“I am so thankful to God and to you for everything that has happened this past year….now there is peace and stability in so many areas of my life.” -Angela
God takes what the world sees as ‘of no use’ or ‘worthless’ and transforms it. Every life has worth. Every person is loved. God’s love becomes tangible when we walk alongside people in their messy circumstances. God’s love becomes tangible for people through YOU and ME.
Angela was thrown out on the streets of her home city in Latin America as a young teenager. She was not accepted by her parents. This was the start of a vulnerable life of survival and prostitution. She worked on the streets of Europe and, through a marriage to a Dutch man, ended up in Amsterdam’s sex industry.
She walked into our office in January of 2020 with an eviction notice. She was so behind on her rent and so over her head in debts because she could hardly make any more money in prostitution. She was ready to quit sex work, but she did not know how.
We began helping her and were able to prevent her eviction. We were able to get her government assistance and make arrangements with her debtors. We were able to help her get the medical treatment she needed and stop working in prostitution. We found her work volunteering at an elderly home. Together, we fixed up her house, helped her begin language courses, and found a gym where she could work out. It has been such a pleasure to see her come to life and be at peace in her home.
What an honor it is to be a pastor and social worker for people who work in or have a background in prostitution. Would you continue to pray with us that God would transform Amsterdam’s Red Light District, one woman at a time? In 2020, we saw more women than ever before wanting to take steps to leave sex work behind and find a new future. In 2020, we also saw God give an increase in impact in other cities (besides Amsterdam), in not just window prostitution but also sex clubs and escort prostitution. The corona crisis in 2020 served as an opportunity for us to feed 50 women weekly and to bless 100 people with Christmas groceries. We also have seen more women who work in prostitution come to our church than ever before.
In 2021, we are looking forward to helping more people in the sex industry find a new way to make a living. We are partnering together with Scarlet Cord to discover more ways to help these people. To read more about what we are doing, you can go to www.scarletcord.work
Another amazing opportunity that we have seen develop is our Bible School, RUAH School of Prophecy, continue to grow literally across the world. On February 9, we had the first English language school with 50 students from across Europe and the USA. If you would like to learn more about our school and possibly become a student, you can visit www.ruahnetwork.com
We have been missionaries in Amsterdam now for more than fifteen years. We could not do this without people like you praying for us and financially supporting us. Thank you so very much.
Femke Baptizing a New Believer
Sincerely,
Matthew, Femke, Judah, Hannah, Levi, & Benjamin Helland
