Belgium – Breaking Chains Network
The Breaking Chains Network, a ministry to the women of the red light district in Antwerp, Belgium is reaching out in many creative ways. For example, on March 8th, the International Day of the Woman, AGWM personnel, April Foster and her team distributed 100 white roses to these women with a card in 12 languages that simply said, “You are valuable, and God loves you.” The majority of the women visited by the team have been trafficked here to Belgium or come from Eastern Europe. The response was overwhelming. April states, “We could easily have given away 100 more roses.”
Caitlin Reilly who was part of the team relates how she and another team member started down one side of the street and came up to the first window. “I handed the woman a white rose and told her that we were there to honor her today and wish her a Happy Women’s Day. She lit up and invited us inside the window. Another girl was there also and we talked with both of them. As we said goodbye and continued down the street, I was surprised by how many girls invited us behind the windows. It was a bit strange to realize that we were standing inside these red light windows, talking to scantily clothed girls as men walked by looking extremely confused.
“As we closed the door after giving two roses to another two young ladies, we heard them squealing as we walked away. Who knew that something so small, something so quickly fading, could bring such joy? Even many of the ones who seemed to have reservations about why we were there would smile when we handed them a rose. While it was wonderful to be able to bring these girls a little piece of joy, at the same time you could see the deep pain behind the smiles. I know that it only takes one moment to change a person’s life, and I pray that those small seeds of relationship and love that we planted would grow. We cannot do everything, but I know that God is faithful to honor what we do, and He can take something seemingly small and insignificant and use it in ways we couldn’t imagine.”
April continues, “We had a professional pastry chef donate his time to teach classes to the girls on baking. They made éclairs and apple tarts. This builds self confidence and teaches a skill. Next they will learn to bake bread and make little rolls, a favorite here in Europe.”
Breaking Chains Network is thanking God for the provision of an apartment on the edge of the district. It will be place for the women to come for meals, Bible studies, classes and just room for the women to come for refuge in a Christ-filled environment.
These efforts are bearing fruit for in recent months two of the girls have accepted Christ and left the district, trusting God to provide a new life that will sustain them, now and for eternity.