Belgium – Breaking Chains
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Breaking Chains Network (BCN) is a ministry of AGWM personnel, April Foster, to the women who are victims of human trafficking. She and her team go into the “red light” districts, contacting the women and sharing the love and freedom that Christ can bring to them. One of the difficulties they always face is the distractions from the “clients”. During a recent visit, there was an unusual amount of distractions and the ministry team had a hard time connecting with the girls. The next week when they went, they prayed that God would block off the distractions. God answered this prayer as it turned out to be the best time of witnessing. Two of the girls invited them into the back room to ask questions and pray. Some girls even turned clients away so they could continue talking with the ministry team.
One of the Bulgarian girls the team had met the first time they went into the district has been very open to talking but she has made it very clear she did not want anything to do with God. Because of pain in her life and the death of a close relative, she had hardened her heart toward God. The ministry team however continued to share scriptures and show God’s love to her. At the next visit, this girl threw open her window and pulled the ladies in, saying “Guess what? I thought about all you said after you left last time and that night I prayed and told God I was sorry and wanted to open my heart to him.” God’s love broke through the hardness and brought change.
The Breaking Chains Network teaches the girls who have come out of the district, skills so they can support themselves without being in the position to be trafficked again. A professional cake decorator came to teach a class. This has the potential to become a micro business that could support the girls on a regular basis. They girls are also making jewelry that is being sold to support the work.
Foster reports that they are now looking to sign a lease on an apartment near the red light district to use as a ministry center for the ladies who are contacted. Several of them have been given devotional and discipleship materials and have prayed and counseled with the BCN team members. As they are limited in what can be done in the environment and location of the district itself, the team is looking forward to opening this ’sanctuary’, a safe haven, where Christ can be shared, and practical and educational skills such as English classes, jewelry making, and computer skills can be offered.
Foster also envisions being able to invite the girls for ethnic food from their home countries and has already made contact with Christians from various countries and ethnic groups who have said they will volunteer their time to come meet, pray and counsel with these women. God can bring about great changes in their lives.