Needed: Volunteers, Xmas Sponsorships, Furniture & H20 Heater

Currently we are serving approximately 45 individuals on a regular basis (detailed update coming soon!).  We are in need of the following:

FORT MYERS AREA VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

DRIVERS:  Individuals in the Fort Myers area that can transport clients and/or their children to and from appointments.  

MATH TUTOR:  To assist children of clients, as well as, clients, with their school work. 

CHILDCARE WORKERS:  To care for children during weekly Life Skills & Support Group, Breaking Free, on Thursday evenings at Grace Church in downtown Fort Myers, FL.  

OUTREACH FOOD COORDINATOR:  To organize and coordinate meal preparation once a month for strip club outREACH. Responsibilities include coordinating, picking up and delivering, food to outREACH team prior to outREACH on 2nd Saturday of the month.  Food preparation is for 35 people. 

If interested, please call (239) 939-9218 or email christa_hicks@beautyfromashes.org. Volunteer application and back ground check required. 

EVENT COORDINATOR (Does not have to reside in Fort Myers area):  Responsibilities include handling all communication regarding events:  Appearance contracts, riders, speaker's needs, travel, hotel accommodations, as well as updating calendars, social media communication. and public relations. Approximately 3-5 hours a week is needed, with possibility of paid position in the future.  Please email resume and letter of interest to julie@beautyfromashes.org.  No phone calls please.

MONETARY NEEDS:

XMAS TEEN GIFT SPONSORSHIP:  We are in need of 4 teenagers to be sponsored for Christmas gifts for $60 a teen.  

FURNITURE:  We need a new or gently used love seat, chair, end  table, and two rolling office chairs for our new office space.  

WATER HEATER:  A new shower has been donated to the Equine Facility (yah!).  We are in need of a water heater, plumbing pipes, & fixtures. 

All giving is tax deductible.  Give securely online or send check to 13300 S. Cleveland Ave., Ste. 56, Fort Myers, FL 33907.  Call (239) 939-9218 or email julie@beautyfromashes.org to provide items. 

November ePrayer Alert

Dear Faithful Prayer Partners,

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to intercede for Beauty From Ashes™ staff, interns, volunteers, & clients. As we continue to grow in the number of clients we serve and in the programs and services we offer to them, your prayers are relied upon and appreciated each day. 

CLIENTS: Praise God that many of the clients we serve have strengthened their walk with Him through increased faith & trust in His plans for their lives.  Please pray that their faith would be contagious in the lives of our new clients & that when possible, our clients would reach out to support each other in their journey. Pray that each of our clients would take every thought captive & continually be reminded that God did not make a mistake in making them. Pray that they would be able to walk in His love and His vision for their life & that they would not hold onto the shame from the past. Pray that God would reveal each part of His plan for each of our clients in His time & that they would learn to put one foot in front of the other,` trusting in Him alone. Agree with us that as they continue to build new life, they would be blessed with healthy friendships centered on Christ.  

OUTREACHES:  As we continue our weekly outREACHes in the inner-city, life-skills/support groups, and daily social media outREACHes, we ask for continued prayers for us to be Jesus' hands and feet to the world, delivering His hope & the life saving Gospel message. We are so thankful for our continued favor with our "adopted" strip club, giving us the opportunity to build relationships with both the management and employees. It is our prayer that the Lord's love shines through our outREACH ministry teams and that those we reach begin to see just how much He loves them, how He has a purpose for every one of their lives, and He is their Deliverer and Healer. We ask that you pray for favor as we expand our strip club outREACHes. Pray that our outREACH ministry teams would continue to multiply as our territory expands according to God's will. 

PROGRAMS & SERVICES:  Pray for the 30+, victim centered programs and services that BFA provides free of charge to the community. Pray for the new programs as they are developed out of client's needs. Our newest is tutoring services to clients' children. Agree with us that all programs and services be glorifying to God, while providing practical needs to clients and the community. 

CURRENT NEEDS:  We are currently in need of the following pieces of furniture for our office: desk, 2 rolling office chairs, full size bookcase, and 2-4 industrial shelving units.  Please pray that God would bring forth individuals or a business ready to sponsor clients, their families, and their recovery. Agree with us for the provision of bus passes, Bibles, gift cards, client sponsorship, pharmacy cards, refrigerator, etc. CLICK HERE for entire list of our needs. 

EQUINE FACILITY:  Pray for those participating in both the Prevention Mentoring and Aftercare Restoration/Mentoring Equine Programs.  Pray that God would bring us funding so that we can renovate the horse barn by adding a restroom and mother in laws' suite ASAP. For more information on the programs and facility, CLICK HERE. 

FUNDING:  Pray that God would raise up more committed partners willing to support us financially so that we can continue offering our services to victims of sexual exploitation, abuse, & trafficking. Thank God for the resources from the East, West, North, and South.

PARTNERSHIPS:  Please pray that more churches will support the first and only overcomer-led, faith based, human sex trafficking victim service agency in the state of Florida.  Pray that churches would add BFA to their list of home missions support and begin supporting us with time, talent and resources.  May community partnerships continue to increase. Also pray for protection and strengthening of existing networking, in addition to protecting our partners.  Where the enemy is trying to come against our partners, rejoice with us that a standard is being raised to protect them.  

EVENTS:  Wisdom and discernment to know what and/or who BFA is to be involved with or not. Pray for our team, throughout the month of November, to have increased energy as we move into our busiest season with awareness events, presentations on top of the ongoing outREACHes and programs we offer each week. Pray that God would bless us with the ability to reach many people this month through our speaking engagements at a variety of venues.

VOLUNTEERS & INTERNS:  Pray for God to bring us more interns for the Spring of 2013 that are as passionate & dedicated as the interns we currently have.  Pray that God would lay a strong desire on the hearts of local women to get involved as faithful volunteers. Especially pray that God would bring us 2-3 women with a desire to transport our clients to and from necessary appointments, group counseling sessions, and to the Equine Facility for services.  Pray with us for an Event Coordinator and individual(s) to consistently assist in the day to day operations.  

STAFF:  Pray that our Founder, Julie Shematz, and Program Manager, Christa Hicks, would sustain balance and priorities as they work diligently to prevent, reach, rescue, & restore victims of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.  Praise God that He has given Julie the energy and strength to balance her family life, full time school work, & duties as Executive Director of BFA. Pray for Julie as she continues in her final year of graduate school and internship, through the end of the year, at the nation's largest Salvation Army Social Services Center, as a mental health clinician intern. Pray that the Lord will refresh and renew Christa on a daily basis as she manages the programs, meets with clients, supervises interns and volunteers, and holds Julie accountable for balance. May both women prioritize their daily personal time with the Lord in order to fulfill the call on their lives as servants and leaders. Pray for both overcomer's husbands as they provide support to them.  May they maintain prioritized personal time with their spouses and family and those relationships flourish.  

BOARD OF DIRECTORS & ADVISORS:  Agree with us that all advisors and directors be of God's perfect will for such a time as this. Praise God abundantly for bringing our newest advisor Dr. Dawn Opitz, a psychologist with immense experience in Mental Health issues ranging from Depression, Anxiety, Adjustment Disorders, PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, ADHD, Dissociative Disorder, Schizophrenia, Personality Disorders, & Dementia. Continue to pray that God would pour out His blessings on each member of our board & advisory team.  Agree with us that their health, family, and resources be protected. 

OTHER LIKE MINISTRIES/AGENCIES:  Pray for unity amongst one another and humility, wisdom, and patience in reaching, rescuing and restoring victims.  May the level of professionalism be raised and licensed counselors and professional service providers unite with them to provide restoration services and program development.  Pray for balance, biblical priorities, and protection of marriages and families.  May strong boundaries be established and maintained for aftercare providers.  May God's strength and encouragement be imparted to all in the name of Jesus.  

WEEKLY GLOBAL PRAYER:  Please join us each Friday from 8-9am EST to intercede for victims of sexual exploitation, sex slavery, & sex trafficking, as well as the agencies servicing them.  CLICK HERE for Prayer Guide.  Locally, we meet in North Fort Myers at the Equine Facility.  Contact us for directions.

PRAYER REQUESTS:  Send us your prayer requests by CLICKING HERE.

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

For the Lord your God is living among you.  He is a mighty Savior.  He will take great delight in you with gladness.  With His love, He will calm all your fears.  He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.  Zephaniah 3:17 NLT

On behalf of Julie Shematz and the Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries FREEdom™ Team, thank you for your commitment to prayer & intercession for our staff, clients, board, & partners!  We appreciate each of you!

Nancy Sampson and Sandra Spencer

Prayer Team Coordinators

Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries

Where Victims Become Overcomers

October eNews: New Location, Services, Newest Advisor, Equine Programs, OutREACHes & More!

NEW LOCATION:  We have outgrown our office space at the United Way House and are excited to announce that we will be relocating our offices to downtown Fort Myers, on First Street, in 2-3 months.  Until our new executive offices are complete, we have relocated to 13180 N. Cleveland Ave., Ste. 111, N. Fort Myers, FL 33903.  For our current office location, we are in need of a desk, 2 office chairs, 1 full size bookcase, and 3-4 industrial shelving units.  Please call (239) 939-9218 if you can provide.  

SCOPE OF SERVICES:  Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries, Florida's 1st and only human trafficking overcomer-led community service agency,  provides over 30 services and programs, free of charge.  Our services include mental health counseling, social services, spiritual counseling, career, crisis, and addiction counseling, case management, mentoring, medical services, relocation, short-term and long-term residential program placement, consulting and referral for governmental and non-governmental agencies, a support system to loved ones of s*x workers, OutREACH & AfterCARE trainings, outREACHes, and more.  For full list of programs & services, CLICK HERE. 

WELCOME DR. DAWN OPITZ: Welcome, Dr. Opitz!  It gives us great pleasure to welcome our latest advisor, Dr. Dawn Opitz, to our FREEdom™ Team! Dr. Opitz is a Psychologist who is experienced with a variety of mental health issues, ranging from depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to schizophrenia, Dissociative Disorder, personality disorders and dementia. In addition to individual therapy, she works with couples and families and has done research on female s*xual addiction. For more information on Dr. Opitz, CLICK HERE.  

EQUINE PSYCHOTHERAPY:  We are pleased to announce that Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries founder and overcomer, Julie Shematz, will be interning for one of the world's leading psychologists in the field of equine psychotherapy, Dr. Sandra Wise.  Ms. Shematz, a senior in the Mental Health Counseling Program at Florida Gulf Coast University, will begin the internship, the final in her Masters Program, with Dr. Wise in January 2013 and is scheduled to participate in graduation ceremonies in May 2013.  Equine psychotherapy, an evidence-based treatment for many of the struggles survivors of abuse face, will be an additional service BFA will providing in the future!  For more information about Dr. Sandra Wise, and her Equine Programs, please visit www.EyeofaHorse.com. 

EQUINE-ASSISTED LEARNING & HORSEMANSHIP MENTORING PROGRAMS:  In the two months since Beauty From Ashes™ (BFA) launched our equine-assisted/mentoring programs, we've had 17 participants ranging from 11-years-old to adults, including teen survivors of s*x trafficking.  Horsemanship and Equine Assisted Learning builds trust, self-confidence, communication, self-concept, perspective, self-acceptance, impulse control, social skills, boundaries and spiritual connection.  Group sessions are planned with our "Breaking Free" life skills/support group and the staff and residents of a local, faith-based, residential rehabilitation program.  Find out more about our new prevention and restoration programs and view pictures by CLICKING HERE.

BLOGS:  

"Meet the Horse-Therapists", by "Inspiration to Change" writer and speaker, Karen Zeigler.

From Our Founder: Art, Horses, Counseling & Beauty From Ashes™, by BFA President, Julie Shematz

"Journey to Hope" by BFA Hadassah Intern, Natasha Hurt

STRIP CLUB OUTREACH REPORT:  On Saturday, October 13th, two Master's-level counselors, one mental health counseling graduate student, a volunteer and an intern served a home-cooked meal to our "adopted" strip club in Ft. Myers, Florida.  In addition to the meal, the team also gave each woman a gift bag which included beauty supplies, toiletries and information about the services Beauty From Ashes™ provides.  Two women reached out for help after the outREACH.  One of them is currently working on a plan to build a drug-free life.  We are so proud, excited, & blessed to be a part of her journey.  We have done monthly outREACHes to this particular club since 2008, assisting both men and women we've met by helping them build new lives and lifestyles.  To see photos, CLICK HERE.

INNER-CITY OUTREACH REPORT:  Every Wednesday evening an outREACH team attends a weekly worship service at Grace Church in downtown Fort Myers, an area with some of the highest prostitution and drug rates in the county.  After the service, 150-200 meals are served every week, giving our outREACH team a chance to build relationships, share who we are and what services we provide, encourage women that there is hope and let them know they are loved, valued and have purpose.  We are so blessed when we see women we've met and served participate on the worship team.

VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH:  In an effort to recognize the selfless giving of our incredible volunteers, we will be highlighting one of them each month.  This month, we'd like to publicly thank Natasha Hurt.  Natasha attended our National Training in July and returned from Colorado, where she lives, to intern with us in August.  She has worked sacrificially with us in every program we provide and regularly gives us at least 30 hours each week.  Additionally, she assisted this month in drafting this Newsletter, prepared the outREACH meal this month,  and is a regular blogger for us.  She is a faithful servant of the Lord that we are honored to have as part of our FREEdom™ Team.  Thank you, Natasha!  

EVENT COORDINATOR NEEDED:  We are in search of an Event Coordinator whose  responsibilities will include handling all communication regarding events:  appearance contracts, riders, needs, travel, hotel accommodations, as well as updating calendars, social media communication. and public relations.  This is a volunteer position with the possibility of being paid in the future.  Approximately 3-5 hours a week is required.  Residing locally is not necessary.  Please email resume and letter of interest to julie@beautyfromashes.org.  No phone calls please.

LIFE SKILLS & SUPPORT GROUP:  On Thursday evenings from 7pm-8:30pm in Central Fort Myers, we provide a life skills and support group. Led by a Master's level mental health clinician who is also an overcomer, this group is for any woman working in or desiring to exit the s*x-for-sale industry, or who has suffered from s*xual abuse, trafficking or exploitation.  For more information and to register, call (239) 939-9218 or email christa_hicks@beautyfromashes.org. Free child care is provided.

CURRENT NEEDS:  We serve over 40 clients on a regular basis and many others who are contemplating life change, and we need your help to continue being able to do so.  CLICK HERE for our current needs if you're looking for a way you can partner with Florida's 1st and only human trafficking, overcomer-led, community, service agency.

EVENTS:  We truly believe that human trafficking awareness leads to prevention, intervention, and restoration, and since the beginning of 2012, we have participated in over 80 events, reaching nearly 4000 people.  Ranging from 30-90 minutes, our multi-media presentations have been presented to ages 8 through 80+.  Venues include social service agencies, churches, universities, health departments and nursing associations, Girl Scouts and country clubs.  To see our upcoming events, including our National S*x Industry Outreach and Aftercare Training, CLICK HERE.  To schedule an overcomer to speak at your event or to invite BFA, CLICK HERE. 

FUNDRAISING: There are many unique and creative ways to support Beauty From Ashes™ if you are passionate about fighting human trafficking and want to partner with us in the work we do.  Whether it's a bake sale, car wash, Sunday School class project, percentage of your business sales, or organizing a dinner party, 3-5K run, awareness event, etc., please contact us with your fund raising/awareness ideas today!

DONATIONS:  Our program and operational costs are funded through private donations.  Our last audit revealed that 92.7% of funding goes directly to program services.  Please consider giving a tax-deductible gift today.  For donations of $35 or more, we'll send you our Child of God CD as our way to say thank you for partnering with us and letting you know how much we appreciate your support.  For secure online giving CLICK HERE or send your financial gift to 13300 S. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 56, Fort Myers, FL 33907.  Thank you!

MONTHLY PRAYER ALERT:  For details of how to pray for us during the month of October, CLICK HERE.

PRAYER REQUESTS:  We are honored to pray for you and your families! Please send your prayer requests to prayer@beautyfromashes.org

WEEKLY GLOBAL PRAYER:  To meet with intercessors locally, call (239) 939-9218 for location.  To join us in spirit from wherever you are and for a prayer guide, CLICK HERE.

Stay up-to-date with the day-to-day activities of Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries and latest news on domestic s*x trafficking by following us on Twitter & like us on our Facebook fanpage.

As the impact of Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries continues to expand, I am amazed at the day to day operations and success stories.  This work could not be done without you, our faithful supporters.  On behalf of the staff, volunteers, interns, clients, and board, we thank you for partnering with us to prevent, reach, rescue, and restore victims of s*xual exploitation, abuse, trafficking. 

In His love and service,

Julie Shematz

Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries  

Where Victims Become Over-Comers

239.939.9218 | 877.4BFA SOS (877.423.2767) Toll Free Help Line

Physical Address: 13180 N. Cleveland Ave.  Suite 111 | N. Fort Myers | FL | 33903

Mailing Address:  13300 S. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 56-623 | Fort Myers | FL | 33907 | USA 

www.BeautyFromAshes.org

"Survivors must be leaders in the development of services, shelter, and response protocols to s*x trafficking.” 

- National Report on Domestic Minor S*x Trafficking

"Blue Stallion" Used by permission © Laurie Justice Pace

Meet the "Horse-Therapists"

We hear humans all the time say “My therapist lives in a barn”. Even saw a human once with a t-shirt on that said “My therapist is a horse”. Although it’s somewhat of a joke to some humans we “horse-therapists” take our job quite seriously.  I believe it was the great human Winston Churchill that once said “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” And women too! Although Winston wasn’t smart enough to figure out what that something was, we horses know.  It’s a special gift we have been given by our Creator, a gift that we three  “horse-therapists” don’t take lightly. A gift that we are excited about sharing with the humans that Beauty from Ashes™ Ministries serves. But first we want to tell you a little bit (no pun intended) about how we came to serve Beauty from Ashes™ (BFA) and what you can expect from us in future posts here on the BFA blog.

How we were rounded up to serve

It wasn’t that long ago that the human that owns us took Julie Shematz, Founder of Beauty from Ashes™ Ministries out on a trail ride with Candyman and I. Our owner loves sharing us with other humans because she loves us so. Sometimes it seems like a lot of work to me but the smiles, laughter and joy I hear in hers and her guests voices make it all worth it.  Well, most days anyways - there are those days when I’d rather just graze in the pasture and nap in my stall. Little did I know that first ride, that those days would soon be filled with much more important humans to serve.

Our owner has always been pretty generous (especially with the treats!) and it didn’t take too many rides with Julie for her to decide that the humans BFA serve have challenges in life that us “horse-therapists” are quite apt to solve.  Things like trust, understanding, acceptance, responsibility, taking risks that are empowering vs. those that can get ya killed, unconditional love and more! The depth of horse wisdom is pretty astounding if I do say so myself.  So they decided we should hitch up and work together. Since partnering with BFA, it’s only multiplied the treats and loving for my herd, and me.  We were giddy with excitement to get started.

What to expect from us in future posts

When you head out on a trail ride it’s hard to say what treasures you will find. So I suspect this adventure will be much like that with its twists and turns, high and lows. There are a few things I know you can expect so I’ll just outline them for you here:

• First things first I’ll be introducing myself and the herd and our unique horse-analities
• A little laughter in pictures and in horse humor are sure to be sprinkled along the experiences and trails. Which to be honest is a lot nicer than what I usually sprinkle along the trail.
• We’ll endeavor to share the stories, trials, and triumphs of the humans we serve at Beauty from Ashes™ Ministries. 
• And where it’s appropriate, we’ll share life lessons our human has learned from us horses.

And I speak for the three of us when I say that I hope your visits here to Beauty from Ashes™ Ministries blog inspires to you to be generous to BFA as our human owner has been with us.  We promise to do everything in our horse power to help change the lives of these precious humans, if you’ll promise to do what you can.

Murphy

The Boss 

Karen Zeigler is an inspirational writer, life coach, author, and speaker.  Author of "Freedom From Worry" she is the founder of "Inspiration to Change".  Inspiration to Change's mission is to inspire individuals and professionals to discover and create Freedom in every area of life.  A graduate of Florida State University, after 20+ years of being an Investment Advisor, following the economic collapse, she pursued Coaching, which has become her life's passion.  For 8 years, Karen was the host of the program Change Radio and is a regular guest on the Testimonies of Triumph television program.  She is also the owner of the Beauty From Ashes™ "Horse-Therapists".  For more about Karen, please visit www.KarenZeigler.com. 

To find out more about BFA's Equine Programs, CLICK HERE. 

Journey to Hope

Since I began interning with Beauty From Ashes™, I have gotten to know some amazing women with incredible stories filled with pain, abuse and now hope.  I realized that most people who care about what we are doing and who want to help have a difficult time understanding how a woman could end up in the sex industry.  Many think they want to be there, or did at one time anyway.  From what I have learned, this is usually not the case.  Below is my fictionalized story of a fictionalized character.  It’s written to express the turmoil going on inside the women I have met as they grow up and find themselves stuck in the sex industry.  I do not know of a client with this story, but different pieces fit different women in some ways.  My hope is that through reading this, people will begin to understand the struggles women face as they try to overcome the pain they have endured, the choices they have made and the feelings of hopelessness they have experienced.

I didn’t have it tattooed on my body, but it was seeped into my heart and mind as if it was in permanent ink.  I couldn’t wake up in the morning or go to bed at night without it being a part of my every moment.  Sure, I was able to forget it was there sometimes, mainly when I was using drugs and alcohol to mask the pain, but it was always whispering that nothing was going to get better, nothing was going to change, nothing was all I would ever have and all I would ever be.  Hopelessness became the only constant in my life.

It started early but I didn’t recognize the characteristics of hopelessness until I was around 13-years-old.  My uncle had sexually abused me for years, and after finally telling the truth to my parents, I was met with disbelief and denial instead of the love and healing I absolutely needed and craved.  I began to then question myself and as my family fell apart after I revealed the abuse, all I could believe was that I was to blame for the destruction of my “perfect life,” even as it was all a façade to begin with.   Shame and Guilt joined Hopelessness, creating a trifecta of brokenness that led me on a downward spiral and thrust me into a life longing for acceptance, even if it meant doing things I was ashamed to admit to for fear of judgment and condemnation.  I just wanted to be loved.

Not receiving any healing from the abuse I suffered as a child, I began to believe the only value I carried was that of my body and the attraction boys and men seemed to have with it.  Needing money once I left home at age 18, I met a “boyfriend” who convinced me to work at a local strip club.  He told me I would make a lot more money as an exotic dancer than I ever would a waitress or sales clerk, and he was right; I did make a lot of money.  Funny thing is, I made a lot of money but never had the freedom to use it.  Yes, he bought me drugs and nice things at times, usually when he feared I was building up the confidence to leave.  Even then, the pleasure was little because I knew he was buying me things with money I had earned and I wasn’t allowed to choose how to spend it.  The price I paid to earn that money was much higher than the material things I was given.  I had lost all sense of self-worth as I was exploited night after night, and I truly felt as if I was unlovable and unwanted; the nametag I wore said Worthless.

By the time I turned 23 I was a single mother of two.  The first guy left the minute I was pregnant and he realized he couldn’t keep my earnings anymore.  The second father was never around long enough to know I was pregnant.  With both fathers nowhere in sight, the money I made dancing wasn’t enough and I was left with a stack of bills a mile high.  I wanted so badly to give my kids a good life; a life that would look nothing like mine, but had absolutely no idea how I could possibly make that happen.  It didn’t help that I became addicted to meth just so I could numb the pain of what I had to do every night just to survive.     

When I was a child, my parents had taken me to church, so I had heard of God, but I figured I was the last person He would want anything to do with.  I’d experienced and lived in my own personal hell, and I didn’t feel as if I deserved an ounce of love.  I also had ideas that even if He noticed me, He must be angry, because I had made so many wrong choices.  I stayed as far away from church as possible because I didn’t want the river of guilt I lived in to turn into an all-consuming ocean.

It’s funny how one interaction can change your life.  I was getting ready for work in the club locker room when I heard another dancer talk about an organization she had contacted a few months ago.  She said they offer a lot of different services, such as counseling, all for free and that she actually felt loved by the people in the organization.  She also said they talk about God, and though she was still trying to figure out what all that means, she said it really made sense to her and she was going to continue working with her counselor because she felt safe and valued.  I definitely was curious but also reluctant.  I’d been promised a lot of things from a lot of people throughout my life, with not one of those promises being fulfilled.  But I also felt I had nothing to lose, and I needed to make a change for the sake of my children, so I contacted the organization myself.

It’s only been two months since I started visiting my counselor, but there is definitely something different about her.  She seems to truly care about my kids and I, and wants to see me succeed in life.  She talks about how much God loves me and how He has a purpose for me, and it seems almost too good to be true.  He really isn’t angry with me?  He loves me so much He sacrificed His own Son so that I could have a relationship with Him?  I don’t even know how to start walking a life with Him; a life where I can experience unconditional, radical love and be accepted for who I am, no strings attached.  But something in me tells me it’s true.  And for the first time in my life, I have hope.  

Natasha Hurt was born and raised in Greeley, Colorado.  She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Northern Colorado.  An employee of High Plains Library District in Greeley for almost 10 years, she acquired a passion for anti-human trafficking in 2008.  In 2011, she went with Adventures in Missions on a 4-month, 4-countries trip, exposing her to organizations involved in anti-human trafficking work in Cambodia, Thailand, India and America.  Then, in 2012 she attended the G42 Leadership Academy in Mijas, Spain, a 6-month program designed to “ignite passion, unleash freedom, go to the nations.”  She currently is an intern with Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries in Fort Myers, Florida.  She hopes to start an organization in Colorado similar to Beauty From Ashes™, with the mission to reach those in the sex industry with the truth that they are loved and valued. 

October Prayer Alert

Dear Loyal Prayer Partners,

Thank you for your dedication to intercede for Beauty From Ashes™ staff, interns, volunteers, & clients. Your prayers are crucial to the healthy development of the individuals we are committed to serving!

CLIENTS: Pray that the faith of each woman we serve will increase immensely as they learn to put their trust in our Lord.  May they see themselves as God sees them and be capable of believing in His plan for their lives.  Pray that God would bless them with the hope necessary to live out His purposes. Agree with us that they will feel God's presence as they step out of darkness and into His light.  

OUTREACHES:  Pray that outreach team members would continue to multiply as our territory expands according to God's will.  In addition to our daily internet, weekly inner city, and monthly strip club outREACHes, we are in the process of coordinating weekly outREACHes into another strip club. Pray that God would give an abundance of favor as we work to build relationships with the management and employees in this club.  Thank God for the favor we have with club management and employees of our long-time "adopted" strip club. Pray that the Father's love will be evident in and through the teams as they operate in unity. May those we reach receive the revelation of who God is, how much He loves them and embrace the truth that will set them free to be everything they were destined to be. 

VOLUNTEERS & INTERNS:  Pray for strength, encouragement and perseverance for current volunteers and that God would raise up more called, anointed, and committed servants.    

FUNDING:  Pray that many would be led to partner with us by donating much needed funds so that we can continue to sustain and build our client base and 30+ services and programs.

CURRENT NEEDS:   We are serving more local and national clients than ever before (42 individuals were served in one week recently).   Please pray that God would bring us partners with an ongoing desire to give consistently, as well as to supply bus passes, Bibles, gift cards, client sponsorship, pharmacy cards, refrigerator, etc.  CLICK HERE for entire list of our needs. 

EQUINE FACILITY:  Continue praising God, who has provided the horses and facility for equine assisted learning, an evidence based treatment for many of the symptoms with which our clients struggle.  Pray that our new horsemanship mentoring programs continue to help individuals develop trust, confidence, self esteem, and self control.  Pray that God would bring us funding so that we can renovate the horse barn by adding a restroom & mother in laws' suite ASAP.  Please pray for God's providence concerning the opportunity the owners have given us to purchase the 5 acre property which includes an 8 year old,  2250 sq foot 3/3 concrete block home, a pole barn, fenced and gated security system, and has a wooded hammock blocking the home from passing traffic.  Acquiring the property would fulfill the vision of establishing a Beauty From Ashes™ Therapy Center.  For more information CLICK HERE. 

PARTNERSHIPS:  Please pray that more churches will step up and support the first and only overcomer-led, faith based, human sex trafficking victim service agency in the state of Florida. Pray that churches would add BFA to their list of home missions support and begin supporting us with time, talent and resources.  May community partnerships continue to increase.  Also pray for protection and strengthening of existing networking, in addition to protecting our partners.  Where the enemy is trying to come against our partners, rejoice with us that a standard is being raised to protect them.  

EVENTS:  Wisdom and discernment to know what and/or who BFA is to be involved with or not. Pray for our October's events.  We are back into the season of multiple events.  Please pray that God would give our founder, Julie Shematz, the energy & strength to speak and present repeatedly in the next week.  Pray that many college students would be reached through the presentation at South Eastern University & pray for complete success during the Women At Risk (W.A.R.) event in Lakeland, Florida.  

BOARD OF DIRECTORS & ADVISORS:  God bless our new and existing directors and advisory board members!  Please pray for protection, wisdom, encouragement, and divine direction for BFA.  May all directors and advisors contribute their gifts and talents collaboratively as they operate in one accord.  

STAFF:  Pray that our Executive Director, Julie Shematz & Program Manager, Christa Hicks, would maintain balance and priorities as they work tirelessly to prevent, reach, rescue, & restore victims of sex trafficking & sexual exploitation.  Pray for Julie as she continues in her final year of graduate school and interns at the nation's largest Salvation Army Social Services Center as a Florida Gulf Coast University' intern in mental health counseling. 

OTHER LIKE MINISTRIES/AGENCIES:  Pray for unity amongst one another and humility, wisdom, and patience in reaching, rescuing and restoring victims.  May the level of professionalism be raised and licensed counselors and professional service providers unite with them to provide restoration services and program development.  Pray for balance, biblical priorities, and protection of marriages and families.  May strong boundaries be established and maintained for aftercare providers.  May God's strength and encouragement be imparted to all in the name of Jesus.  

FRIDAY PRAYER:  Please join us each Friday from 8-9am EST to intercede for victims of sexual exploitation, sex slavery, & sex trafficking, as well as the agencies servicing them.  CLICK HERE for Prayer Guide.  Locally, we meet in North Fort Myers at the Equine Facility.  Contact us for directions.

PRAYER REQUESTS:  Send us your prayer requests by CLICKING HERE.

BFA E-NEWSLETTER:  CLICK HERE to sign up.

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:19-20, NLT

Thank you for your commitment to prayer & intercession for our staff, clients, governing board, & partners!  We appreciate each of you!

Nancy Sampson and Sandra Spencer

Prayer Team Coordinators

Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries  

Where Victims Become Over-Comers

239.939.9218 | 877.4BFA SOS (877.423.2767) Toll Free Help Line

"Survivors must be leaders in the development of services, shelter, and response protocols to s*x trafficking.” - National Report on Domestic Minor S*x Trafficking