making a difference!
Loving because I am loved. John 15:9In His love and faithful service,
Julie Shematz
Founder & CEO
Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries
Where Victims Become Over-Comers
239.939.9218 | 877.4BFA SOS (877.423.2767) Toll Free Help Line
Physical Address: 12381 S. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 506-1, at the site of Barry University | Fort Myers | FL | 33907 | USA | Monday-Thursday 10-5
Mailing Address: 13300 S. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 56-623 | Fort Myers | FL | 33907 | USA
"Survivors must be leaders in the development of services, shelter, and response protocols to sex trafficking.” - National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking
AWARENESS & PREVENTION • REACH & RESCUE • TEACH & DEMONSTRATE • TRAIN & SEND
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