Frequently Asked Questions
Is it dangerous to go out on the streets late at night?
As anywhere in South Africa it is dangerous to be out on the streets late at night. We know that we have a calling towards the people that frequent the city late at night, which is why we go there. We have a very strict code of conduct and we are very responsible in our way of reaching out. For the past 40 years there were very little negative incidents.
Do you walk the streets alone or in groups?
We always work in groups, for safety reasons, but also for prayer and other support. Ladies don’t work alone, especially at night-time.
Do you ever go into the nightclubs while reaching out?
We never go into the nightclubs – it serves no purpose. The music etc. is overwhelming. Normally we get the people when they enter the club and when they come out.
How do you start a conversation with a complete stranger?
We tell people that we are Christians from a Christian Coffee Room and then we invite them to come and visit us. Many times we surprise them with the love of Christ in practical ways – with small gifts.
How do the people react? Are they open to conversations?
Some people are very open to talk to us about Jesus Christ. Some are totally not positive. We try to be very sensitive to the Holy Spirit to guide us in all the conversations and to help us to be sensitive for every different situation.
Service Evangelism - How does that work? What do you use to serve the people on the streets?
Rom 2:3 ‘God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life change.’
We want to create a tilt in non-yet Christians’ lives. A tilt starts the process of redefining who God is in a darkened heart. Our goal is to present a strategy for sharing the message of Jesus’ love in a way that will change people’s lives. We serve the people with anything – from cup cakes, to lollipops, to toothpaste and soap and Easter eggs and wooden crosses. The sky’s the limit in using creative things to introduce people to Jesus’ love.
Do you have prayer teams on the street?
Prayer is the most important part of the ministry! We certainly have prayer groups on the streets, prayer groups in the Coffee Rooms, prayer groups at home. We also have a group of people that pray for the city in organised ways. There is the Gomer-Prayer Project, where people can adopt ladies involved in prostitution and their children to pray for. There is also the Corinth – Prayer Project, where people can adopt bouncers and other people part of the nightlife.
Do you speak to the ladies that are involved in prostitution while they are on the street?
Yes. Through the years we have built relationships with the ladies and that makes it easier to talk to them on the streets. We also visit them in their hotel rooms and apartments.
How do you reach the children of the ladies that are involved in prostitution?
Many times the children are not staying with their mothers. We obtain the addresses from the mothers and visit the children where they are staying at that point in time.
What about unemployment? Do you provide jobs for the people on the streets?
We have different projects called OPHELP-projects, which help people to earn cash-in-hand.
Do you get in contact with people that have AIDS?
We do meet people that are HIV positive and that have AIDS. We literally meet them on the streets where they will die, because they have no other place to go. We try to house them in the different facilities that we have. We also have the opportunity to share the Hope that lives in our hearts with these people – whether they life in our residential facilities or elsewhere.
Where does your financial support come from?
80% of our income comes from individuals that want to see a positive change in our city. We also get support from local congregations and other Christian groups.
I would like to get involved, but do not feel comfortable to reach out. Are there other ways?
There are many ways to get involved at STRAATWERK. Come and help us with the preparations for the different outreaches, pray with us, help us with various administrative duties, do shifts at our residential facilities. Let us know what gifts the Lord has given you – we are excited to see how you can serve at STRAATWERK.
