[email protected] confronting the exploiters

Eradicate slavery
Stop human trafficking
Provide clean water
Care for the homeless
Rescue orphans
Help refugees
Fight poverty
Meet spiritual needs

Use your Yoonuehliofeldttohemkaekye. a difference.

[email protected] difference
onelifematters.org

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In partnership with coenxfprolnotiintgertshe

PPC 7.5M 4/13 P6472 facebook.com/kingdomwomenglorify A small group or individual Bible study
based on Exodus 1-12
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About the Author Confronting the Exploiters:

Ann Lovell served 13 years in Asia as a Christian worker in the Philippines, A small group or individual Bible study based on Exodus 1-12.
South Korea and Thailand. In Thailand, she and several co-workers initiated
a ministry to exploited women in her city’s red-light district. The ministry, Broad Focus
heartweavers, grew to include existing ministries to orphans and juvenile
female prisoners. Use this study to raise awareness of the issue of exploitation in your com-
Since the ministry began in February 2011, a number of exploited women munity and around the world. You may choose to work through these
and their families have come to faith in Jesus. Some have been baptized. sessions during a weekend retreat or over the course of a six-week study.
Some are no longer involved in prostitution, and a few juvenile prisoners
are now caring for orphans in a first-of-its-kind work-release program. Best Specific Focus
of all, a small worship service (the beginnings of “church”) has begun in
one red-light district. Use this study to guide your group to reach out to the exploited and
Today, Ann lives in Richmond, Va., where she most enjoys being wife to vulnerable in your communities. You may choose to lead your group to:
Joe and mother to Lauren and Alli. She loves cool weather, Dr Pepper and • Prayerwalk a red-light district in your community.
cheering for the Tennessee Volunteers. • Deliver gift bags to a strip club, women’s prison or women’s shelter.
Feel free to contact Ann at [email protected] or follow her on twitter • Provide childcare to a single mom.
@AnnLovell. • Plan a mission trip to an area of the world known for trafficking and
exploitation.
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Introduction and Implementation

Human trafficking is the illegal trade of people — especially women and
children — for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation or forced
labor. The U.S. State Department estimates that 600,000 to 800,000 men,
women and children are trafficked across international borders each year.
UNICEF reports that nearly 2 million children work in the commercial sex
industry worldwide. A modern-day form of slavery, human trafficking is tied
with illegal arms as the second largest criminal industry in the world. The
United Nations estimates that human trafficking generates $32 billion per
year in income for exploiters.

The story of the exodus is a powerful reminder that God hears and
responds to the cries of the oppressed. It is particularly relevant to those
who long to see God’s deliverance from oppression and are called to
advocate on behalf of the exploited and at risk.

Theme Verse — Proverbs 31:8-9, (HCSB) Speak up for those

who have no voice, for the justice of all who are dispossessed. Speak up,
judge righteously, and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.

4

Materials available to you Sample Schedule

• Obedient logo — for use on T-shirts, banners, flyers. Friday night
• Confronting the exploiters study guide.
• 28-day prayer guide for the trafficked, exploited and vulnerable. Registration/dinner
Large group worship
Email [email protected] or [email protected] to order Small group sessions:
materials or download from onelifematters.org/resources Session 1: Why are people exploited?
Session 2: What is God’s response to oppression?
Media options for small group sessions: Late-night activity: Prayerwalk a red-light area in your community.

Reaching commercially exploited women story and photo set Saturday
(commissionstories.com/asia/exploited-china)
Breakfast
Asia’s exploited women story and photo set Small group sessions:
(commissionstories.com/asia/feed-family) Session 3: What about confrontation?
Session 4: What about cold feet, opposition and ridicule?
Rahab’s rope shares love video Lunch
(commissionstories.com/asia/rahabs-rope) Session 5: What about discouragement and “fakers”?
Session 6: What happens when deliverance finally comes?
Redeeming Rahab video Dinner
(commissionstories.com/asia/videos/view/redeeming-rahab) Prayer time for the exploited

Slavery to Scones prayer event Sunday
(commissionstories.com/asia/scones)
Wake-up
Red Toes for the Red-light District pedicure party prayer event Head to church (possible small group debriefing of the weekend)
(static2.commissionstories.com/626/redlightprayer.pdf)

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SESSION ONE Israelites — who immigrated to Egypt during a severe famine — are
enslaved. The family enjoyed prosperity and peacefulness in Egypt during
Why are people exploited? the reign of their brother, Joseph. In the years following Joseph’s death,
however, “a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in
Read Exodus 1:1-22. Egypt.” This king saw the benefits of exploiting the Israelites (also known
as the Hebrews) for economic gain. Thus began more than 400 years of
Discuss with your small group or record in your journal: slavery for the Hebrew people (Exodus 1:8-14).
1. How did the Israelites become enslaved?
2. What drove the new king of Egypt to enslave the Exploitation and oppression occur for many reasons. For the new king of
Israelites? Egypt, fear and prejudice were the driving forces behind his decision to
3. What tasks were they forced to perform? enslave the Israelites. Many times, victims find themselves in situations that
4. How does caring for the oppressed and exploited fit into God’s overall make them vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation. For example, the Is-
mission? raelites originally came to Egypt because of a severe famine (Genesis 41:53
to 46:27). The family was hungry and food was available in Egypt. Although
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of people — especially women and the sons of Jacob prospered for many years in relative peace within Egypt,
children — for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation or forced hunger made them vulnerable. Around the world today, millions of men
labor. The U.S. State Department estimates that 600,000 to 800,000 men, and women are duped by traffickers into accepting lucrative job offers for
women and children are trafficked across international borders each year. themselves or their children out of a simple desire to feed their families.
UNICEF reports that nearly 2 million children work in the commercial sex For a recent example, read Ajanta Gupta’s story (commissionstories.com/
industry worldwide. A modern-day form of slavery, human trafficking is tied asia/feed-family) on AsiaStories (asiastories.com).
with illegal arms as the second largest criminal industry in the world. The
United Nations estimates that human trafficking generates $32 billion per Discuss with your small group or list in your journal some of the factors that
year in income for exploiters. lead to exploitation and oppression in today’s world.

Unfortunately oppression and exploitation are nothing new. The seeds of Pray for the men, women and children who find themselves in forced labor
oppression date back to the third chapter of Genesis when Satan himself or forced prostitution around the world. Ask God how you can help relieve
exploited Eve’s desire for relevance and manipulated her into disobeying their suffering.
God. Eve’s disobedience instantly broke humanity’s fellowship with God,
and, in a sense, modified humanity’s spiritual DNA, causing us to 8
forevermore be born “sinners.” Today, broken families, addiction, crime
and exploitation are the physical manifestations of humanity’s spiritual
brokenness. As Paul wrote, “creation groans,” yearning to be set free from
the “bondage of corruption” (Romans 8:18-25).

The first 12 chapters of Exodus contain the story of a people group op-
pressed and exploited for commercial gain. As the book opens, the

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SESSION TWO enforcement agencies around the world to bring freedom to men, women
and children in forced labor or forced prostitution. While IJM focuses on
What is God’s response to oppression? intervention and rescue, OneLife (onelifematters.org) sponsors Gospel-
focused ministries to at-risk and exploited women and children around the
Read Exodus 2:1 to 3:22, Psalm 9:9-10, Psalm 10:17-18, Psalm 146:6-8, world. Rather than focusing on bringing women and children “out,” these
Isaiah 1:17, Luke 4:18-19. workers bring the Gospel “in” to massage parlors, brothels and bars.
Baptist Global Response (baptistglobalresponse.com), a Southern Baptist
Discuss with your small group or record in your journal: relief and development organization, also sponsors projects designed to
relieve the suffering of the exploited, oppressed and vulnerable. God is
1. As oppression and exploitation increased, what was God’s using these men and women to bring hope and healing to victims of
response? oppression and to bring justice to their oppressors.
Discuss with your small group or list in your journal some ways Christians
2. How did God uniquely prepare Moses for the mission to bring can help bring an end to exploitation.
deliverance from the Egyptians? Pray for Christian workers around the world who are sharing the Gospel
with exploited men, women and children, freeing them spiritually and
3. Describe God’s heart for the exploited as evidenced throughout physically from oppression and bringing justice to exploiters.
Scripture.
10
4. How does Jesus describe His mission in Luke 4:18-19? What does
this mean for victims of oppression? How does His mission apply to our
mission?

God cares for the exploited. He hears their cries, and He prepares and calls
His people to be a voice against exploitation and oppression. God unique-
ly prepared Moses to bring deliverance to the Israelites. Adopted by
Pharaoh’s daughter and raised in the courts of the king, Moses likely
benefited from the education and opportunities afforded Egyptian
royalty. He also had access to the highest levels of power. Still, he
maintained ties with his Hebrew family and identified most closely with the
Israelites, especially those who were oppressed. For example, as a young
man, he took action against oppression when he killed the Egyptian for
beating “a Hebrew, one of his own people” (Exodus 2:11-12). While killing
the Egyptian wasn’t the ideal response and led to his exile, it is evidence of
Moses’ passion for justice against oppression.

A number of evangelical Christian organizations are taking on the fight
against exploitation and trafficking. God has uniquely prepared each of
them to address oppression. One of the most notable is International
Justice Mission (IJM) ijm.org, a Christian organization that works with law

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SESSION THREE bar and brothel owners often find themselves with more access to sex
workers than those focused solely on direct intervention. While the work is
What about confrontation? slower and rescue takes longer, this approach provides an opportunity to
transform red-light communities from the inside out.
Read Exodus 4:1-31.
Another valid and fundamental form of intervention is prayer. For me, the
Discuss with your small group or record in your journal: ministry to exploited women and children began with an audacious prayer:
1. How did Moses feel about confronting Pharaoh? “Lord, please shut down the sex industry in my city.” Initially, I did not
2. What assurances did God give Moses that he was ready for the job? intend to develop a ministry to prostitutes. I simply wanted God to shut
3. What was Aaron’s role in addressing exploitation? down the bars, brothels and massage parlors from which the sex industry
4. What was Pharaoh’s initial response and what consequences did it have flourished. As I began to prayerdrive through red-light sections of my city,
for the Israelites? first alone and then with friends, God began to soften my heart to the
5. What was the Israelites’ initial response to the news of coming deliver- plight of exploited women. As I continued to pray, God made it clear over
ance? time and through other circumstances that He was calling me to reach out
to the exploited with a message of the Good News.
Without a doubt, Moses was a reluctant messenger of God’s deliverance. In
spite of the ways God prepared him, he felt unqualified and ill-equipped. Praying daily for the exploited and the exploiters is critical, as is praying
God, however, continued to reassure him and offered an answer for every for yourself and your team as you seek to address exploitation. Prayer
excuse. Deciding to confront oppression and exploitation should never be opens our eyes to the needs around us and gives us spiritual insight —
taken lightly. It is dangerous, both physically and spiritually. For this reason, the wisdom that only comes from God — about how best to meet those
confrontation should only happen at the Lord’s command (Exodus 4:12) and needs. As you begin to pray for exploited women, you may be surprised
in the company of and with the support of other believers. at the number of times the topic surfaces in the news, in discussion groups
and in random conversations and postings. Prayer for an issue heightens
But perhaps the more fundamental question is, “What is confrontation?” our sensitivity to the issue itself and to God’s work as He moves to address
Confronting exploitation can take many forms. “Rescue” may be the most it. As God opens your eyes to articles, discussions and resources, educate
common form that comes to mind. Rescue implies direct intervention yourself on the topic of exploitation and pray intelligently for the needs
involving law enforcement, arrests and jail time for offenders. While before you and the direction you should take. To help you get started, a
legitimate organizations, like IJM, work with law enforcement to conduct number of good resources are listed in Appendix A.
raids on brothels and bars and successfully liberate men, women and
children from prostitution or forced labor, most grass-roots ministries do As God begins to guide you to a specific form of intervention, make sure
not have the skill, expertise or connections to be involved in this type of that you enlist other believers to come alongside you for accountability
direct intervention. and support. Confronting exploitation should never be attempted alone.
In the account of the exodus, God sent Aaron to assist Moses. Aaron and
In fact, other, more discreet ways of confronting exploitation are both valid Moses confronted Pharaoh and addressed the Israelites together. Groups
and preferable, especially for those who want to have long-term influence of no less than two and no more than three are preferable when entering
in red-light communities. Ministries that work to build relationships with red-light areas for prayerwalking or conversation, but it is also important to
secure the prayer support and accountability of others you can call should
11 the need arise. In some cases in the U.S., the local police will want to know

12

your intentions and the dates and times of your visits to red-light areas. SESSION FOUR
In some countries, it is best to avoid communication with the police. Your
group must learn what approach is best for the community you intend to What about cold feet, opposition and
serve. ridicule?

Another important factor to consider is the participation of men in visits to Read Exodus 5:1-6:3; Acts 13:6-12; Luke 10:8-12.
red-light areas. In some cases, men can provide an added layer of security,
particularly in the U.S., and they can strike up conversations and attempt Discuss with your small group or record in your journal:
to build relationships with male customers and business owners. In others, 1. How did Pharaoh respond to Moses and Aaron?
men may be a distraction to those you hope to reach. 2. What happened to the people of Israel because Moses confronted
Pharaoh?
Whether your team is exclusively female or a combination of both genders, 3. Whom did the Israelites blame for their increased workload? Whom did
you must assure that all are mature believers who can handle the Moses blame for the increased oppression?
emotions, temptations, stories and abuses you will encounter. While you 4. What was Paul’s response to opposition?
should definitely build in time to pray together before each visit and to 5. How did Jesus instruct His disciples to handle opposition?
debrief the experiences after you return, you should also determine how
best to screen those who want to work with you. This can be as simple as As you venture into the red-light areas near where you live, you can expect
a conversation that allows you to hear their reasons for wanting to join opposition — spiritual, physical and emotional. This was true for Moses
you and gives you an opportunity to share the purpose and vision for your and Aaron. It was true for Paul and Barnabas. It will be true for you.
team. It is also a good idea to develop a set of written protocols for your
team that each member agrees to follow. Share these protocols with your Opposition can take many forms, including bad weather, personal illness,
accountability partners. An example is included as Appendix B. unexpected family crises, subtle sarcasm or overt threats. All are designed
to discourage you and to continue to oppress the exploited. Let me share
Bottom line: Addressing exploitation requires a strong sense of purpose a personal example.
and calling from God along with the accountability and support of other
mature believers. Why? Because it IS scary! Like Moses, those called to ad- After more than six months of prayer seeking God’s direction, two col-
dress exploitation may cry out, “Lord, send someone else!” (Exodus 4:13). leagues and I took 10 gift bags to a karaoke bar in our city. On that first
But God can use even a glimmer of awareness of the problem to accom- visit, we simply told the women that we loved them, that God had put
plish His purposes. Jesus teaches that He can use even the tiniest bit of them on our hearts and that we were available to answer any questions
obedience to move mountains. they might have. Although none of the women from that initial visit con-
tacted us, within a few weeks, other colleagues joined our small team and
Discuss with your small group or record in your journal practical ways we began intentionally prayerwalking the red-light areas of our city seeking
that you can confront exploitation and oppression where you live. Some to share the Gospel as God allowed.
examples include prayerwalking red-light districts in your city, volunteering
at a homeless or women’s shelter and supporting organizations involved in 14
bringing Good News to the oppressed.

Ask God to give you wisdom and guidance as you seek to confront
exploitation in your community and around the world.

13

On one of our very first prayerwalks, my friend Janet and I noticed At that point, we had a decision to make. We could stay and “fight” or we
Gospel tracts lying on the outside tables of the bars and massage parlors could move on. As difficult as it was, we followed the advice of Luke 10 and
we passed on the crowded street. We came upon a woman, Mok,* reading moved on.
a tract.
Caroline and I were discouraged and prayed for both women as we walked
“Where did you get that?” Janet asked. away, but we had one more stop to make. We were looking for a young
woman other team members had met earlier in the week. We approached
“A man left it here a few minutes ago,” Mok replied. the massage parlor where the woman allegedly worked and asked for her
by name.
“Do you understand it?” Janet asked.
The young woman who greeted us didn’t recognize the name, but then
“Not really.” she asked, “What are you doing?”

“May we share with you?” We explained that we were Christians and were sharing stories about Jesus
with women who wanted to hear them.
“Yes, of course,” Mok smiled.
The young woman’s eyes lit up. “I’ve always wanted to learn about
That encounter was most definitely orchestrated by God. It was our first Christianity! Will you teach me?”
time to walk the street and in the countless visits following, we never again
saw Gospel tracts paving our way. As we got to know Mok and shared the Through that encounter, the young woman, Angie,* and her co-worker,
Gospel with her, she prayed to receive Christ. Another woman, Priya,* John,* both accepted Christ and were baptized a few months later. The
operated a booth next to Mok’s massage parlor. The booth advertised owner of the massage parlor was friendly toward us and currently allows
various tourist attractions in our city. Though we also talked with Priya and our team to teach English at her shop two times a week.
shared the Gospel with her, she was antagonistic because of experiences
with Christians she’d known in college. She was less than pleased with The point is this: As you reach out to the exploited in Christ’s name, you
Mok’s decision to follow Jesus and let us know. Although she was not inter- can expect opposition, but it should not overcome you. The opposition
ested in our message, we determined to continue our friendship with her we encountered from Priya led us to the “next stop,” where the Holy Spirit
as long as she would allow it. had already prepared hearts to receive His Good News.

A few weeks after Mok prayed to receive Christ, a colleague named Of course, as the Holy Spirit uses you to proclaim “freedom for captives”
Caroline* and I were visiting again when Mok told us in front of Priya and — both spiritual and physical — the exploited, like Mok, may also experi-
other women with whom she worked, “I can no longer follow Jesus.” ence increased oppression before spiritual and physical freedom becomes
reality. As you struggle for the souls of the oppressed and witness the
When we asked why, she explained that she was a Buddhist who must be attacks of the enemy, you may wonder why God ever put this need before
loyal to that way of life. Although we tried to talk with her more, her you. Like Moses, you may wish He had chosen someone else for the job.
decision was made, she said. Priya looked on with approval. Don’t be afraid to take your doubts and fears to the Lord. Remember, you
are not the deliverer. God is. He is in control.
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Discuss with your small group or record in your journal the different forms SESSION FIVE
of opposition you may encounter and different responses that may deflect
opposition. Discuss scenarios in which some responses to opposition may What about discouragement and
be better than others. “fakers”?
Ask God for wisdom as you face opposition when sharing the Good News
where you live. Pray for those encountering opposition in the quest to Read Exodus 6:1 to 8:15.
bring spiritual and physical freedom to the exploited.
Discuss with your small group or record in your journal:
17 1. How did God reveal Himself to Moses and what did He promise?
2. Is it significant that God revealed Himself as “Yahweh” — I AM — in the
context of delivering the exploited? Why or why not?
3. What was the reaction of the Israelites to God’s revelation in
Exodus 6:1-9?
4. How is the conversation between Moses and God in Exodus 6-7 similar
to Moses’ conversation with God in Exodus 3-4? From this what seems to
be the natural response when we are discouraged?
5. According to Exodus 7:8 to 8:15, what happened when Moses per-
formed the early signs?

Just as you can expect opposition, you can also expect some level of
discouragement as you seek to address exploitation. You will likely find it
necessary to confront your own discouragement as well as the discourage-
ment of those you are seeking to reach. It may often seem that you are
taking “two steps forward and three steps back” as you become involved
in this issue and seek to build relationships among the exploited. Again,
remember that God alone provides deliverance.

Along the way, you may also encounter “fakers” as you seek to share Good
News with the oppressed. Moses and Aaron experienced this as Pharaoh’s
sorcerers duplicated the initial signs that God instructed Moses to perform.
Early in our ministry in our city’s red-light districts, we encountered other
groups “prayerwalking” the same areas. While theirs is not a message of

18

Good News, they were replicating our efforts. It was discouraging to real- SESSION SIX
ize that we all looked the same to the exploited women we were trying to
reach. It is a good idea to be aware of the fakers, but don’t let them dis- What happens when deliverance finally
suade you. Eventually, the fakers and those they are deceiving will recog- comes?
nize “the finger of God” (Exodus 8:19).
As Moses learned, the only remedy for discouragement is prayer. We must Read Exodus 8:16 to 12:51.
constantly bring our questions, defeats and discouragements to the Lord.
HE IS able to deliver. During the first year of our ministry, I focused entirely Discuss with your small group or record in your journal:
on John 14, specifically John 14:1. Whenever I was discouraged or defeat- 1. How many times did Moses confront Pharaoh?
ed by encounters and stories from exploited women, the Holy Spirit would 2. What was Pharaoh’s response each time?
draw me back to John 14:1, “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in 3. How did some of Pharaoh’s officials respond to the various plagues?
God and believe in me.” 4. What instructions did God give Moses to prepare the Israelites for
Discuss with your small group or record in your journal key verses that deliverance?
have helped you overcome discouragement in the past. Discuss how these 5. How many years were the Israelites enslaved in Egypt? How many came
verses can help you overcome future discouragement. out during the exodus?
Pray that as you face discouragement in ministry, God will make Himself
known to you in a fresh way. Exodus 8-10 outlines the plagues that God sent upon the Egyptians. While
this passage contains a number of interesting insights, a few are espe-
19 cially significant. First is the reaction of some of Pharaoh’s officials to the
increasing plagues. In Exodus 9:20-21, the Bible records that officials “who
feared the word of the Lord” moved their slaves and livestock indoors after
Moses promised the plague of hail. Those who did not fear God left their
slaves and livestock in the fields. As God begins to make Himself known
in red-light communities, even some among the exploiters will recognize
that you come from God. Although you are focusing your message on the
exploited, be aware of others in the periphery — bar owners, restaurant
workers, hotel employees, etc. — who may also be open to your message
of salvation. Seek to draw them into the conversation as best you can.

Second, remember to leave the deliverance to God. God will do the de-
livering and will “multiply His wonders” (Exodus 11:9). Moses and Aaron
did not force the issue with Pharaoh, and they did not “run ahead” of God.

20

While we may not understand why God hardened Pharaoh’s heart time Discuss with your small group or record in your journal ways that God may
and time again, Pharaoh — and all of Egypt — came to understand the be leading you to address any or all aspects of human trafficking and
full scope of God’s power and the extent to which He will go to rescue His exploitation. What are some small steps you can take today to begin to
people. This might not have happened had Moses and Aaron “run ahead” follow Him obediently?
and snuck the Israelites out after the first plague. The moment you put on As God heightens your awareness of this issue, remember to seek Him
your cowboy hat and start thinking the ministry is all about you is the daily. Pray that God will continue to make Himself known to you through
moment you fail. every challenge you face.

Third, remember that while we should never run ahead, sometimes we “And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can
need to be in a hurry. God told Moses and Aaron to instruct the Israelites to make a difference in the world so that you can do what others claim cannot
eat the Passover meal “with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals
on your feet and your staff in your hand” (Exodus 12:11). When God’s be done to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.”
deliverance — spiritual or physical — is close we need to be ready to move. —A Franciscan Benediction
In the case of spiritual deliverance, this is as simple as leading the exploited
in a prayer of salvation and providing them with a basic discipleship and 22
Bible reading plan. Be available and ready to walk alongside them in their
first steps of faith. In the case of physical deliverance, be aware of safe
houses, organizations and others in your area that can provide a safe place
to live and offer education or livelihood training.

Finally, remember that God’s deliverance will come! The Bible records that
600,000 men plus women and children left Egypt 430 years “to the very
day” that they first entered the land seeking relief from hunger. The Lord
“kept vigil” to bring them out (Exodus 12:42).

Where do we go from here?

A holistic approach to human trafficking and exploitation addresses
prevention, intervention and aftercare. In this study, we have focused
primarily on intervention — personal involvement with those currently
ensnared in the sex industry — but prevention and aftercare are equally
important elements in addressing the issue of human trafficking. I encour-
age you to pray, seek God’s will and respond in obedience to the direction
He gives you each day, regardless of how small or insignificant it may be.
Often it is through our seemingly small and insignificant acts of obedience
that God moves mountains.

21

APPENDIX A Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern
Baptist Convention
Resources on Trafficking & Pornography erlc.com Biblical insights on various issues including pornography and
sexual purity.
Compiled by Sharon Fields-McCormick, MSC Missionary, NAMB
Focus on the Family’s Pure Intimacy Project
Organizations PureIntimacy.org Resources for those struggling with pornography.

A21 Campaign: Abolishing Injustice in the 21st Century Freedom Begins Here
theA21campaign.org International collaboration to prevent trafficking, freedombeginshere.org “Toolkit” for those dealing with pornography,
protect/support victims, prosecute traffickers and partner to provide a especially pastors
comprehensive front against trafficking.
Girls Education & Mentoring Services (GEMS)
A Future. Not a Past gems-girls.org Girls Are Not for Sale Campaign. Committed to ending
afnap.org Working nationally to end commercial sexual exploitation of commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking of children by
children through research, prevention, intervention and education. changing individual lives, transforming public perception, and revolution-
izing the systems and policies that impact sexually exploited youth.
Baptist Friendship House, New Orleans, LA
baptistfriendshiphouse.org Ministers to homeless women & children. The Hope House, Asheville, NC
Education/advocacy on behalf of trafficking victims, assists survivors. hopehousenc.com Provides a place of seclusion, restoration, and healing
for domestic sex trafficking victims under 18 years old.
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE)
caase.org Addressing the culture, institutions, and individuals that International Justice Mission
perpetrate, profit from, or tacitly support sexually exploitive acts against ijm.org Human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery,
people. Great resources & toolkits. sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression

Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section (CEOS), US Department of Justice L.A. Dream Center, RE:scue Project, Los Angeles, CA
usdoj.gov/criminal/ceos Enforcement of federal statutes relating to dreamcenter.org Intake home for girls who are victims of sex trafficking
exploitation of children.
Living Water for Girls, Atlanta, GA
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) livingwaterforgirls.org Rescues, rehabilitates and restores commercially
catwinternational.org Works internationally to combat sexual exploitation sexually exploited girls by providing safe refuge and holistic therapeutic
in all its forms, especially prostitution and trafficking in women and services.
children, in particular girls.
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for missingkids.com Helps prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation,
Sexual Purposes find missing children; and assists victims, their families, and the
ecpat.net Global network of organizations working against these issues. professionals who serve them.

23 24

Project Rescue Truckers Against Trafficking
projectrescue.com Ministering in India, Nepal & Moldova to rescue and truckersagainsttrafficking.org Informs truckers and other travelers about
restore victims of forced prostitution. human trafficking and provides resources to help.

Polaris Project Washington, DC Wellspring Living, Atlanta, GA
polarisproject.org Advocacy, education, victim services. National Human wellspringliving.org Therapeutic and educational program for sexual
Trafficking Resource Center hotline. Survey of shelter beds throughout US. abuse victims partnering with GBCHFM for residential care.
Good data site.
World Hope International
Project Safe Childhood – US Department of Justice worldhope.org Faith based relief and development organization
justice.gov/psc Combats technology-facilitated sexual exploitation alleviating suffering and injustice through education, enterprise and
against children. community health. Developed the Faith Alliance Against Slavery and
Trafficking (FAAST) Hands That Heal training curriculum.
PureHope Coalition –Pray Understand Resolve Engage
purehope.net Equipping individuals, families and churches with Christian Publications and Other Resources
solutions in a sexualized culture to pursue sexual purity and oppose sexual
exploitation. Beautiful Slave Music video by The Musicianaries who use their God-given
musical gifts to bring awareness of various issues. TakeNoGlory.com
Pure Life Ministries (Available as music only or as video)
purelifeministries.org Serves Christian individuals and organizations
dealing with sexual sin by providing biblically based counseling, teaching CovenantEyes, Internet Accountability and Filtering. Provides internet fil-
resources, and education. tering and accountability to protect your family online. covenanteyes.com

Salvation Army Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: America’s Prostituted Children by Linda A.
salvationarmyusa.org Fighting sex trafficking since 1885. Good training Smith, Samantha Healy Vardaman, Melissa A Snow. sharedhope.org
opportunities.
Engaging Christian Communities in Ending Sexual Exploitation: A Tool Kit
Shared Hope International and Resource Guide Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE)
sharedhope.org Prevention, rescue and restoration related to sex caase.org (Under Resources)
trafficking. Good information site and good training material.
Every Man’s Battle by Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker and Mike Yorkey.
Street Grace, Atlanta, GA Dealing with sexual temptation, God’s way. everymansbattle.com
streetgrace.org An interfaith alliance working toward eliminating the
commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). Exploited: Sex Trafficking, Porn Culture, and the Call to a Lifestyle of
Justice by Noel J. Bouche, PureHope Coalition. purehope.net
Traffick Stop
traffickstop.org Presentations to educate, advocate, and engage people 26
on the issues of human trafficking. Founded by Dr. Tomi Lee “TL” Grover,
formerly with the Texas Baptists.

25

FAIR Girls Free Aware Inspired Restored fairgirls.org Prevention educa- Pornography Hits Home: What you must know (and do) to save your fam-
tion, compassionate care, and survivor advocacy. “Tell Your Friends” pro- ily. A Special Section in HomeLife, October 2009. Includes the following
gram for educating high-risk youth. articles: Addicted at Age 9 by Jimmy Needham, p 42-43, Visual Assault by
Michael Ross, p 44-46, Hooked on a Feeling by Becca Cipriani, p 48-49.
Hands That Heal Training. Biblically based training for meeting the needs
of survivors of human trafficking and CSEC. Faith Alliance Against Slavery Pornography: Assessing the Issue. Ken Walker, DropIn Mission Education.
and Trafficking faastinternational.org namb.net

Hiding in Plain Sight: A Practical Guide to Identifying Victims of Trafficking Renting Lacy by Linda Smith with Cindy Coloma.
in the US by Donna M. Hughes, University of Rhode Island sharedhope.org Book on America’s prostituted children -- actual people
uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes who live in the darkness of the trafficking underworld.

I Surrender All: Rebuilding a Marriage Broken by Sexual Slavery on Main Street by Elissa Cooper, Christianity Today, May
Pornography by Christian singer Clay Crosse and his wife Renee Crosse. 2010, p 17. christianitytoday.com
navpress.com
Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Look Beneath the Surface acf.hhs.gov/trafficking ERLC.com/pornography Resources on dealing with pornography in the
National Human Trafficking Resource Center church

Music for the Soul DVD: Somebody’s Daughter Trafficking In Persons Report 2012 US Department of State
somebodysdaughter.org state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2012 Report on every country including the
United States.
National Weekend of Prayer to End Slavery and Trafficking
weekendofprayer.net Time of prayer for victims, The Slave Across the Street by Theresa Flores (Bookstores everywhere)
johns/customers and pimps/traffickers. True story of upper middle class teenager in Detroit forced into prostitu-
tion by high school classmates.
The Playground Project: playgroundproject.com
Excellent documentary film on the commercial sexual When the Thrill is Gone: Pornography and Men by Tricia Scribner. Missions
exploitation of children. Mosaic, December 2011

Porn Harms pornharms.com Includes research regarding pornography Witherspoon Institute socialcostsofpornography.org. Extensive report
and its relationship to trafficking, prostitution, etc. Studies show porn’s that presents evidence of pornography’s deep impact on society.
dangerous effects. Safe Schools, Safe Libraries programs. War on Illegal
Pornography. Many resources. x3watch: x3watch.com Online integrity and accountability. Records
questionable websites you visit and reports them to your accountability
Pornography and Violence: A New Look at Research. Mary Anne Layden, partners.
PhD, Director of the Sexual Trauma and Psychopathology Program,
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania. Xxxchurch.com: Xxxchurch.com a ministry that addresses the porn indus-
med.upenn.edu/cct/stap.html try and how it affects the addicted and their families.

27 28

APPENDIX B many outside of our team may also prayerwalk and share the Gospel as the
Spirit leads them. We encourage them to do so.
Sample Strategies and Protocols
For those who are part of our team, however, intentionally seeking to share
Who We Are the Gospel and build community with exploited women, we developed the
following protocols. Team members take these seriously and commit to
We are a group of passionate, authentic, prayerful, Jesus-following, follow them whole-heartedly, understanding that failure to do so may result in
Father-loving, Spirit-guided women committed to developing authentic, corrective action in accordance with scriptural teaching (Matthew 18:15-17).
Gospel-focused, caring relationships with exploited women in our city’s
red-light districts … And have fun doing it! 1. We are totally dependent on the Holy Spirit to guide our efforts. As a
result, we encourage anyone interested in joining this ministry to seek the
Our Vision Holy Spirit’s guidance in prayer. Those who sense the Holy Spirit leading
them to become involved are welcome to pray with the team at our regular
Reproducible communities of faith within our city’s red-light districts in meetings. We strongly encourage new team members to prayerwalk the
which exploited women understand and accept by faith the redeeming areas in advance of intentionally sharing the Gospel. As we seek the Lord
love of Christ, enjoy a strong sense of family and community with other together in prayer, we believe that He will lead us to the women who are
Jesus followers and actively share what He has done in their lives with their open to the Gospel and the places where He wants us to share.
family, friends and co-workers.
2. Prior to each intentional visit to prayerwalk or share the Gospel, each
Our Mission team will let others know the place and time through a posting on the
team’s private group Facebook page or by text message. Those not going
To share the Gospel, build relationships and patiently invest ourselves will commit to pray for the teams who are visiting. We will not go unless
in the lives of exploited women by living God-honoring, authentic lives someone outside the team is aware that we are going and with whom we
among them and by following the Holy Spirit one step at a time as He can check-in when we return. One person per team is sufficient. Husbands
leads and directs. can be the check in/out person.

Who We Aren’t 3. We always go out in teams of at least two or three. Groups of four or
more will divide into teams. Team members intentionally prayerwalking
We are not a rescue operation, a livelihood-training program, an ESL and sharing the Gospel are not allowed to go into these areas alone. This
center or a medical clinic. We recognize, however, that all of these is more for our spiritual protection than physical protection, but both are
elements (and more) may come into play as we walk in step with the Holy important! We will team the “younger of us” with the “older of us.” Again,
Spirit, are obedient to His direction and build a sense of community with this is for spiritual protection.
exploited women. To the extent possible, we will work with other Christian
organizations, like-minded believers and nongovernmental organizations 4. Before going out, team members meet up for “showering.” Showering
to address these needs. includes prayer, worship and Scripture reading, “washing ourselves clean”
before the trip.
Our Protocols
30
We understand that the areas where we work are tourist areas and many of
our co-workers, volunteers and families often visit these areas for shopping,
dinner, meetings, etc. We understand that in these incarnational instances,

29

5. After our visits, we will spend time discussing, debriefing and praying Visit Guidelines
with our partners about our experiences. Possible questions to consider:
What one thing stands out to you from this visit? What one thing touched When talking with women in the red-light districts, we will be mindful of
your heart (e.g., a burden, question, sadness, connection, concern, etc.)? these things:
What one thing can you give thanks for? Again, we will pray, worship and 1. Our purpose, first and foremost, is to share the Gospel. We will do all we
cleanse ourselves after we leave. can to share the Good News immediately. If the women seem uninterest-
ed, we will prayerfully consider moving to a different place. Regardless, we
6. We will debrief on the group’s private Facebook page by adding a note. will shower them with love and kindness and follow the Holy Spirit’s leading
The debriefing questions are listed on the Facebook page. We will suggest as to when to move on or to return. Remember, we can’t make someone
other possible ways to debrief in the future. fall in love with Jesus, but we can fall on our knees and intercede on their
behalf (Ephesians 3:14-19).
7. If we have something that stays in our minds (e.g., an image, a night- 2. We will not separate from our partner and will be alert to what is
mare, a thought, a temptation or a concern), we will mention it to another going on around us. We will not go into a back room. We will carefully
member of the group, recognizing that often simply voicing the linger- order nonalcoholic drinks, preferring those that we see opened in front of
ing issue is sufficient to dispel it. We commit to pray for each other, hold us (i.e., soda cans, bottled water, etc.). We will not order alcoholic drinks.
each other accountable and get counsel when necessary on how to move 3. We will be mindful of the time we are spending and offer to buy
forward. nonalcoholic drinks for the girls, pay for the massage or anything else that
will make it OK for us to spend time talking with them.
8. At this point, our team is exclusively women, with men supporting us 4. We will be mindful of our thoughts. As we see things that are appalling
with prayer and wise counsel. Until the Holy Spirit leads us differently, we to us we will prayerfully confess them to God and share honestly with our
intend for those intentionally prayerwalking and sharing the Gospel as part partner.
of this team to be exclusively female.
32
9. We recognize that the Holy Spirit may lead us to include men in visita-
tion and counseling at some point in the future. There may also be a need
for men to build relationships with male bar and brothel owners to give
female team members an entrance to sharing the Gospel. If and when
that occurs, men must have the complete and wholehearted consent of
their wives. They may only visit in teams of three, which must include one
female.

10. All team members will take off at least one month every six months to
let their minds rest and assess the effect of the ministry on their emotional,
mental and spiritual health. Member care discussions may be important
during this time.

31

APPENDIX C this place, have I actually seen the One who sees me?”

Story Sets on exploited men and women of Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son, and Abram named him Ishmael. Abram
the Bible was 86 years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael.

Hagar Sometime later, the Lord made a new covenant with Abram. Although both
Abram and Sarai were very old, God promised that Abram and Sarai would
Adapted from Genesis 16 and 21:1-21. have a son. As a sign of the covenant, he changed Sarai’s name to Sarah
and Abram’s name to Abraham.
Abram and his wife, Sarai, had no children, but Sarai owned an Egyptian
slave named Hagar. Since Sarai was unable to conceive, Sarai said to Fourteen years after the birth of Ishmael, the Lord came to Sarah as He
Abram, “Sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” had promised. Sarah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Abraham
Abram agreed to this, so Sarai gave Hagar to Abram as his wife. Abram named this son Isaac. When his son Isaac was 8 days old, Abraham circum-
slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When the young woman cised him, as God had commanded him. Abraham was 100 years old when
realized she was pregnant, she became disrespectful toward Sarai. his son Isaac was born to him.

Then Sarai became angry and blamed Abram, saying, “You are responsible Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh
for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and now that she is pregnant, with me.” She also said, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would
she is treating me with disdain! Do something about this!” nurse children? Yet I have borne a son for him in his old age.”

Abram replied to Sarai, “Here is your slave; do whatever you want with Isaac grew, and Abraham held a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned.
her.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar so much that Hagar ran away. During the feast Sarah saw Ishmael mocking Isaac. She said to Abraham,
“Drive out this slave with her son, for the son of this slave will not be a
The Angel of the Lord found Hagar by a spring of water in the wilderness. coheir with my son Isaac!”
He said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from and where are
you going?” Now this was a very difficult thing for Abraham to do. He loved his son,
Ishmael. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be concerned about the boy
She replied, “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai.” and your slave. Whatever Sarah says to you listen to her, because your
offspring will be traced through Isaac. But I will also make a nation of the
Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “You must go back to Sarai and slave’s son because he is your offspring.”
submit to her mistreatment.” The Angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will
greatly multiply your offspring, and they will be too many to count.” Early in the morning, Abraham got up, packed bread and water, put them
on Hagar’s shoulders and sent her and the boy away. Hagar wandered in
Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “You are pregnant with a son. You the wilderness for many days. When the water was gone, she left the boy
will name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard your cry of affliction. This man under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down about a bowshot
will be like a wild donkey. His hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s away, and said, “I can’t bear to watch the boy die!” As she sat nearby, she
hand will be against him; he will live at odds with all his brothers.” wept loudly.

She called the Lord who spoke to her “The God Who Sees” and said, “In 34
33

God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from “Are you really going to reign over us?” his brothers asked him. “Are you
heaven and said to her, “What’s wrong, Hagar? Don’t be afraid. God has really going to rule us?” They hated him even more because of his dream
heard the voice of the boy. Get up, help the boy up and support him. I will and what he had said.
make him a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well
of water. She went and filled the water skin and gave the boy a drink. God Then he had another dream and told it to his brothers.
was with the boy, and he grew; he settled in the wilderness and became an
archer. His mother got a wife for him from Egypt. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun, moon, and
11 stars were bowing down to me.”
Questions:
1. How did God provide for Hagar and Ishmael? He told his father and brothers, but his father rebuked him.
2. From this story, does God care about the plight of abused and aban-
doned women and children? Why or why not? “What kind of dream is this that you have had?” he said. “Are your mother
3. How does this story offer hope to the abused and abandoned? and brothers and I going to come and bow down to the ground before
you?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in
Joseph mind.

Adapted from Genesis 37-50. His brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks outside another city
called Shechem. Jacob said to Joseph, “Go and see how your brothers
A man named Jacob had 12 sons and a daughter. He also had two wives and the flocks are doing and bring word back to me.”
and two concubines. Jacob’s wife, Leah, the one Jacob was tricked into
marrying, gave birth to six sons and a daughter. The two concubines, Joseph went, and the brothers saw Joseph approaching in the distance.
named Bilah and Zilpah, gave birth to two sons each. Jacob’s wife, Rachel, Before he had reached them, they plotted to kill him. They said to one
whom Jacob loved dearly, gave birth to two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. another, “Here comes that dreamer! Come on, let’s kill him and throw him
into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal ate him. Then we’ll
When he was 17, Joseph was tending sheep with his brothers, the sons of see what becomes of his dreams!”
Bilhah and Zilpah. He brought a bad report about them to their father.
Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons because Joseph was born to When Reuben, Joseph’s oldest brother, heard this, he tried to save him
him in his old age. Jacob made a robe of many colors for Joseph as a sign from them. He said, “Let’s not take his life.” Reuben also said, “Don’t shed
of his favor. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on
them, they hated him and could not bring themselves to speak kindly to him.” Reuben intended to rescue him and return him to his father.
him.
When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off his robe and threw
Then Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him him into the pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. Then as they
even more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: There we were, sat down to eat a meal, they saw a caravan of traders coming from Gilead
binding sheaves of grain in the field. Suddenly my sheaf stood up, and your and heading to Egypt. Their camels were carrying aromatic gum, balsam
sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” and resin.

35 36

Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and Rahab
cover up his blood? Let’s sell him instead and not lay a hand on him. He is
our brother, our own flesh.” The brothers agreed. When the traders passed Adapted from Joshua 2, 6.
by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit. They sold him for 20 pieces of
silver to the traders, who took Joseph to Egypt. After the Israelites escaped Egypt with Moses as their leader, they wan-
dered in the wilderness for 40 years. Once Moses died, God appointed
When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he Joshua to lead the people into the land of Canaan, which is modern-day
tore his clothes. He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone! Israel. Other people were living in the land at the time, and Joshua secretly
What am I going to do?” The brothers took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a sent two men as spies, saying, “Go and scout the land, especially Jericho.”
young goat and dipped the robe in its blood. They sent the robe of many The men left and came to the house of a woman — a prostitute named
colors to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it. Is it your son’s Rahab — and stayed there.
robe or not?”
Messengers told the king of Jericho, “Look, some of the Israelite men have
His father recognized it. “It is my son’s robe,” he said. “A vicious animal come here tonight to investigate the land.” Then the king of Jericho sent
has devoured him. Joseph has been torn to pieces!” Then Jacob tore his word to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered
clothes, put sackcloth around his waist and mourned many days for his son. your house because they came to investigate the entire land.”
All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be com-
forted. “No,” he said. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son.” Mean- The woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the
while, the traders sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh men did come to me, but I didn’t know where they were from. At nightfall,
and the captain of the guard. when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I don’t know
where they were going. Chase after them quickly, and you can catch up
Several years later, Joseph became a powerful man in Egypt, second with them!”
only to Pharaoh. A famine came to his hometown and his brothers, who
did not know what happened to Joseph, traveled to Egypt to buy grain. She had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of
Eventually Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, who were terrified that flax that she had arranged on the roof. The men pursued them along the
Joseph would seek revenge. Instead, Joseph forgave his brothers. “Don’t road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they left to pursue them,
be afraid,” Joseph said. “You planned evil against me, but God used if for gatekeepers shut the gate.
good … to bring about the survival of many people.”
Before the Israelite men fell asleep she went up on the roof and said to
Questions: them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that the terror of
1. How did Joseph’s family situation lead to his exploitation? you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking be-
2. How are the circumstances of Joseph’s exploitation similar to exploita- cause of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the waters of the Red
tion today? How are they different? Sea before you when you came out of Egypt and what you did to Sihon
3. How did God use evil for good in this story? How does this encourage and Og, the two Amorite kings you destroyed across the Jordan.
you?
When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone’s courage failed because
37 of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.
Now please swear to me by the Lord that you will also show kindness to my
family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will

38

spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters and all who belong to Ruth
them, and save us from death.”
Adapted from Ruth 1-4.
The men answered her, “We will give our lives for yours. If you don’t report
our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when the Lord During the time that judges governed Israel, there was a famine in the
gives us the land.” Then she let them down by a rope through the win- land. A man left Bethlehem in Judah with his wife and two sons to live in
dow, since she lived in a house built into the wall of the city. “Go to the hill the land of Moab for a while. The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife’s
country so that the men pursuing you won’t find you,” she said to them. name was Naomi. The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion.
“Hide yourselves there for three days until they return; afterward, go on Naomi’s husband Elimelech died. Her two sons married Moabite women:
your way.” one named Orpah and the second named Ruth. After they lived in Moab
about 10 years, both Mahlon and Chilion also died, leaving Naomi without
The men said to her, “We will be free from this oath you made us swear, her two children and without her husband.
unless, when we enter the land, you tie this scarlet cord to the window
through which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers and She and her daughters-in-law prepared to leave the land of Moab, because
your father’s family into your house. If anyone goes out the doors of your she had heard in Moab that the Lord had paid attention to His people’s
house, his blood will be on his own head, and we will be innocent. If any- need by providing them food. She left the place where she had been liv-
one with you in the house is harmed, his blood will be on our heads, but if ing, accompanied by her two daughters-in-law and traveled along the road
you report our mission, we are free from the oath you made us swear.” leading back to the land of Judah.

“Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. After they had She said to them, “Each of you go back to your mother’s home. May the
gone, she tied the scarlet cord to the window. The two men went into the Lord show faithful love to you as you have shown to the dead and to me.
hill country and stayed there three days until the pursuers had returned. May the Lord enable each of you to find security in the house of your new
They searched all along the way, but did not find them. Then the men husband.” She kissed them, and they wept loudly.
returned, came down from the hill country and crossed the Jordan. They
went to Joshua son of Nun and reported everything that had happened to “No,” they said to her. “We will go with you to your people.”
them. They told Joshua, “The Lord has handed over the entire land to us.
Everyone who lives in the land is also panicking because of us.” Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why do you want to go with
me? Am I able to have any more sons who could become your husbands?
Later, when Joshua and his army moved in to conquer Jericho, Joshua Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another
gave orders to spare Rahab and her family. As the battle began, the two husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me to have a husband
men whom Rahab hid went to Rahab’s home and brought out Rahab along tonight and to bear sons, would you be willing to wait for them to grow
with her father, mother, brothers and the rest of her family. They settled the up? Would you restrain yourselves from remarrying? No, my daughters, my
family outside the camp of Israel. life is much too bitter for you to share, because the Lord’s hand has turned
against me.”
Questions:
Again, they wept loudly, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth
1. Why did Rahab agree to hide the spies? clung to her. Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her
people and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law.”
2. What is the significance of the scarlet cord?
40
3. How does this story give hope to those trapped by the sex industry?

39

However, Ruth replied, “Do not persuade me to leave you or go back and Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go and gather grain
not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will in another field, and don’t leave this one, but stay here close to my female
live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where servants. See which field they are harvesting, and follow them. Haven’t I
you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May Yahweh punish me, and ordered the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go and
do so severely, if anything but death separates you and me. drink from the jars the young men have filled.”

When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped She bowed with her face to the ground and said to him, “Why are you so
trying to persuade her. kind to notice me, although I am a foreigner?”

The two of them traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they en- Boaz answered her, “Everything you have done for your mother-in-law
tered Bethlehem, the whole town was excited about their arrival and the since your husband’s death has been fully reported to me: how you left
local women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” your father and mother and the land of your birth, and how you came to a
people you didn’t previously know. May the Lord reward you for what you
“Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara,” she answered, “for the Almighty has have done, and may you receive a full reward from the Lord God of Israel,
made me very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back under whose wings you have come for refuge.”
empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has pronounced judg-
ment on me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?” Therefore, Naomi came “My lord,” she said, “you have been so kind to me, for you have comforted
back from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth. They arrived in and encouraged your slave, although I am not like one of your female
Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. servants.”

Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side named Boaz. He was a At mealtime, Boaz told her, “Come over here and have some bread and
prominent man of noble character from Elimelech’s family. dip it in the vinegar sauce.” She sat beside the harvesters, and he offered
her roasted grain. She ate and was satisfied and had some left over.
Ruth asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen
grain behind someone who allows me to?” Ruth went home and told Naomi all that had happened. Naomi realized
that as a relative, Boaz could serve as a “family redeemer,” one who could
Naomi answered her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” Ruth left and entered the marry Ruth. Ruth continued to gather grain in Boaz’s fields and Boaz con-
field to gather grain behind the harvesters. She happened to be in the tinued to show kindness to her.
portion of land belonging to Boaz.
Eventually, Naomi came up with a plan to make Boaz aware of his respon-
Later, when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he asked his servant who was in sibilities as a family redeemer. During the harvest, she instructed Ruth to
charge of the harvesters, “Whose young woman is this?” wash, put on perfumed oil, dress in her best clothes and go at night to the
threshing floor where Boaz was sleeping and lie down at his feet.
The servant answered, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned
with Naomi from the land of Moab. She asked, ‘Will you let me gather “When he lies down, notice the place where he’s lying, go in and uncover
fallen grain among the bundles behind the harvesters?’ She came and has his feet, and lie down,” Naomi said. “Then he will explain to you what you
remained from early morning until now, except that she rested a little in the should do.”
shelter.”
42
41

Ruth did just as Naomi instructed. At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned and sustain you in your old age. Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves
over, and there lying at his feet was a woman! He asked, “Who are you?” you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Naomi
took the child, placed him on her lap and took care of him. The neighbor
“I am Ruth, your slave,” she replied. “Spread your cloak over me, for you women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed.
are a family redeemer.” He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Boaz said, “May the Lord bless you, my daughter. You have shown more Questions:
kindness now than before, because you have not pursued younger men, 1. In what ways were Ruth and Naomi vulnerable to exploitation?
whether rich or poor. Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you 2. What might have happened on the threshing floor? Why didn’t it?
whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a 3. How does Boaz serve as a model of the proper response to a woman’s
woman of noble character. Yes, it is true that I am a family redeemer, but vulnerability?
there is a redeemer closer than I am. Stay here tonight, and in the morning,
if he wants to redeem you, that’s good. Let him redeem you. If he doesn’t Tamar
want to redeem you, as the Lord lives, I will. Now lie down until morning.”
Adapted from 2 Samuel 13.
She lay down at his feet until morning but got up while it was still dark.
David was king over Israel. He had a number of sons and daughters from
Then Boaz said, “Don’t let it be known that a woman came to the threshing his wives and concubines. Two of his sons were Absalom and Amnon.
floor.” In addition, he told Ruth, “Bring the shawl you’re wearing and hold Tamar was Absalom’s full sister and Amnon’s half sister. Tamar was beauti-
it out.” When she held it out, he shoveled six measures of barley into her ful and Amnon was infatuated with her. In fact, Amnon was frustrated to
shawl, and she went into the town. the point of making himself sick over his sister Tamar because she was a
virgin, and it seemed impossible to do anything to her. Amnon had a friend
She went to her mother-in-law, Naomi, who asked her, “How did it go my named Jonadab, a son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very
daughter?” shrewd man and he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the king’s son, so miser-
able every morning? Won’t you tell me?”
Ruth told her everything the man had done for her. Naomi said, “My
daughter, wait until you find out how things go. He won’t rest unless he Amnon replied, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
resolves this today.”
Jonadab said, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you’re sick. When your
Boaz went to the gate of the town and sat down there. Soon the family father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and
redeemer Boaz had spoken about came by. Boaz called him over and the give me something to eat. Let her prepare food in my presence so I can
two men talked. The relative relinquished his rights as the family redeemer, watch and eat from her hand.’”
which freed Boaz to marry Ruth.
Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see
Boaz married Ruth, and when he was intimate with her, the Lord enabled him, Amnon said to him, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a
her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women said to couple of cakes in my presence so I can eat from her hand.”
Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has not left you without a family redeemer
today. May his name become well known in Israel. He will renew your life 44

43

David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to your brother When King David heard about all these things, he was furious. Absalom
Amnon’s house and prepare a meal for him.” didn’t say anything to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated
Amnon since he disgraced his sister Tamar.
When Tamar went to his house, Amnon was lying down. She took dough,
kneaded it, made cakes in his presence and baked them. She brought the Two years later, Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim,
pan and set it down in front of him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. Then he went to the king and said,
“Everyone leave me!” And everyone left him. “Bring the meal to the bed- “Your servant has just hired sheepshearers. Will the king and his servants
room,” Amnon told Tamar, “so I can eat from your hand.” Tamar took the please come with your servant?”
cakes she had made and went to her brother Amnon’s bedroom. When she
brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, “Come sleep with The king replied to Absalom, “No, my son, we should not all go, or we
me, my sister!” would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he wasn’t will-
ing to go, though he did bless him.
“Don’t, my brother!” she cried. “Don’t humiliate me, for such a thing
should never be done in Israel. Don’t do this horrible thing! Where could I “If not,” Absalom said, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.”
ever go with my disgrace? And you — you would be like one of the im-
moral men in Israel! Please, speak to the king, for he won’t keep me from The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?” Absalom urged him, so
you.” But he refused to listen to her, and because he was stronger than she he sent Amnon and all the king’s sons.
was, he raped her.
Absalom commanded his young men, “Watch Amnon until he is in a good
After this, Amnon hated Tamar with such intensity that the hatred he hated mood from the wine. When I order you to strike Amnon, then kill him.
her with was greater than the love with which he had loved her. “Get out of Don’t be afraid. Am I not the one who has commanded you? Be strong and
here!” he said. courageous!” Absalom’s young men killed Amnon just as Absalom had
commanded. Then all the rest of the king’s sons got up, and each fled on
“No,” she cried, “sending me away is much worse than the great wrong his mule.
you’ve already done to me!” He refused to listen to her. Instead, he called
to the servant who waited on him: “Throw this woman out and bolt the After the murder of Amnon, Absalom fled and father and son lived in
door behind her!” Amnon’s servant threw her out and bolted the door opposition to one another for the rest of Absalom’s life. Eventually,
behind her. Now Tamar was wearing a long-sleeved garment, because this Absalom led a coup against his father, David, and temporarily deposed
is what the king’s virgin daughters wore. Tamar put ashes on her head and him. In battle with Absalom’s forces, David commanded his forces not to
tore the long-sleeved garment she was wearing. She put her hand on her harm the young man, but Absalom died in battle. David loved Absalom
head and went away, crying out. and mourned for him.

Her brother Absalom said to her: “Has your brother Amnon been with Questions:
you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take this thing 1. How did Amnon take advantage of Tamar?
to heart.” Tamar lived as a desolate woman in the house of her brother 2. What were the long-term consequences of Tamar’s rape to Tamar,
Absalom. Amnon, Absalom and David?
3. What was the result of Absalom’s revenge? If you could do so, how
45 might you write the ending of the story differently?

46

The woman caught in adultery 48

Adapted from John 8:2-12.

At dawn, Jesus went to the temple complex, and all the people were com-
ing to see Him. He sat down and began to teach them. Then the religious
leaders brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the
center.

“Teacher,” they said. “This woman was caught in the act of committing
adultery. In the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What
do You say?” They asked this to trap Him, in order that they might have
evidence to accuse Him.

Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with His finger.
When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them,
“The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at
her.”

Then He stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. When
they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only He
remained, with the woman in the center. When Jesus stood up, He said to
her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, Lord,” she answered.

“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin
anymore.”

Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the Light of the world. Anyone who
follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life.”

Questions:
1. How did Jesus respond to the woman?
2. How did He respond to those who would condemn her?
3. What does the story say to us about how best to respond to victims of
exploitation?

47