“Does anyone have experience working in the Red-Light District?”
Red-Light District: a area of a town or city containing many brothels, strip clubs, and other sex businesses.
I silently raised my hand.
“If you’d be willing to please accompany me tonight.”
Working to save women from the red-light district in the Philippines was what ultimately led me here to the World Race. Going back to my roots.
The other night, we were participating in local outreach. Praying, asking the Lord where He would have us go and go there.
“Don’t be scared. There’s nothing scary about this. It’s just walking with Jesus and going where He’s going.”
That meant, for me, to travel to another part of town with two locals. One of them, a man who originated from South America and has made his way to South East Asia to serve the Lord, *Peter*. The other, *Ruth* our ministry host’s wife, a sweet mother of four with gentleness that brings comfort to all who meet her! We found ourselves in a less than pleasant part of town. Not necessarily a “Red Light District” by the sense of the words, as there wasn’t a blinking neon light anywhere to be seen that would typically signify that you’ve entered an area that hosts many strip clubs or brothels, but oh are they there. You just have to be looking. (Ironically, I’m finding that you will be amazed at what you see when you pay attention).
We find ourselves outside of a home with many scantily dressed women sitting on stools, makeup caked on too heavy for a casual night sitting on a stoop. They knew Ruth, so we went through the gate towards the porch to talk to them. It was then that I realized I wasn’t seeing women, but LadyBoys.
Ladyboy: a transvestite or transsexual
Conversation after conversation came, opportunities to pray for these prostitutes, their families, their health… Catching a women as she goes to her ‘spot’ and telling her why three white ‘nice folks’ found themselves on a not so great part of town, and somehow found themselves in the ‘honey hole’ for prostitutes.
Praying for a woman who hasn’t been able to afford food for herself after the flood, paying for her dinner to take some of that burden away. Praying for a Ladyboy whose health is declining, for peace and miracles to flood her life! Blessing a prostitute and her family with a rice maker after their home was destroyed in the flood!
Darkness can not drive out darkness. Only light can do that. The only thing that can bring hope to such darkness is the love and redemption of Jesus Christ. What was once a holy temple, a sacred dwelling place of the Lord, the bodies of these men and women have been taken captive by darkness and sin. The foothold of the enemy there is real. Using poverty and circumstance, the enemy has created a nearly impenetrable wall of despair and hopelessness around these people.
Thankfully for those men and women, God is in the business of miracles! He’s coming for His babies.
Stay tuned, y’all. I’ve been catching prostitutes down the street of our apartment and have been inviting them to our center for men and women to get fed, showered, clean clothes! We are going back to the red-light district tomorrow.
Be praying that the seeds we are throwing take and take fast!
Be praying for us to be love and grace in an environment where so much shame resides.
Be praying that we can be light!
