Putting the Pieces Together

As promised, here is my first blog from Atlanta, Georgia and my training with Out of Darkness. Three words to sum up my first night - Thank You, Jesus!

I believe in Divine appointments and two came my way earlier this evening as I met with Anne Kerr, Director of Operations for Out of Darkness, and Rachel Eden, a young woman with a huge heart for Jesus who led Out of Darkness' Jail Ministry.  In a month or so, Rachel will be working at a local safe house as a Volunteer Coordinator and ministering to women in a 12-month restoration program.

I felt like I had met kindred souls/spirits when I started talking with Anne, and then Rachel. It's so great to be with people who have the same passion, burden and brokenness as you do. You know they "get it", but more importantly, God uses them to give you new insights/ideas for what He has called you to do. And, that my friends, is what happened to me tonight. First night and I'm already starting to see some of the pieces of the "big picture" for F.R.E.E. Indiana. God is good!

I will share more of those pieces as my training in Atlanta continues. However, I want to take this time to praise God for the mighty work He is doing through Anne, Rachel, Out of Darkness, and a host of other people.

In a year's time, Out of Darkness has rescued 100+ women from the streets and out of jails (once they have been released, of course) in the metro Atlanta area. When they do street outreach (Princess Night - every Friday), they go into the darkness, shining God's light, seeking women in need of a touch from Jesus. It's not so much about the issue of whether a woman is being trafficked or not, it's the fact that a woman is being exploited, abused, sold for sex, and needs to have another option.  Anne made a good point tonight, women in prostitution (you will no longer hear me label them as prostitutes - it's degrading) are not in their situation by choice. It's because they have not been given a better option to choose. Many of these women were sexually abused as children and believed the lie that "they're only good for one thing". If they ran away from home to escape the abuse, they often found themselves living on the streets and in order to make some money (many with no education, some with children, and no better options), they resorted to the one thing they knew how to do - sex. Please do not believe the lie "they are here by choice".

During outreach, the women receive a red rose, along with a card that has the number for the Out of Darkness Hotline Call Center. If a woman wants to get off the streets, she can call the hotline number and that starts the rescue process. Thankfully, there are Christ-Centered safe houses for the women to go to and long-term care programs available to address their needs and to help them heal and be restored.  Atlanta has got it's act together when it comes to helping hurting women. Please pray for my new friends in Christ as they continue to do the great work God has called them to do.

Stay tuned for tomorrow night's blog.....