Several people have asked me to explain what happens on outreach...what is a typical night like on the streets and in the bars?
We do outreach every Tuesday and Friday night, sometimes other times as well if there is a special woman we are trying to contact. Beginning at 6:30 we gather at the NightLight office for about an hour of prayer. This is our time to prepare emotionally and spiritually for what we are going to experience. Realizing we are going into darkness we spend time "cleaning house" and asking for God's covering and protection. We also pray for wisdom and discernment as to what bars/go-go clubs to go into that night. Invariably God leads us to go where we need to make connections with women. Sometimes it is one of the women we already have a relationship with that is in trouble and has been waiting for us...sometimes we find a new girl who is desperate, afraid and needs to be rescued. If we are fortunate, she may not have had to go with a customer yet. That is what we really celebrate!
Last Friday night was a little different. Actually every night is a "little different." On Friday afternoon we received a report that a customer had murdered one of the girls and jumped out of the window of the hotel with her body killing himself as well. Annie and I decided that we needed to go to this area instead of the regular clubs up the street. So three of us left the larger group and found the area where this all took place. It turned out to be a unique opportunity to talk with people on the streets who were haunted by what had taken place. The three of us prayed over the area as we reversed the curses associated with this tragedy and I poured oil in the shape of the cross on the sidewalk in a prophetic declaration of breaking the power of death and fear. Does this seem strange? Perhaps. But this is what I was led to do and I am learning to be obedient and willing to appear strange! We did feel the spiritual heaviness lift and will continue to take back territory from the enemy every time we tread the streets.
After that the three of us went into a beer bar across the street where we never go and had a lively conversation with two women who like everyone in the area were upset by what had happened across the street. I believe one of the women will probably be coming to NightLight. She is older, 37, with two teenage sons. She really wants a different life but had no other way to make money after her husband died ten years ago in a car accident. She is illiterate, can neither read or write. But you don't need to read or write to make beautiful jewelry. I hope we see her soon.
Please pray that we have the resources and support to expand the business. We are at capacity and can no longer take in new women, except in emergency cases. If we had the resources we could rent more space and divide NightLight Design into smaller entities, hire the needed staff and be able to pay their salaries. SInce only a third of the salaries is supported by sales we need to sell a lot more jewelry and expand our donations base. All of this could be overwhelming but I know that God is BIG and He wants these women rescued and restored!
An immediate need - NightLight USA needs an office NOW! Pray for provision in a church or business that has some extra space they would donate or rent. It has to be moved out of Charity's apartment where all the jewelry distribution and daily business takes place. They need much more space, John and Charity need their privacy, and starting this summer NightLight will be traning interns from Fuller Seminary and other area colleges/universities. It is time for a REAL OFFICE.
How can you help...PRAY! NightLight Design is in the process of making major marketing and design decisions as well as seeking new supporters, distributors and markets. The more jewelry we sell the more women we can rescue. The more jewelry we sell the more people find out about NightLight Ministries and importantly begin to understand the huge issues surrounding sexual exploitation globally and in their own context. An important part of the mission is to increase awareness of the prevalence of sexual exploitation, trafficking and slavery as we advocate for the victims. Pray for a 21st Century abolitionist movement that sweeps the earth and brings an end to these crimes against humanity...men, women and children who are enslaved, abused, tortured, bought and sold with no regard for their dignity and worth. Join the movement!
