“We didn’t receive the training for this!
How am I going to know who is a prostitute and who is a regular bystander?
How do you just pray for someone like that?
What do you mean we just ‘walk in’?!”
My mind flooded as I sat in our prayer circle. Questions and exclamations arose from my natural human instinct to work from my own strengths—which in this regard, I had none. We were preparing to go out in teams to “pray and minster to local prostitutes”. I couldn’t even imagine what this would look like. All I had were images from movies and TV shows flashing across my mental movie screen.
Once we prayed together, I felt the peace of God dwell amongst us. The Holy Spirit will lead our steps. He will equip us with whatever we need. We just needed to be willing to act in obedience to Him.
It was 7:30pm on a Wednesday and nightfall was upon us. My group of five started down the streets and walked to our Spirit-given destination. We formed a group based off of all realizing we were called to the same place in town. There was no doubt that God was leading us.
Almost immediately after turning off the main street, heading directly towards our destination, we all fell silent. The street grew darker as we progressed, with only a few streetlights illuminating the road.
I looked at my fellow sisters and asked, “Do you feel that?” They all quickly agreed. Never in my life have I tangibly felt the presence of Evil the way I did that night. It lay heavy on my shoulders. It was thick in the air. It made it hard to breathe as the weight hit my chest. I was astonished that all of us felt it at the exact same time. There was no doubt we waltzed right into a spiritual battle, and we were on the frontlines.
I still wasn’t sure what we were going to experience. My expectations of this kind of activity included dark alleys, locked doors with bouncers, secret knocks and passwords. Surely it wasn’t going to be blatantly obvious, right?
Three of us entered, while the rest stayed out to pray. With ease we walked in, as if we entered a restaurant or the mall—no secret knocks or passwords needed.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. Easily over a hundred young, beautiful women swarmed the place and were being dropped off by the taxi load. Scantily clad and caked in make-up, my heart broke for these women. They lingered around the bar, pool, and leaned up against walls, just waiting.
Then I noticed the men, and to this sight my heart broke even more: all American, between the ages of 50-60, and many had wedding rings on as they clung to their newest “possession” for the night. I was surprised that I was not filled with anger, but rather extreme sadness. This was the sight of desperate brokenness and deep anguish.
Abi, Rachel and I walked around and prayed, grabbed some water from the bar, and started to compliment shoes. Once that door was opened, to my amazement, the conversation began to flow pretty easily.
I was thankful that the Holy Spirit was quickly demolishing my preconceived notions of “prostitutes” and gave me His eyes to show me they are just like me: beautiful, broken women, who are intensely loved by their Heavenly Father—only they just don’t know it yet.
We spoke to some of the sweetest girls I’ve met. Most of them were filled with joy as they spoke about their families back home, the dreams they had for their lives, their favorite restaurants and where they found their cute shoes. It was like making friends as you would with anyone else. My heart was screaming, “Can’t we all just leave and go grab ice cream together? You don’t have to be here!”
During one of our conversations with a new friend, a man walked up to us. Before he spoke, he placed his arm around me and laughed. I stood frozen. In that moment, I heard God speak loudly, “You are safe. Do not fear.” Only through His power was I unafraid, although I still looked intensely into this man’s eyes and occasionally shifted my eyes to watch that his hand did not move from my shoulder.
He looked at the three of us as told us we stuck out like sore thumbs. “You must not know what you’re doing here. If you haven’t noticed by the way these women are dressed, this is where us Gringos come to get together with the working ladies. My buddies and I got a kick out of you walking in here. You must have no idea.”
His words were frank and without shame, as if he was explaining what he had for lunch today—so matter-of-fact. Continuing to concentrate his right hand wrapped around me and resting on my shoulder, I glanced away to notice a gold band adorning his ring finger on his left hand. I was surprised by my lack of judgment or rage (again, this is only by the power of God) and began to silently pray for His family, wherever they are.
Before he left, he assured us that the three of us would not be “approached” because we clearly we in the wrong place. Later, I was a bit torn up that I did not speak up. We knew exactly where we were and I wish I had told him that. However, I’ve given myself grace, and God’s voice assured me that our presence alone was noticed on His behalf.
We carried Light into that place. We may have stuck out physically, but I know it was more significant than that. We shared the love of Christ with every woman we prayed with and encouraged. We shared laughs, smiles, and friendship in that room. We brought glory to God and spoke His name in a place where it is uncommonly heard.
My fellow Christians, too often we run and hide from places like these. We hear of such darkness and deem it “too far gone” to be redeemed. My challenge to you is to walk into the places where the Holy Spirit leads. No place is too dark for Light to rectify. God’s love for His children is so much greater than we can grasp. Whether your action steps include sitting with the homeless, visiting those imprisoned, or walking into a well-known human-trafficking scene—we need followers of Jesus on the frontlines. These people are children of God who are in desperate need to know their Father, His great love, and the Savior who died in their place.
And while you’re out in the battlefield, do not forget God’s promises:
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
