Southern Europe missionaries take the Gospel to the bars and brothels

Miki* recognized the group of ladies that entered the bar as workers from a local ministry dedicated to reaching prostitutes in the red light district of this Southern Europe city. Every week they visited the businesses and brothels in order to befriend the women and talk to them about Jesus.

This week something clicked, and Miki found the courage to pull the group leader aside.

“She heard we could get her out of this line of business,” related Kim*, one of the ministry leaders , “and she wanted to know how.”

The ladies gave Miki a phone number and told her to call the next day. It took several weeks to set up the meeting. In the meantime, Miki became desperate. Walking down the street one day, she decided she would end her life by throwing herself under a bus.

“She felt something pull her back just in the nick of time,” Kim said, “and before she could understand what was happening, one of our group found her there on the curb, sobbing.”

Kim’s colleague brought Miki back to their office, where the ladies ministered to her. As they shared the Gospel, hope began to dawn. Miki prayed to receive Christ and immediately knew a peace and comfort she had never before experienced.

“Her whole appearance changed from that point,” Kim said. “You could see the light of the Lord in her–she really seemed to glow.”

This unique ministry has been ongoing in Southern Europe for several years. The team of ladies who spend their time in the red light district is composed of nationals and missionaries from the International Mission Board and other organizations. Every Thursday they visit bars and brothels to talk, give away Bibles and share the love of Christ. They have developed a positive reputation among the businesses and are welcomed by many. When they are able to rescue someone like Miki, all their years of work are worth it.

Shortly after her conversion, while Miki was trying to free herself from her present lifestyle, she was involved in breaking up a fight between some mafia men in the bar where she worked. She suffered two broken arms, requiring extensive surgery. In this country where prostitution is legalized, the job comes complete with insurance and worker’s compensation. The injury allowed her to quit her job with benefits and finally sever ties with the industry.

“God used this situation to get her out of the bar for good,” Kim said. “She says she would pick trash off the streets, rather than to go back to that line of work.”

Miki continues to grow as a believer and recently began a discipleship program.

“She is on fire for the Lord and His Word,” Kim said. “What a testimony of God power and the hope that we have in Him.”

For more information on this ministry, or to find out about other opportunities in Southern Europe, contact Randy at rancov@everyheart.net.

 

*Names have been changed for security purposes

 

Posted by Karen Pearce on Jan 14, 2009

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