Our ministry last month in Bulgaria was reaching people that society considers unworthy: victims of human trafficking, Roma children, and elderly people in a nursing home. These are people who the world says are not worthy of love, time, or effort. Even many Christians shy away from these populations because they’re “unreliable” or a “lost cause”. If you look at Jesus’ ministry here on earth, however, you’ll see that these are exactly the people that He spent His time with.
My team and I met with and talk to so many wonderful women who were victims of human trafficking. Our ministry host drove us to the road where the women work and we were able to bring them coffee and something to eat. We didn’t have to say much; these women were always ready to tell us about their lives or their families. They offered smiles and hugs and opened up their lives and hearts to us. Most of them don’t have anyone in their lives who want to listen to them or treat them like they matter. So what might seem like a small gesture to us means the world to them.
One morning, we got the chance to meet with one of the women outside of the usual ministry opportunities. For the sake of privacy, we will call her Sarah. We sat outside in the 40-degree weather and drank coffee together. She shared about her life and things that she has experienced—things that no person should ever have to go through. She knew that we are Christians and she talked about how she loves God and wants to know Him. She mentioned several times her hope that one day God will forgive her for everything she has done wrong in her life. This was heartbreaking—she is SO loved, SO treasured and SO forgiven by the Father for everything already. We shared with her that when Jesus died on the cross, He took on all of her sins and that by accepting a relationship with Him she is completely forgiven.
In the Gospel of John, there is a story about a woman caught in adultery. At that time, it was legal for her to be stoned to death as a punishment. When the scribes and the Pharisees brought this woman to Jesus, they expected Him to take their side and condemn her. But instead, he knelt down beside her, taking the attention off her.
“And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, ‘Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more’ (John 8:8-11).
Jesus isn’t condemning her; He doesn’t want her to continue sinning because He doesn’t want her to continue to hurt herself. So as hard as it is to truly believe, we are forgiven. Before Jesus breathed His last breath on the cross he said Tetelestei, which means “it is finished”. He took on every sin past present and future on the cross, the guilt and the shame over our sin is finished.
So we don’t have to wait for Him to forgive us—He already has. We have to forgive ourselves.
Prayer Requests:
- For the thousands of other women caught in human trafficking around the world who have never heard the Gospel
- At the end of this month, we will have our second debrief where the whole squad will come together to reflect on the past few months. We will be receiving new teams, so please pray for a smooth transition.
