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 2010 National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month

On January 5th, President Obama made a proclamation declaring
January 2010 as the
NATIONAL SLAVERY & HUMAN TRAFFICKING MONTH

26 Things You Can Do To Make a Difference

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

2010 New Year Resolutions

In 2010, Beauty From Ashes resolves...

...to reach, rescue & restore more domestic victims of CSE & sex trafficking than ever before.

...to advocate for the rights of domestic minor & adult victims of sex trafficking like never before.

...to change public policy regarding restoration funding for domestic victims of human trafficking.

...to establish more FREEdom™ Homes for domestic minors & adult victims of CSE & sex trafficking.

...to commit to the process of healing & wholeness, better equipping over-comers to assist sex trafficking survivors & victims.

...to assist more victims of CSE & sex trafficking to become over-comers than ever before.

...to develop more community partnerships & to abolish modern day sex slavery in 2010.

...to change the world one life & soul at a time in sex trafficking, human trafficking and child trafficking.

These are our resolutions, and there are numerous opportunities that you too can become a slavery abolitionist for 2010.

Ways to be PRO-ACTIVE in SEX SLAVERY ABOLITION in 2010:

1. RAISE AWARENESS & BE TRAINED IN REACH, RESCUE & RESTORATION: Host an event, outreach training or over-comer speaker from Beauty From Ashes™. Contact us

2. SPREAD THE WORD on the internet to fight sex trafficking by joining our facebook, myspace, and twitter teams

3. DONATE money that goes directly to our efforts. 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

$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

4. VOLUNTEER with Beauty From Ashes. Contact us for opportunities.

TOGETHER WE ARE BETTER & WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN 2010!

Thank You For An Amazing 2009 & Happy New Year!

As we come to the end of the year 2009, we are amazed to look back at all that God has accomplished over the past 12 months. He has truly been showing off what He can do through any willing vessel. Beauty From Ashes™ has expanded to greater spheres of influence and God is stretching our tent pegs to affect a greater number of lives than ever before, and we could not have done it without the faithful support of friends like you. Thank you for believing in and partnering with us, allowing us to achieve the following:

AWARENESS & PREVENTION
• Held XXX Ministry and Strip Club Outreach Trainings in Detroit, Daytona, Fort Myers & Las Vegas
• Launched Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and additional Myspace pages for social networking with victims, survivors and over-comers of Commercialized Sexual Exploitation, as well networking with other slavery abolitionists
• Produced 12 Song Private Label CD, Child of God
• Hands That Heal (HTH) Human Trafficking Trainer of Trainer’s certification & was guest speaker in Atlanta. Hosted HTH Training in Fort Myers, FL
• Appearances on local and national television programs including Rod Parsley’s Breakthrough Ministries, Healing Today Show as well as several radio programs

REACH & RESCUE
• Partnered with the Pink Cross Foundation for Outreach in Las Vegas at the AVN porn expo, the world’s largest
• Organized 24 hr prayer for all days of the following porn expos across the nation: AVN, New York and Exxxotica Miami Porn Expos
• Held monthly Strip Club Outreaches to our adopted club, serving meals and distributing gifts that included written, audio and visual forms of the Word of God in addition to beauty supplies and “fluff items”
• Participated in weekly street outreaches to victims of human trafficking and commercialized sexual exploitation where hundreds of names were added to the Lamb’s Book of Life
• Launched FREEdom™ Homes Initiative and established the FREEdom™ Advisory Team
• Initiated National 40 hour fast for porn addicts in the church

RESTORATION
• Provided support through the Rahab’s Hope Fund to survivors of human trafficking across the nation as well as transportation to local residential programs
• Facilitated emergency short term placement and housing as well as long term residential care
• Raised and donated thousands of dollars to local residential treatment program where victims were placed in addition to providing basic care needs; hygiene items, clothing, toiletries, medicines, bibles, journals, etc.
• Provided educational assessment testing, curriculum, enrollment in private schooling, as well as tutoring
• Provided assistance with resumé building, interviewing skills and job placement
• Established 1st Beauty From Ashes™ safe home; the FREEdom™ Home
• Partnered with national organizations to facilitate restoration services to survivors relocation, education, medical and emergency services
• Provided placement and case management services

ADVOCACY
• Established presence in and local partnerships with Lee County Human Trafficking Task Force, Department of Homeland Security Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Lee County Sheriff’s Department, Fort Myers Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigations and Licensed Therapists
• Made numerous court appearances on behalf of victims of human trafficking
• Partnered with local and national NGOs, law enforcement, licensed therapists, attorneys, judges, probation officers, Department of Juvenile Justice, health care providers in interest of human trafficking victims
• Accepted invitation to join national campaign, War On Pornography, with leaders such as Focus on the Family, American Family Association, Morality and Decency, Citizens for Community Values and the Witherford Institute

Extra special thanks to the FREEdom™ Advisory Team:
Arnie Coones, Station Manager 89.5 Praise FM
David Caton, President of the Florida Family Association
Roger Gannon, Lindell & Farson, P.A.
Laura Lederer, Former Senior Advisor on Trafficking the United States Department of State
Mary C. Lewis, L.C.S.W., Co-Chair of Lee County Human Trafficking Task Force & Former Executive Director of Our Mother’s Home of Southwest Florida, Inc.
J.D. Mallory, Senior Pastor Naples Assembly of God
Nancy Sampson, Sanibel Community Church & Stonecroft Ministries leader
Steve Siler, Music for the Soul Founder & Executive Director, Producer of Somebody’s Daughter
David Smythe, J.D. Candidate 2010 University of Georgia School of Law
Timothy Snodgrass, D.O. General Medicine Physician
Nola Theiss, Coordinator of Training/Outreach, Esperanza Project, Lee County Human Trafficking Task Force & Executive Director of Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships, Inc. Patrick Trueman, Former Chief of Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section of the United States Department of of Justice

Additionally, we would especially like to thank Judi Setzer, Esq., Donald Miltner, Yvette Haran, Joe Gonzales and Mike Zeleski for their invaluable service and assistance.

We are very grateful for everyone who has partnered with us. Your involvement has allowed us to make remarkable progress in 2009--and we look forward to greater elevations in 2010. On behalf of the hundreds of women, men and children that now have hope that they too can be over-comers of the sex industry & human trafficking because of your help--thank you. Together we are better and are making a difference.

OUR MISSION:
To prevent, rescue and restore victims of sex trafficking.

OUR 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

If you'd like to make an end-of-year donation, click HERE to donate securely by credit card or PayPal. Or mail your check to 5100 S. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 318-148, Fort Myers, FL 33907. BFA is a 501c3 non-profit organization and your donation is tax deductible. To receive end of the year tax credit, please make sure your donation is made by December 31st.

In His love and passion to see victims become over-comers,
Steve & Julie Shematz

Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries
Where Victims Become Over-Comers
239.939.9218
877.4BFA SOS (423.2767) International Toll Free Help Line
Beauty From Ashes

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

Home for the Holidays ~ Merry CHRISTmas!

‘Tis the season, but for what? Giving and receiving presents? Perhaps, but that’s not all. Being kind to one another and loving everyone? Well, if you’re a Christian, that’s what you’re supposed to do all the time anyway. Singing songs and going to church? That’s closer to the truth, but even so, it can still be just an empty ritual with no meaning or impact. Sadly, this is the case with the majority of our culture, even self-professing ‘Christians’ to whom Christmas is little more than an excuse to overeat, take the day off and think about what they want for themselves. We barely even acknowledge Christ anymore and certainly the majority of our culture is reluctant to even say the word Christmas. ‘Happy Holidays’ has become the refrain from most retailers and corporations, even though buying gifts for this unspecified holiday happens to have a deadline of December 24th. We have traded the manger for the mall and adoration for avarice.

The ‘true meaning of Christmas’ for which countless movies, holiday specials and children’s books have searched is not about happiness, kindness or even families, although these are all good things; it is about the God of the universe becoming a human baby to live and die as one of us. The true gift of Christmas is that of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son, who came down from heaven and subjected Himself to the same trials, sorrows and pains that all of us face. When we fail to recognize Christ in Christmas, we are denying the very Creator who made us and the Savior who purchased us with His own blood. When we make it about crass commercialism, greedy materialism or even feel-good humanism, we are forgetting who He is and making this sacred day about us.

As you celebrate Christmas with your family and loved ones, remember His love for you and the ultimate outpouring that culminated at the cross of Calvary. Remind and tell others of the greatest gift of all that is freely available to every one of us, ready to transform our hearts as soon as we accept it. We at Beauty from Ashes are continually awed by the unfathomable love of the great God we serve, and we are seeing that love manifested here in our safehome. We have two over-comers of sex trafficking who are now residents here, having for the first time, a home and a family for the holidays. Our home and our hearts are full and all of us hope and pray that you and yours will have a wonderful, Merry, Christ-centered Christmas full of His peace.

In His passionate love & grateful service,

Steve & Julie Shematz
Founders, Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries
Where Victims Become Over-Comers
239.939.9218
877.4BFA SOS (423.2767) International Toll Free Help Line
Beauty From Ashes Ministries

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

FREEdom™ Home for the Holidays

Dear Family, Friends & Partners,

It's that time of the year again with less than 12 days before Christmas. It has always been a very special time of year for Beauty From Ashes, and this year has been exceptionally wonderful.

Thanks to your support, Beauty From Ashes was able to raise $735 for the women's New Life Dream Center through our jewelry sale and because of your generous donations, we have been able to give hundreds of dollars worth of basic care needs, bibles, journals, clothes and beauty supplies to the ladies residing there.

Additionally, we were able to assemble 50 Christmas gift bags for our 6th annual strip club outreaches that include the following items: 3 forms of the Word: Bibles, CDs & DVDs, along with purses, makeup kits, hair & nail products & jewelry. We will be delivering them to our adopted club Thursday, December 17, along with a homemade meal of lasagna, spinach salad, garlic bread and delicious deserts. We also plan on delivering them to another local club that Pastor Julie met the owner at the AVN porn expo. Delivery date TBD. We are able to do this because of YOU and your faithfulness in supporting us. Thank you!

While we have worked very hard to support other restoration programs over the past 7 years, the time has come that we need assistance for what God has entrusted to us. He has opened the doors of which we've dreamed and need your help now more than ever. It is with great joy that we are finally able to establish our own safehome for victims of sex trafficking! Due to our community partnerships with law enforcement and outreach abilities to attract victims, we already have a waiting list of survivors needing to be placed in our first FREEdom™ Home. Residents are due to begin moving in this week, and we anticipate a full home for Christmas. To God be all the glory for the great things He has done!

In the mean time, below is a list of items we are in urgent need of:

SAFEHOME

Set of bunk beds

Twin Size Sheets

Plastic Hangers

Dresser

Floor lamp

Walmart Gift Cards (For food, clothes, pharmaceutical, etc.)

You can give your tax deductible gift of love securely online HERE or contact us to provide these items directly to us.

Your gift will restore physical, emotional, and spiritual health to rescued girls by providing them things like safe shelter, medical care, nutritious food, vocational training, compassionate counseling, and where possible, reintegration with a loving family.

Receive the Beauty From Ashes' Child of God 10 song CD when you donate $35 or more to the FREEdom™ Homes Fund.

OFFICE SPACE

Literally, we have received such a blessing that we cannot contain it anymore! (Malachi 3:10) Beauty From Ashes is in desperate need of a larger space for our offices and art studio. We would consider a residential home for this as it will also provide much needed housing for our staff. If you or someone you know have available home or space, please contact us ASAP.

VOLUNTEER TRAINING

God is answering our prayers & sending in laborers; however, many more are needed. We are having a Reach, Rescue & Restore Victims of Commercialized Sexual Exploitation & Human Trafficking Training, Tuesday, December 15th 6-9pm. We also have need of help in the following areas:

Administrative

Accounting

Shopping

Gift Assembly

Prayer

If you are interested in joining our FREEdom™ Team, please contact us.

We are seeking community partnerships with churches, business's, organizations and individuals that will join with us for ongoing support. God has stretched our tent pegs and territory for such a time as this. We cannot do this alone and need you, your church, your small group, organization &/or business to come along side us to assist in reaching, rescuing & restoring the lives of precious orphans that have become victims of sex slavery. Will you help us and consider doing a fundraiser and/or have us come to your organization to do an awareness presentation on human trafficking? Committing to monthly support or one time giving in any amount will enable us to do that which God anointed us to do.

Time is of the essence, every minute 2 children are being forced into prostitution world-wide and it is estimated that 100,000 - 300,000 minors a year are being forced into child sex slavery every year here in the USA. Less than 2 months ago, the FBI rescued 62 females from the horrific nightmare of sex slavery and none of the 52 minor victims are receiving the help experts say is necessary to overcome such trauma and rejoin society. READ STORY The need is great for restoration homes and we have stepped up to the plate to make a difference. We need your help. Will you lock arms with us as slavery abolitionists? We can make a difference one life at a time this Christmas.

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

Pastor Julie, Steve & 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

www.BeautyFromAshes.org

Christmas Gifts With Purpose

You are buying Christmas gifts, so why not

use your buying power

to combat human trafficking & have purpose?

HANDMADE JEWELRY

Necklaces, bracelets and earrings handmade by an over-comer and donated to BFA as 'seed'. We are sewing it ALL into the fertile ground of the Women's New Life Dream Center by selling the one of a kind pieces at Word of Life Church (2120 Collier Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33901) starting tonite and during all services (Fridays 7:30 & Sundays 8am & 10am). If you're in the area, stop by and use your buying power to support the 26+ year restoration, residential program that currently has 50 women, 2 teens (one pregnant) and 4 babies. While you're there, stay for the services and experience an encounter with the Lover of your soul!

CHILD OF GOD CD

With your giving of at least $30 (+ $5 shipping & handling), we'll send you our private label 10 song CD filled with inspirational music that is guaranteed to move you deeply into a closer relationship with our Creator. Featuring our theme song, Child of God, produced by Music for the Soul, this gift is the gift that will keep on giving each time you listen to it. To order CLICK HERE.

CHILDREN'S GIFTS

As you consider the perfect Christmas gift for your children, grandchildren, or church’s children’s ministry this holiday we highly recommend Music for the Little Soul. Created by Dove Award winning songwriters Music for the Little Soul is all of the most beloved Bible stories in song. Also included are 15 lullabies, 30 Christmas songs, and lots of great new Praise & Worship just for kids.

This 164 song set is only $49.95 - that’s ten full length albums for only 31 cents a song! – and comes with instrumental tracks to all of the songs so your Sunday school or home school group can perform them! 328 tracks in all! An amazing value!!! Or buy just Vol. 1 or Vol. 2 – five albums - for just $29.95! To order or to hear samples and preview the lyrics just CLICK HERE

TOGETHER WE ARE BETTER & ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

Pastor Julie Shematz & the FREEdom™ Team

BEAUTY FROM ASHES

Our mission is to prevent, rescue and restore victims of sex trafficking.

Our purpose is 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 receive comfort, security, safety, love and learn to become over-comers.

Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries, Inc.

Where Victims Become Over-Comers

239.939.9218

877.4BFA SOS (423.2767) International Toll Free Help Line

www.BeautyFromAshes.org

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