First of all, we have had several new women coming to us for help. This is GREAT and AWESOME news! May I share some of them with you? Be ready, because some of the stories are graphic.

(names have been changed to protect the women)

A few weeks ago, a 24 year old woman named Freedom contacted us through another girl that we helped get of the sex industry last year. Stacey called me and asked me to come and pray for her friend. When I got to the apartment, I was in for a SHOCK! (to say the least). This poor girl was beaten and bruised from head to toe and her hair was caked with blood. In fact, she could not even see out of her left eye from the HUGE black eye that her pimp gave her. Her pimp and "wife in laws" (women that were also with the pimp) held her down by force and beat her severely with his shoes and the girl's pumps. All the while, as tragic as it sounds, her little two year old daughter Joolie witnessed the entire beating. Arrrghh!!!

After I got over my initial shock at her appearance, I sat down and embraced her as she began pouring her heart out to me. I listened intently to her heart wrenching story. When she told me that she had been a prostitute for 11 years (starting when she was 13), my mind began flashing back to the eleven years that I had been a prostitute. Vivid memories and emotions of several of my own beatings at the hand of my pimp came rushing back. I can still recall the overwhelming shame, embarrassment, defeat and guilt that I felt. I know this may sound strange to some people, but because I was a prostitute, I honestly felt that I deserved the beatings that I got. The devil has a way of lying, doesn't he???

As I attempted to gather composure, the love of Christ and the compassion in my heart for Freedom rose up inside of me. As we shared tears of sadness and sorrow with each other, I told her that I loved her--and that I truly understood her pain. I then asked her if she knew that Jesus loved her even more. As she started to weep, I began praying over her and sharing the word of God with her. That God loves her! I asked her if she wanted to just give it all to Jesus. All the hurt and pain and broken promises. As I prayed for her and with her, she invited Jesus into her heart. This was SO BEAUTIFUL! I felt the Holy Spirit come in the room. I sensed a calming and a sincere spirit of peace come upon Freedom. And even as I share this with you now, the tears are flowing freely.

After the police arrived at Stacey's house, they spent some time talking with Freedom. The police decided to file a report. Freedom decided that she doesn't want this guy hurting any more girls. After what she went through, she came to the conclusion that she would be doing a public service to do whatever she could to put him behind bars.

When I took Freedom to the hospital the next day, the doctors not only found two broken ribs, but they also found that her clavicle bone was fractured from her pimp stomping on her repeatedly as he was beating her. Freedom was in a lot of pain, so the doctors prescribed her some powerful meds. However, due to the narcotic content, she threw them away and just decided to only take some Motrin. (good girl--she wanted to avoid addiction!)

Within a couple of days, Freedom met with Las Vegas Vice to set up her pimp. It was a nerve wracking night for all of us, but her pimp was quickly apprehended and went to jail--thank God! He is now facing heavy charges for assault, and pimping and pandering. After hearing what Freedom had gone through, the judge took this case very seriously and set the highest bail EVER for the charges! Ideally her pimp should have been sitting in jail a LONG time, but his current girls pulled together to get him out--the same girls that beat Freedom. This case will be pending with the courts over the next few months--and Freedom will be testifying.

During that first week, Freedom came with me to my church and publicly reaffirmed her new faith in the Lord. Our pastor Benny prayed for her...and the love of God manifested so deeply, she could not stop crying. She has QUIT working and has been coming to church three times a week. I am witnessing a TRUE change in her spirit and countenance. I believe that this girl has finally found true peace and happiness! And I truly believe that GOD is healing her heart!

Please, please pray for the safety of Freedom and her daughter during this time. They are currently in hiding with some friends and her pimp does not know where they are. Although she is surrounded by love, the location where they are is not ideally a very secure place. We know that this guy is capable of great harm, so we are asking you to please agree to pray with us for protection and continued peace.

During this time of transition, it is very hard on the women emotionally as well as financially. We are hoping to find Freedom and her daughter a new place to stay, as well as help her find a job to help her get back on her feet. Please pray with us for direction and finances!

We are trying to help the single mother, Stacey, that graciously opened her small apartment as a place of refuge for Freedom and her daughter. Over the past few months, she has been struggling just to keep the rent and utilities paid. And still, she welcomed Freedom with open arms--because she knows what Jesus has done for her! And get this--both of them used to share the same pimp and were at one time “wife in laws!”

This young mother that opened her home to Freedom, successfully quit the sex industry herself, over a year and a half ago. She is currently working, but unfortunately, the job only pays $8/hour. She also has a young child and is doing her best to provide for her. Please, if you are so inclined, if you know anyone in the Las Vegas valley that is hiring for a job, please contact us so that we may assist these girls the best that we can!

One of our programs includes reaching out to teens through the Clark County Family Court and Juvenile Justice Services. We also receive referrals to assist prostitutes from the probation officers in Las Vegas. We are currently working with seven girls. And they have ALL given their lives to Jesus and have been coming to church every week!

One girl in particular, Krystal, is in need of prayer. She has been a prostitute since she was 14 years old. She was also pimped for over four years on the track. The evidence is in her feet. She actually has deep scars from the pumps that her pimp forced her to wear. Sixteen hours a day, everyday of the week!

As she shared her story of pain, I cried and prayed with her and told her that God had a HUGE plan for her life!!! And He does! I have taken her to the nail salon to get her a pedicure, and she was so thankful, and with tears in her eyes she told me that NO ONE had ever done this for her before!!! I know that God will use her pain and life story to touch the hearts of so many other young girls. I KNOW that through the power of God, she is going to be a world changer!

We know that the economy is in an upside down state, right now. However, we continue to believe that people will see the needs of these young women and will continue to reach out to them in tangible ways. Honestly, lack of money is primary reason that these young women enter prostitution. And once they leave prostitution, lack of transitional funding and guaranteed protection remains an issue that hold these young women back from pursuing their full potential.

Ongoing financial support is needed for these girls, on various levels. They are all trying to get summer jobs and wear "new modest clothes" for their interviews. With the rising cost of fuel, we spend over $300 a month in gas money helping them look for jobs and picking the all up for church services. They are also in need of general girlie things, essentials, and the dreaded feminine hygiene items, not to mention diapers, baby food... and adult food too! Target cards or Wal-Mart cards could partially help fill this need. We would also love to be able to purchase iPods, and Christian music and teachings, so that they can be filled up with the truth! Hey--if they are going to listen to something, they might as well listen to JESUS on their iPods, instead of the latest hoochie rap! Amen??? With years of negative programming, I believe that this will play a huge part to "deprogram" their minds!

God is moving in Las Vegas! We are experiencing tremendous growth and revival! Revive means to "bring something back to life." And God is DOING IT God is touching the hearts of the women, and bringing them back to life! Lives are literally changing right before our eyes! We cannot be more thankful for what He is doing, and we give Him all the honor and praise for moving in the midst of all these women's troubles. It's NOTHING that we have done and all because of HIM! He is healing hearts and restoring minds!

I want to thank you all for your interest in Hookers for Jesus and greatly appreciate your heart to share our passion and read this monthly update. More than anything, we appreciate your prayers and support of the ministry. Your continued support MEANS SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE! If you feel led to join with us in ministry through donating, you can feel confident that your offering is helping to change lives! If you have donated in the past, please accept our continued appreciation for your generosity and prayers. With each donation, these young girls are getting a second chance. Will you be that "chance" by offering your love in the form of a donation?

When we decide to sow seeds into a Christian ministry to help these women, we believe that we are tapping in and touching the very heart of God. It says in the scriptures that Jesus ministered to the prostitutes, yet most of us in churches today have no way of "reaching" them. And most girls that are in the industry "shy away" from churches. So how can we truly reach them? With outstretched arms, support, counseling, and understanding... the very compassion of Jesus. With REAL LOVE. Guess what??? We are doing it in the desert!

Is the desert thirsty for something DIFFERENT? YES! What can we give them? The living water of Jesus... and as we do, LIVES being made WHOLE.

Be a part of the revolution that is taking place right here in Las Vegas!

*****FLASH UPDATE ON KRYSTAL!!! Last night, her old pimp saw her, grabbed her, kidnapped her tried to rape her. We truly believe that God was with her, because not only did he not succeed, but she also put up a GREAT fight to stop him in his tracks! (This is really sad, because believe it or not, her own BEST friend told this pimp where she was! Arrrggghh!!!) Unfortunately, her fight caused her many bruises and a broken wrist. She is currently at the hospital, recovering from surgery. I went down this morning and prayed with her, and will be going to court with her tomorrow for a probation check up with the judge. She has expressed that she DOES NOT want to go back to the neighborhood where she is accustomed to living, so PLEASE PRAY that we can find her a new place to stay... and also for her to acquire new friends -- and new clothing -- because the pimp took EVERYTHING she had to her name!

Please help us save these girls! We know with just US, it is not possible, but if others are involved, MORE can be saved! THANK YOU!!

With love,

Annie Lobért, Executive Director
Cindy Nelson, Director of Development