February 2008 Update

In February, I have seen some powerful, new connections formed between JSASSN and other Christian ministries seeking to stop sex trafficking world-wide.

First, I met Rikki from Emmaus Ministries during Missions in Focus week at Wheaton College. Emmaus provides the gospel and seeks to meet the practical needs of male prostitutes as they transition off the streets of Chicago into a better life. I was so glad to learn of a ministry that is serving men! Men make up 20% of the trafficked population in the world, as I understand from the International Justice Mission, but most of the Christian ministries I know of focus on victimized women and children. But the need is greater than one gender or generation.

At the same Missions in Focus center where I met Rikki, I also met up with my friend Shuree Rivera. In talking with her, I learned she works with Remember Nhu, an organization to help children get out of trafficked situations in Thailand. Remember Nhu is now looking to expand its ministry to South Africa. Interestingly, in talking with another Christian sister, Taroh Saenz, after church one night, I learned of Straatwerk, which is also seeking to prevent the trafficking of children in South Africa.

Perhaps most significantly, I met to talk and pray with my good friend, Michelle McDonald, who has served as a missionary with Free-Set Bags in Calcutta, India. Free-Set is a “business-as-mission” ministry that provides women previously trapped in prostitution with work-with-dignity that can support them and their children. Michelle is going to help me create a more effective website for JSASSN (hallelujah!), and we are partnering in future ministry plans. (Thank you, God!)

I’m also working on a short book called Stop Sex Trafficking, which will be an e-book that can be down-loaded from the new site for free. I am praying that God will use this little book to raise awareness in the Christian Church about the problem of sexual slavery world-wide. It is my hope that more Christian soldiers will hear the call of our Captain, Jesus, to wage spiritual warfare against the powers of this darkness through prayer and active ministry to those trapped in the trafficking industry.

Dr. Jane Beal
JSASSN International