BFA Founder Celebrates 8 Yrs of Being Free From the Sex Industry, OutREACH, Weekly Bible Study, Int'l HT & Prostitution Conference & More News!

FBI AGENT LEADS FLORIDA HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE:  

"If you receive five girls and one completely changes her life, then you're doing well. The biggest problem is taking her to a place where she can get help — psychological, mental, substance abuse . . . If you send the girl to a foster home or a group home, it's not going to help."  READ MORE

STRIP CLUB OUTREACH:  Fort Myers, FL, Saturday, October 9th, the Beauty From Ashes (BFA) OutREACH team will be delivering and serving a home cooked meal of eggplant parmesan, Italian salad, rolls and deserts to the employees of our local adopted strip club.  Additionally, the team will be giving away gift bags filled with beauty supplies, toiletries, a DVD of over-comer, Julie Shematz's, interview on the Healing Today Show and Anthony Skinner's CD, Forever and a Day.    The team will also be leading a bible study and doing foot washings from the locker room.  Please keep the team and those they will influence in your prayers.  

PROSTITUTION & HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONFERENCE:  University of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, October 6-8.  Julie Shematz, BFA CEO & Founder, will be representing BFA at this 7th annual international conference.  BFA's involvement in this conference is being funded by the capacity building grant BFA received from the Department of Health & Human Services.  Mrs. Shematz has been asked to be an academic speaker for the conference next year.  For more information on the conference, CLICK HERE.  For a list of upcoming BFA events, CLICK HERE. To schedule BFA for an event, CLICK HERE.  

BFA WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY:  Beginning Wednesday, October 13th, 1-3pm at Barry University, BFA will be facilitating a weekly bible study & life skills development class for victims/survivors of commercialized sexual exploitation to learn how to become over-comers.   Lunch will be served.  Registration is required.   For more information, contact Julie Shematz.  

MENTORS & VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:  BFA is in need of mature, stable minded and committed servants to assist us in providing eduction to the community, and advocating, reaching, rescuing and restoring victims of commercialized sexual exploitation and sex trafficking.  If you are interested, please contact BFA Volunteer Coordinator, Dotti Craig.   For a list of volunteer positions, CLICK HERE.  

FAMILY CHRISTIAN STORE IS DONATING BIBLES to BFA:  The Family Christian Store located at the Gulf Coast Town Center in Fort Myers, FL is making Beauty From Ashes Ministries their ministry of the month for October!  When you give $5 at the store for BFA, they will provide to us a beautiful, purple, leather, New Testament outreach bible.  Please stop by Family Christian for all your Christian bookstore needs, give to BFA's need of outreach bibles, and tell them thanks!   [We are in desperate need of bibles!  We are wanting to distribute 50 of these for our Christmas gift give away in December].

theCALL2XXX:  Join us for weekly global 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

PRAY WITH BFA: Please agree with us that God changes the victims/survivors 'want to' and they commit to a relationship with their Creator, the journey of healing and healthy relationships.  May they have a revelation of who God is and who they are in Him, their identities restored, and understand what true love and freedom really is.  

PRAYER REQUESTS:  We care for you and have a team that prays over your every need.  Please send them to prayer@beautyfromashes.org

DONATIONS:  Your partnership is vital for us to continue providing awareness, advocacy and reach, rescue and restoration services to victims of commercialized sexual exploitation.  Please consider becoming a monthly partner by giving a tax deductible gift today.  For  $35 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, 5100 S. Cleveland Ave., Ste, 318-148, Fort Myers, FL 33907.

For the LATEST NEWS REGARDING DOMESTIC SEX TRAFFICKING, visit our home page:  http://www.beautyfromashes.org

BFA E-NEWSLETTER SIGN UP:  CLICK HERE

I want to personally thank you for your support and encouragement, especially for those that have become a part of my healthy support community the past 8 years. This ministry is not mine, it's the Lord's and He has only entrusted it to me for a season.  Because of your faithfulness and willingness to partner with me, WE have accomplished what we have and will continue to do so.  There is NO WAY I could do this alone!  

I can barely believe it was on Yom Kippur, 2002, that I surrendered all to Christ and what He has done over the past 8 years of my life.  He set me free from many bondages and has proven through my life, and others, that He is the God of hope and restoration.  He gives beauty for ashes!  Because He is not a respecter of persons, I know what He did for me, He will do for countless others.  That [His Word & character] are fuel for my passion to lead BFA.  Thank you for joining with me to see BFA's vision come to pass.  Together we are better and we are making a difference!  God bless you!  I sincerely appreciate you dearly. 

The BEST is yet to come! 

In His passionate love & service,

Julie Shematz & BFA FREEdom™ Team

Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries  

Where Victims Become Over-Comers

FBI Agent Leads Task Force Targeting Pimps in Child Prostitution

TAMPA — In 2008, FBI agent Gregory Christopher helped launch a task force aimed at rescuing children from prostitution. In just one year, the group freed 22 children in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

For that, Christopher was named the State/Federal Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.

As leader of the Tampa Area Crimes Against Children task force, Christopher, 32, works with four detectives to remove minors from the grasp of preying pimps.

The St. Petersburg Times spoke with him recently about his job, the problems child prostitutes face and what the community can do to help.

What exactly does the task force do?

It's an FBI-led task force, comprised of Tampa police and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. It started informally about two years ago, and we rescued 22 kids. In 2010, we're pretty much on par. (They've found 21 children so far.) The whole purpose is, one, recovering the kids, and, two, prosecuting the individual who exploited them through sex.

So what happens to the pimps?

We prosecute them in federal or state court — whoever can give the most time. The pimps, they're shocked when they find out they're going to go to jail for this long. They think they were just being a pimp. But these are children. The youngest we've seen is 13.

What kind of time can they get?

It depends on many factors. In federal (court), it's no less than 10 to 15, to life.

What is the typical victim you come across?

A lot of these kids are foster kids, runaway kids. There's not a lot of people looking out for them. I'd say about 70 percent or so are foster kids. We work closely with DCF (the Department of Children and Families).

Twenty-two children rescued in Tampa Bay in just one year — does that seem high to you?

I have no doubt there's a lot more out there. I get at least two or three leads a week. We can't act on everything. There's no way.

So what happens to the girls once you find them?

When girls were arrested in the past, they were booked (into a juvenile justice center), bonded out and went back on the street. You have to treat the girls like a victim — because she is. I've had girls spit in my face. I've had girls cuss me out. I'll tell you why: They haven't had experiences where police are on their side. They're probably going to be beat by their pimp for messing up. It takes a concerted effort to make it clear you want to help them. Pimps completely brainwash a child. It's the most frustrating part about it.

What happens then?

If you receive five girls and one completely changes her life, then you're doing well. The biggest problem is taking her to a place where she can get help — psychological, mental, substance abuse. Now, we're sending them out of state to Children of the Night in California and Gems in New York. If you send the girl to a foster home or a group home, it's not going to help. Part of that task force (the Florida Statewide Task Force on Human Trafficking) is figuring out how to get a place like that here.

How does something like this even occur in the first place?

The girls are told the pimp is their boyfriend. They think, "He's going to love me. He's keeping me fed. He's giving me a place to stay." The girls don't get the money. The guys have nice cars, live in decent places, have nice clothes. When you find the girls, they're completely numb.

How do you deal with seeing tragedies like these, day after day?

What makes it worthwhile is just seeing the kids when we have a successful rescue. There's nothing better than seeing the girls get out of the game. Some keep in touch with me. They tell me "I hated you at first," but later they're thankful. That's what makes it tolerable: the success stories, and, I've got to be honest, seeing these guys go to jail for a long time.

What can we, as a community, do to help?

You'll be surprised what you can observe or come across. We have our office staffed around-the-clock. Call (813) 253-1000, and someone will be available. Really, it's just about being observant. You could be driving around on, for example, Nebraska Avenue, and you could see a young girl out there. You know that's not right — she looks too young. Call in and describe the girl, where she is and that she looks young. We will address it.

Source: Tampabay.com 

Baptism, Completion of Program, Artreach, Honor Society & More!

SURVIVOR BAPTIZED:  A young woman who gave her heart to Jesus approximately two months ago during a strip club outreach was recently baptized.  Please agree with us and God's Word that He will be faithful to complete that which He has begun in her life.  May she fall in love with her Redeemer, her faith increase and she be set free to be all that God purposed and destined her to be!  

OVER-COMER COMPLETES LONG TERM RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM:  We are pleased to announce that the young woman who was featured on the Tyra Banks Show "Troubled Mother Tries to Change" has changed and completed an 18 month, faith based, residential program and returned to her home state to be a mother to her two children.  BFA had the honor of facilitating her placement and being a part of her healing journey during her season of restoration.  Your generous giving allowed us to provide for her.   Please keep her and her family in your prayers as they acclimate to the new person and mother that she is.  

VOLUNTEER MONTHLY MEETING:  This Saturday, October 2nd 9-1:30, at Barry University,  Room 500-1, BFA will hold our monthly team meeting.  We will be inventorying beauty supply donations and assembling gift and care packages.  If you're interested in volunteering with us, please contact us today.  For a list of areas to serve and our needs, CLICK HERE

ARTREACH - CALL TO YOUNG ARTISTS:  Beauty From Ashes is participating in ARTREACH, a program of the Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships (HTAP).  ARTREACH educates teen girls about Human Trafficking through group art sessions and encourages them to channel their feelings about human trafficking into a creative work of art.  The program location is Bethany Lutheran Church in North Fort Myers, FL, on October 7, 14, 21 & 28,  3-6pm. Class size limit is 12 and open to students, ages 14-18, who have an interest in human trafficking and art production.   There is no cost for this program and participants will be paid for the work they produce.  For more information & to register, please visit website and/or contact Nola Theiss, Executive Director of HTAP at (239) 395-2635.

FAMILY CHRISTIAN STORE DONATING BIBLES to BFA:  The Family Christian Store located at the Gulf Coast Town Center in Fort Myers, FL is making Beauty From Ashes Ministries their ministry of the month for October!  When you give $5 at the store for BFA, they will provide to us a beautiful, purpose leather New Testament outreach bible.  Please stop by Family Christian for all your Christian bookstore needs, give to BFA's need of outreach bibles, and tell them thanks!   

TRAFFICKED:  Find out more about BFA and our work educating the community, advocating for victims and prevention, intervention and restoration programs.  Listen to last week's interview with our founder and over-comer, Julie Shematz, on the radio program Trafficked with guest, a 20+ year expert in human trafficking, Dotti Laster.  CLICK HERE

INTERNATIONAL COUNSELING HONOR SOCIETY:  We are pleased to announce that, BFA CEO, Julie Shematz, currently a full time graduate student at Florida Gulf Coast University, in the Mental Health Counseling Program, has been invited to join the Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society.  After working over 14 years with victims of commercialized sexual exploitation and founding BFA in 2005, Julie made the decision to acquire her master's degree in order to be better professionally trained to more effectively serve the women, children and the public earlier this year.  Congratulations Julie!  

theCALL2XXX:  Join us for weekly global 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.  Please send them to prayer@beautyfromashes.org

DONATIONS:  Your partnership is vital for us to continue providing awareness, advocacy and reach, rescue and restoration services to victims of commercialized sexual exploitation.  Please consider becoming a monthly partner by giving a tax deductible gift today.  For  $35 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, 5100 S. Cleveland Ave., Ste, 318-148, Fort Myers, FL 33907.

For the LATEST NEWS REGARDING DOMESTIC SEX TRAFFICKING, visit our home page:  http://www.beautyfromashes.org

BFA E-NEWSLETTER SIGN UP:  CLICK HERE

Mr. & Mrs. Steve Shematz & the BFA FREEdom™ Team

Committed to seeing victims reached, rescued, advocated for & restored,

Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries  

Where Victims Become Over-Comers

Underground Railroad Surfaces: BFA Assists in Teen Sex Slave Rescue

The underground railroad, providing a means for escape for slaves, is a alive and well today in the United States of America and it is surfacing to share the remarkable escape of a domestic teen from over 15 years of sex slavery.  This teen, who started communicating with Beauty From Ashes Ministries founder, also a sex trafficking over-comer, Julie Shematz, over 2 years ago via the internet, was ready to leave, but they both were faced with the dilemma of how she would escape and where to go.

The teen's desperate cries for help through public blogs and social networking websites documenting her struggles with self mutilation, eating disorders, depression, and illegal drugs culminated when she allegedly, voluntarily, admitted herself to a local mental health facility two weeks ago.  Facing the reality of trauma bonding with the predator, 30+ years her age, her attempt to be 'rescued' failed again when she was released.  In the Northeast, thousands of miles away from Julie Shematz, faced with no money and where else to turn but to go back to her abuser, she returned to him.

The abuser, aware of the teen's mental disorders and careful to not allow photographs of himself, had assessed her vulnerability via the internet years before and patiently groomed her and others to believe he was a trustworthy, licensed professional, degreed with a doctorate, carrying the title of 'pastor', capable of giving her the recovery services she needed from being sold for sex by her mother and used in occult sexual practices since she was 3 years old.  The trafficker arranged the mother to sign off on her parental rights, giving him guardianship of the minor and he allegedly manipulated an unsuspecting couple into transporting her to him.  This minor's initial cross state, Texas to Pennsylvania, 'rescue'  immediately turned into a nightmare when the physically disabled 'father figure' started coercing her for sex in return for a place to stay and quickly devolved into manipulating her to do sadomasochism pornography and forcing her to dance in strip clubs.  Not even being aware that she was a human trafficking victim, her public cries for help, disguised in self mutilation, served as an emotional and expressive outlet to the captivity she was experiencing.

In the United States of America, a minor under the age of 18 years old forced or coerced to perform commercial sex acts (pornography, stripping and prostitution) is a considered a 'severe form of human trafficking'.  As this teen educated herself via the internet, through Beauty From Ashes Ministries new website and other websites, about human trafficking in the past 3-6 months, she became aware that she was a victim of severe human trafficking who had been severely emotionally manipulated.  Although not openly admitting her victimization, her determination to leave began to overcome the fantasy she had held of being married & living happily ever after with her trafficker.

After advising Julie Shematz that she desperately wanted away from her 'fiancé', Julie kept reminding her that 'where there is a will there is a way' and that there were options for her life, in hopes that suicide would not seem like her only option.  That evening the teen googled  'human trafficking'  and logged onto Hear  Women Talk (HWT), Trafficking.  She began communicating privately in chat with Dottie Laster, the host, and some of her HWT team and within in 24 hours of contacting Dottie, an expert in executing rescues of victims and educating the public, including law enforcement and working with agencies across the nation, facilitated the teen and her kitten's escape.  With only the clothes on her back, a backpack, laptop and kitten, the escape was a finely tuned plan that included multiple service agencies, private investigators, local and national law enforcement, US Airways and cross country relocation.

Today the teen is in a safe place receiving the comprehensive professional care she needs and deserves.  For her protection and to provide her the best services available, she's been relocated four times since Thursday.  Yesterday she asked Julie Shematz how she could receive Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord.  Her name is now written in the Lamb's Book of life and her new life free from physical & spiritual captivity has officially begun.  Please keep Lisbeth (named changed for confidentiality) in your prayers.  Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.  (Corinthians 3:17)

Beauty From Ashes Ministries would like to thank all agencies, individuals, businesses and law enforcement involved in this teenager's rescue.  We'd especially like to thank Dottie Laster of Laster Global Consulting and Dan Benedict of the Defender's Foundation.

Hear about the fastest growing crime in the world, human trafficking, and how community partnerships collaborated together to give this teen her escape from slavery this Thursday, September 23 from 1-2pm EST on Hear  Women Talk, Trafficking, with host Dottie Laster.  Julie Shematz will be her special guest discussing how Beauty From Ashes Ministries was able to be part of this modern day underground railroad and this teen's brave escape.

More news on this story:
On line Talk show helps free a woman from Human Trafficking

In His love & service to see victims set free to become over-comers,

Steve & Julie Shematz & the BFA FREEdom™ Team
Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries
Where Victims Become Over-Comers

BFA Founder LIVE on 89.5 Praise FM Friday, Sept 10

Our founder and human trafficking over-comer, Julie Shematz, will be discussing Beauty From Ashes Ministries live on "The Drive Home Radio Show" with Arnie Coones of Praise FM 89.5 on Friday, September 10th.  If you're not in the Naples/Fort Myers, South West Florida area, you can listen online here: http://www.praisefm.com/

Public Outreach and Communications Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries Where Victims Become Over-Comers

Fort Myers Strip Club OutREACH, Mentoring Program, Coalition Mtg, Upcoming Events & More!

STRIP CLUB OUTREACH:  Fort Myers, FL, Saturday, September 11th 7pm - 11pm.  The Beauty From Ashes (BFA) outREACH team will be delivering a warm, comfort meal consisting of various quiches, salad, rolls & pies to the employees of of our local 'adopted' strip club.  We'll also be doing foot washings, bible study and serving communion.  After 6 years of outREACH to this club in the past 2 months we've been privileged to lead 8 people, including the manager, in the sinner's prayer.  It's been your prayers and the giving of our partners that has made this possible, THANK YOU!  Please continue to pray for these precious individuals. They desperately want out of their lifestyles and struggle with thinking it's impossible to do so.  May the relationships we have developed be rooted and grounded in the truth that will set them free to be all that God destined and purposed them to be! 

MENTORING PROGRAM:  In response to the new believers from the strip club outREACHes and requests from the five county area guardian ed litem's office, we are developing a specialized mentoring program.  If you are interested in becoming a mentor to a girl or young woman, please contact Julie Shematz.  Application, references and BFA training is required. 

LEE COUNTY HUMAN TRAFFICKING COALITION MEETING:  Thursday, September 9, 10am-12pm at Summit Church, 19601, Ben Hill Griffin Pkwy., Fort Myers, FL 33912.  This meeting is an open public meeting.  If you are from the area, please consider participating and become part of the solution to human slavery. 

BFA EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS:  

One of BFA's  goals is to equip others to reach, rescue and restore victims of commercialized sexual exploitation and trafficking with the message there is help and a way out. Since 2005, we have been providing 'victim/survivor-centered' training locally and across the United States in the development of this unique type of ministry.  

Below is a list of the current presentations that we offer:

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking:  Identifying & Responding to America's Trafficked Youth

Human Trafficking - Hearing from the Victims & Addressing Demand 
Sex Worker AfterCARE
Street OutREACH
Strip Club OutREACH

XXX OutREACH

For more information and to schedule an event, CLICK HERE 

UPCOMING BFA AWARENESS & PREVENTION EVENTS:

Thursday, September 16th, 3:00-4:30pm, North Fort Myers, FL:  Brookwood Girl's Home - It's Not Glamourous & Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking will be presented to the residents and staff.  

Thursday, November 4th, 5:30 - 6:30pm, Fort Myers, FL:  Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) - Human Trafficking, Hearing From the Victims & Addressing Demand will be presented to students and faculty. Event is sponsored by the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking (FCAHT).  

Sunday, November 14th, 5:00-6:30pm, North Fort Myers, FL: Wesleyan Diplomat Church - Human Trafficking, Hearing From the Victims & Addressing Demand will be presented.  Event sponsored by Women's Ministries.  

PLEASE PRAY WITH BFA:  Agree with us that those we have influenced will receive the revelation of who God is and who they are in Christ.  May they have the strength and wisdom to make healthy choices and the courage to pursue the journey of inner healing.  

theCALL2XXX:  Join us for weekly global 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.  Please send them to prayer@beautyfromashes.org

DONATIONS:  Your partnership is vital for us to continue providing awareness, advocacy and reach, rescue and restoration services to victims of commercialized sexual exploitation.  Please consider becoming a monthly partner by giving a tax deductible gift today.  For  $35 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, 5100 S. Cleveland Ave., Ste, 318-148, Fort Myers, FL 33907.

For the LATEST NEWS REGARDING DOMESTIC SEX TRAFFICKING, visit our home page:  http://www.beautyfromashes.org

BFA E-NEWSLETTER SIGN UP:  CLICK HERE

We love, appreciate you & are praying for God's best for your life.  Thank you again for your continued support.  TOGETHER we are making a difference!  

Passionate to see victims become over-comers,

Julie Shematz & the BFA FREEdom™ Team

Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries  

Where Victims Become Over-Comers

Craigslist Drops Ads for Adult Services In USA

Craigslist appears to have surrendered in a legal fight over erotic ads posted on its website, shutting down its adult services section Saturday and replacing it with a black bar that simply says "censored."

The move comes just over a week after a group of state attorneys general said there weren't enough protections against blocking potentially illegal ads promoting prostitution. It's not clear if the closure is permanent, and it appears to only affect ads in the United States.

The listings came under new scrutiny after the jailhouse suicide last month of a former medical student who was awaiting trial in the killing of a masseuse he met through Craigslist, a popular site that lets users post classified ads, often for free.

Craigslist's adult services section carried ads for everything from personal massages to a night's companionship, which critics say veered into prostitution.

Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster said in a May blog posting that the company's ads were no worse than those published by the alternative newspaper chain Village Voice Media. He cited one explicit ad which included the phrase: "anything goes $90."

Craigslist has been caught for years in a murky legal fight that centers on how much responsibility the company bears for its ads, said Jonathan Zittrain, professor of law and computer science at Harvard University.

Prosecutors can argue Craigslist is an "intermediary" to the crime of prostitution, Zittrain said, but such cases are hard to prove. He said prosecutors must essentially prove that Craigslist knew an ad was a solicitation for prostitution; ads on Craigslist are typically worded more vaguely.

Nonetheless, to avoid a legal showdown, the company has tried to keep "inappropriate activity" off its site by screening ads.

It's unclear if Craigslist felt the attorneys general had a good argument, or if it simply got tired of spending time on the issue. But saying adult services were "censored" rather than just removing could be seen as a message to prosecutors, Zittrain said.

"They don't like being pushed around" Zittrain said.

Like many other online forums, Craigslist typically does not review ads before they are posted by users. But in 2008, under pressure from 40 state attorneys general, Craigslist began requiring posters to provide a working phone number and pay a fee for placing an ad in what is now the adult services section. Several months later, Craigslist adopted a manual screening process in which postings are reviewed before publishing.

U.S. courts have repeatedly ruled that online service providers such as Craigslist aren't liable for postings made by their users, but because Craigslist now reviews those ads ahead of time, an argument could be made that the site is playing a more active role in the postings.

State officials believe Craigslist is still not doing enough to stop illegal ads from appearing. The company did not comment Saturday.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, one of the 17 attorneys general who pressed for the change, said in a statement that he welcomed the change and was trying to verify Craigslist's official policy going forward.

In an Aug. 24 letter, the state attorneys general said Craigslist should remove the section because it couldn't adequately block potentially illegal ads promoting prostitution and child trafficking.

Authorities point to the case of 24-year-old Philip Markoff as a prime example of the dangers posed by Craigslist services. The former medical student was accused of killing a masseuse he met through the hugely popular classified advertising site, which was founded by Craig Newmark. Markoff committed suicide in the Boston jail where he was awaiting trial.

Source:  OneNewsNow.com

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