Outreach to Ladies Involved in Prostitution
and High-risk Children [ Klik hier vir Afrikaans ]
STRAATWERK's focussed outreaches to women caught up in prostitution already started in the harbor of Cape Town in the 80's. Following changes and stronger law enforcement in the harbor, the women had much less access to the harbor to be involved in prostitution there. We currently reach out to women involved in prostitution who stand on the streets.
We trust Christ to transform lives by bringing the women, children and the church together.
Prayer
Gomar Prayer Initiative: All around the world there are individuals who pray for the women's children, women who are still involved in prostitution, as well as those who have already received the Lord into their lives. The Prayer Supporter gets a card with the name and a prayer request on it. Prayer Supporters are welcome to contact us for more information.
Evangelism
Street Outreaches: We meet the ladies on the street and reach out by building relationships and serving the ladies in practical ways. We get many opportunities to share the message of salvation, hope and the abundant life that are available in Jesus Christ.
Crisis Handling: It is a very high priority to support ladies who want to leave the lifestyle of prostitution. The help given differs from situation to situation. We provide crisis accommodation, food parcels, toiletries and transportation or whatever might be needed for the women to feel safe and supported. Many ladies are open and eager to hear the Gospel.
Discipleship
Structured Program: Growing in Hope: A holistic discipleship program for committed new believer women designed to help them grow in their relationship with Christ as well as physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually. The program assists them in recognising their need to be actively and consistently functioning in a local church, contributing their unique gifts and perspectives to the body of Christ. Women who faithfully attend the discipleship program receive practical support.
Unstructured program: Women who cannot be part of the Growing in Hope program for some practical reasons, but women who have already made a decision for the Lord get encouraged in their personal relationship with the Lord as well as their connection with a local body of believers. We regularly have contact with these ladies through home visits, letters and telephone calls.
Stories of Living Hope
This is a collection of stories of women who have come out of prostitution as well as children of the women who have put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and experienced His transforming life in theirs.
Practical Life Skills
Hope's Up: Working with other individuals and organizations, this project aims to assist women (who have been part of the discipleship program for a significant period of time) to do volunteer work. They then get paid from other sources for their work. In the process they learn valuable skills.
Hands of Hope: This project helps women earn "cash in hand" by making bead bracelets (which explain the Gospel). They receive the supplies weekly and have to hand it in the next week. They then get paid for the product.
Children
Home visits to families: We reach out to the children (whose moms are/were involved in prostitution) in their family context. We share the Gospel in a variety of ways with the children and have the opportunity of reaching out to the family. We support the families in practical ways such as food parcels, school fees and school clothes.
Child activities: By creating special events, better relationships are built with the children. This also helps us to get better insight in their day-to-day challenges. We use play therapy where needed. The children who have already received the Lord in their lives, are guided in basic discipleship and how to be witnesses in the world.
Prevention Program
Valuable To Jesus Campaign at schools: Schools in identified high-risk areas are visited and the children are warned against abuse, prostitution and pornography and they are told of the abundant life that they can find in Him. A central part of this campaign is to give each child a hand-knitted doll after attending the presentation to remind them of the fact that they are valuable to Jesus and that they are NOT for sale.
Actively working with congregations: To heighten the impact of the campaign, the relationship between the local churches and the high-risk children in their community is strategically developed. The Valuable to Jesus Club* creates an opportunity for interaction between the church and the children. We believe that more initiatives will flow from this.
*The Valuable to Jesus Club is a 7 week curriculum which gets launched at schools, as a follow-up program
House of Hope
Many of the mentioned activities happen at this ministry centre of STRAATWERK. In this safe and functional context many women and children find healing. Family Days are regularly celebrated here for several mothers and all their children.
