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When we were last in Canada we spoke of our dreams of being able to open a home for women where they could really find healing and transformation. A place where they would live for up to a year and receive healing, training, and discipleship.
As we all know, we need to walk before we can run.
We felt the nudge that there was a step in between where we were and where we hope to one day be. That step was a drop-in center.
Thus, Hope Center was born.
What is Hope Center?
A drop-in center for women currently working in prostitution, leaving or have recently left prostitution or at risk of entering prostitution. The vision was to create a place that felt like home, where women could come for refuge, prayer, relax for a while, have a snack or a meal, and receive services or job skill training. 
Currently, the services will be offering are:
Gynecology consultations
Prayer and Discipleship
Snacks, drinks, and showers
Psychologist (group or individual)
Connection to potential alternative sources of employment
Education and training
Prevention initiatives
Connection to existing community services
Ultimately, we hope that this will be a place where women can begin to believe in themselves and who Christ created them to be, be encouraged to take steps toward a better future, and be supported as they rebuild their lives.
 
On November 5th we opened our doors for the first time. Whenever we start something new, it is with trepidation not knowing if they will come, or understand why.
On our first day, I asked the women who came why they thought we had opened this house.
One of them responded with this:
‘Because you value us, you care about us, you are the only ones who don’t look like us like we are garbage. Everyone else looks at us like we are nothing, worth nothing….’
Our hope for these women is of course that they understand that God also loves them, values them, and sees them as so much more and that they will begin to see that value in themselves.
On that first day, we watched as they relaxed on the couches in a way we hadn’t seen before, opened up to us even more, and stayed longer than they would in the tent or on the street.
Beyond the tangible ‘help’ we hope to offer in this house, we want to connect these women with people who will encourage and lift them up. The culture of the people who surround them is one of discouragement. If someone tries to change their life the voices are chanting ‘you think you’re better than us? You’ll never change, you’ll never get out of here,’ and when they fall those voices are right there to say, ‘see, I told you!’
We want to fill their ears and their hearts with the words from people who want the best for them, who will believe in them when they can’t believe in themselves, people who will hold out a hand and help them to their feet when they fall on the way-because they will-but we believe they can get back up again.
Drastic life changes often take many attempts and a lot of time.
Something we hear from many of these women is ‘if it’s God’s will, I will leave the streets’. Of course, we all know the streets are not where God wants these women, his daughters. But we also understand that it often takes our own action to activate God’s plans.
In Exodus 14:15 the Israelites were pressed on all sides. Escaping their enslavement in Egypt they found themselves on the banks of the red sea, impossible to cross. Behind them, the Egyptian army was bearing down on them. Moses, their leader said,
‘The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.’
But this was a moment when God required something of His people. This was not a time to sit still. God’s response was this:
‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward!’
There are times in our lives when God requires us to go forward, face the impossible, and trust that he will part the waters, move the mountain. But, often that mountain doesn’t move and that water doesn’t part until we take the first step.
These women are not in a place they can do that alone. They need people to walk with them. We are already seeing the interest of people and professionals around the city who want to know more, want to help…and have wanted to for a while but didn’t know how or where to start and now they have a place to do it.
The street can be dangerous and it’s not for everyone.
Hope Center is the common ground where people who want to, can help those who need it most and a place where we can begin to see who is ready to take the leap.
We also understand that timing is everything, and we can’t want this more than they do. So, we support and love them and continue to be available for the moment they decide, enough is enough.
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