These words from Rend Collective capture a spiritual picture we struggle to see at times: “Build your Kingdom here; let the darkness fear. Show your mighty hand, heal our streets and land. Set your church on fire, win this nation back. Change the atmosphere, build your Kingdom here, we pray.” We have literally seen the atmosphere shift among the trafficked women! Beginning with a nationwide trafficking bust in late April, girls we have been praying with for more than a year were given the opportunity to come off the streets.
One woman who we have built a relationship with has continued to stay in contact despite moving around the state. She called to tell us she had been beaten up because she refused to go work the streets and wanted out. Together with several partners, we were able to help her get a ride to a safe place. Now she is at a treatment center where she texted to say, “God has an amazing unpredictable plan for me.”
At an outreach in Visalia, another trafficking victim prayed with one of our volunteers to re-dedicate her life to Christ. We were able to connect her to Christian counseling services for survivors and we are praying for her as she learns to rely on God to direct her steps. His atmosphere of freedom, rescue and new life are drawing these precious women to His love and forgiveness.
We haven’t forgotten about the 29 men from Fresno who were arrested in the trafficking bust. With our partnership with Prison Fellowship and TUMI (The Urban Ministry Institute), we are praying that they will be reached by the church inside prison and be discipled through TUMI. We are asking God to redeem these men so that they will return to Fresno as “new creations” with their identity firmly rooted in Him and empowered to bring His atmosphere to the places they once destroyed.
