Okay, so I haven’t blogged about the ministry this month, but if you received my newsletter you know we are working with an anti-sex trafficking organization here in Nicaragua called Breaking Chains. We are partnering with the founder, Steven Cass, and his wife, Kenia, helping them as they run their discipleship program. Right now, the program in Nica consists of 11 ladies who were rescued here in Managua. Breaking Chains is also located in other areas of Latin America.
Some of the ladies went into prostitution by choice because they couldn’t find a job and needed money to support their family. Others were sold into prostitution by their family. Most of their stories are our worst nightmare. Some of them fed their family half-eaten hamburgers they dug out of the trash can because even with their prostitution, they still couldn’t afford food for their kids. In the midst of all the darkness, through Steven, God gave all these women a glimpse of light, someone who cares about what they are doing. Someone who believes there is more to life than this darkness. Someone who was willing to risk everything to rescue these girls and women and tell them there is someone who loves them. He told them there is someone who wants to rescue them. He told them about the Creator of the Universe, who loves them more than they could ever imagine. He loves us all more than we could ever imagine.
Although Steven had a crazy past, God still had a call for His life. God chased after Him for years, until He, the God who gives and takes away, finally took everything away from Steven. He brought Steven humbly to his knees, where God opened up Steven’s eyes to the plans He had for him. God told him to help rescue the women in Latin America. God told Steven he had been part of the problem and he needed to go and help fix it. Just like God sent His Spirit down to help Peter in His mission to share the gospel in Acts, He also sent His Spirit down to help Steven with his mission. Don’t you think if we ask Him for His Spirit to help us with His mission, He sends it to us too? Of course!
Along with learning about Jesus, these women are taught about the Holy Spirit, the Spirit that falls when we ask. As Kenia leads the discipleship program four days a week, these women grow in community together. They study the Bible together. They sing worship songs together. They play games together. As the Spirit falls, one by one these women recognize their need for a Savior. They recognize the unique community Jesus brings as we start living out His mission for our lives. They recognize their brokenness and many days they are humbled to their knees as they pray thanksgiving to their Savior.
They recognize El Roi, the God who sees, was there with them all of their days. He saw everything that happened. His heart broke every time they prostituted themselves or every time they were abused by a man. He was there, and He understands the pain they went through. God, our El Roi, also sees into the future and sees the plans He has for their lives. He sees His reasoning for saving them. He wants to heal their hearts so that they can share with others His love. He wants them to understand His love and to share it with others. To the world they look like uneducated girls, but didn’t God use Peter, an uneducated fisherman, to preach the gospel? When the Spirit is present, anyone can be used to further the gospel.
Not only does God humble these women to their knees with His plan for them, He has been humbling me to my knees, helping me see He has a plan for my life. He reminds me of all the times He has saved me. He, the God who sees, saw me when I was in that tunnel. He, the sovereign God, was there with me. He, the all-mighty God, reached in and saved me. He keeps saving me, yet I still have a hard time fully submitting to Him. I have submitted my job, my friends, my family, but there are still personal things I need to submit to His control. I have to trust that He has plans for my life. I have to trust there was a reason He saved me and He is worth submitting EVERYTHING to!
Is there anything in your life you haven’t submitted to Christ? Are you on mission with Him? We see in Acts when we are on mission with Him, everything changes. We aren’t just people who go to church on Sunday because we idolize worship, we are people who love. We are people who love each others more than we love money or things or worldly possessions. We are people that see how much God truly loves everyone and how He has called us to share that with everyone (Acts 1:8). As we submit to Him, community isn’t something we want anymore, because it becomes something that just happens. Anyways, if you want to hear some great podcasts on Acts here is a link. It is worthwhile to listen and start from Acts 1.
Please pray for these women because this program is one of the hardest things they can do. The battle is on and Satan is fighting hard for their hearts. He keeps dangling deceiving things in front of their eyes and many of them fall away. We got hard news this morning that a few fell away this week. We know that through prayer God can win their hearts.
Also, on a financial update, I still need to raise $1,600 to reach my December 1st deadline. I would ask that you would prayerfully consider donating so I can continue on this journey God has called me into. If you feel led to give financially, here is a link to the site. If you aren't at a place where that is possible, I would appreciate any prayer in this reguard. Thanks so much for all of your prayers and support thus far; no support or prayer has gone unnoticed.
Love you all,
Liz
