Prostitutes, Rick Warren and a Judge

[Greg Farra]

This is a great story. I'm proud to have this guy as a judge in my county.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/thi...n=2012&start=1

[Dwayne Petry]

This is a great story. I'm proud to have this guy as a judge in my county.

AAAAAMEN!!

[Marian Schwaller Carney]

Greg, thanks for sharing this article. I went on and listened to a linked video, as well, about trafficking in Portland OR. This all got me thinking as I head to a leadership meeting in the morning. So much work for the church to do, even in small towns.

[Diane Likens]

Now THAT'S what a true Christian looks like to me.

[David Graham]

Wow, a magistrate who really cares..... fantastic!

[Greg Farra]

Now I can say there's one elected official in the county I like!!!!

[Dennis M. Scott]

Somewhere there's a church whose influence has contributed to making a difference in a believer with influence for good. Likely we'll never know the extent of how far reaching it is. That's the way it works.

[Roy Richardson]

This is a great story. I'm proud to have this guy as a judge in my county.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/thi...n=2012&start=1

I have to admit that the headline made me think it was the beginning of a bad joke. But that is a great example of someone's faith animating their life, which is one measure of discipleship. To God be the Glory.

[Wes Smith]

Greg,

Fantastic link. Forwarded it to one of my cousins who is a judge in MN. Thank you!

Was just thinking about this being a GREAT example of "social justice" and I don't think the term appeared in the article. Two words really stood out that "could" be substitutes: purpose and community.

I loved the name of the organization the judge developed to help these ladies: "CATCH...Changing Attitudes To Change Habits."

A great example of investing in a ministry that will actually help people instead of just giving them money or a book or a pamphlet.

Community, "...they all have each others phone numbers, make meals for each other and make hospital visits." Paying back and paying forward!

Super stuff.

Friend,

Wes

[Jim Franklin]

Would that we all could make some kind of impact on others to make a Difference in the lives around us.

[Paul DeBaufer]

Forwarded the link to a woman I met through FaceBook several years ago who was a victim of sex trafficking, Annie. I learned of her watching an episode of Las Vegas Jailhouse. Annie operates a ministry, Hookers for Jesus, that gets women out of prostitution out of the hands of sex traffickers. It is about time the criminal justice system sees the reality involved in prostitution. I hope and pray that this judges idea sweeps the nation and that more Christian organizations get involved (I know how hard that can be).

[Greg Farra]

I have to admit that the headline made me think it was the beginning of a bad joke. But that is a great example of someone's faith animating their life, which is one measure of discipleship. To God be the Glory.

I thought it may grab some attention. Substitute Warren's name for another certain televangelist's and it would have been a completely different story!!!

I would say that if they arrested as many johns as prostitutes, you may see less of it going on. But in any case, I hope we stop looking at these women (and some men and children) as worthless whores and see them as people created by God who need some grace.

[Paul DeBaufer]

I thought it may grab some attention. Substitute Warren's name for another certain televangelist's and it would have been a completely different story!!!

I would say that if they arrested as many johns as prostitutes, you may see less of it going on. But in any case, I hope we stop looking at these women (and some men and children) as worthless whores and see them as people created by God who need some grace.

I think we need to recognize prostitution as slavery as the article rightly pointed out. Then we need to deal with those who enslave. The actual prostitution is a symptom of a greater evil. We need to address the causes, the slave traders, the pimps. It is not just women either.

[Diane Likens]

... in any case, I hope we stop looking at these women (and some men and children) as worthless whores and see them as people created by God who need some grace.

One of the greatest examples of Divine Grace I've ever seen in my life is a good friend of mine. A former prostitute and recovering heroin addict, she wears many scars -- some can be seen and some can't. I met her at a women's development group where she was one of the facilitators. I originally guessed her to be about 50 or 55 (she was 45 at the time). From her life story, I learned that she was 13 years old the first time someone called her a "worthless whore". It was her mother. By age 15, she started doing everything she could to prove her mother right.

At age 30 she was stabbed in a jail cell, which by that point was where she lived more often than not. At the hospital, a young pastor smiled at her and said something like, "You are such a priceless and precious created child of the living, loving God". That made all the difference in the world. She rehabbed (by choice) after that and had been clean for almost 15 years by the time I met her.

She taught me that part of my job as a Christian is to "infect" people with the joy that can be found in knowing what that pastor said of her is also true of them. And so I continue to try to spread that infection. I trust and pray that these words will make a difference in someone's life.