Bright lights, loud music, crowded streets, and lost souls.
Angeles City or City of Angels
What once was meant for good has been skewed for evil. It is considered the entertainment capital of the Philippines and where men of all ages trek to find their dream date.
27-30 million people are slaves today, most of whom are sex slaves
Angeles City has 15,000 girls working in the bars in a span of 2 Kilometers.
- They are put on display with bikinis that are too small for their bodies
- Wearing numbers as if they were cattle
- Put on stage expected to perform as if it were the circus
- Sold to men as if they were possessions
When I looked at the girls, all I could see is blank stares and hopelessness in their eyes. The girls would only bring a forced smile when they find a Joe to perform for in hopes of bringing in more money to support their families, their siblings, their son(s) and/or daughter(s), and their selves.
Each girl makes 150 Pesos (about $3.50) per night. If you count for transportation to and from work along with food, she is left with 50-100 Pesos ($1.16-$2.33). Each girl also has the ability to earn some commission. If a Joe buys a girl a drink, she can make 50 Pesos. If the Joe pays the bar fee to take her home with him, then she can make 700 Pesos ($16.28). Most girls go days before they can get a Joe to buy her a drink or buy her as a date for the night.
Girls are only allowed one day off per month. One day they can go see their families and their children.
What would happen if the church started to stand up for just one girl at a time? What would happen when we started to give education to one child that is at risk of entering the sex trade because their family can’t afford the uniform for the child to attend school? What would happen if we ministered to one Joe?
What would happen if the church started to stand up for just one more?
God is moving in Angeles City. There is a rumbling.
While we were walking down the main stretch the other day, people saw something different on us then most of the Joes that walk the street. The pimps, the bar managers, the security guards, and even the girls could sense the Lord upon us. We were being watched almost as if we were there to disrupt what is going on. We were there to bring light, to bring hope, and to help the girls see that they have a way out.
Isaiah 61
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
Meet my team from left to right:
Miles, Samantha, Dan, Emily A., Me, Coach Kenny, and Jason
Prayer Requests:
- I am still in need of supporters both prayerfully and financially (one time gifts as well as monthly gifts)
- For God to move even more in Angeles City
- We have 6 girls that are interested in visiting the Hope house and coming out of the bars. Pray that they can get the time off to visit. Pray that they won’t back out of coming.
- Pray for furniture for our house. We need beds, storage, dining room table and chairs, living room furniture
- Pray for protection as we do ministry
