Day 3 - Friday

By Kyle Small -


Joe and Becky operate a creative retail business in Bangkok that sells to women in the United States. Joseph (not a real name) is a graduate of Wheaton college and he and his wife, Rebekah, have created a business in the city to help women leave the prostitution and escort industry. There are multiple levels of sex-entertainment, and Joe is engaging the escort and Bar-girl scene, which is a major trade for single mothers. Joe and Becky visit bars and solicit invitations for conversation with the bar-girls. Many of these women are involved in the trade because it pays a decent wage and provides for their children. Joe and Becky invite the women to leave the bars and join their retail business.

Women join Joe and Becky for recovery and creativity. The business creates fine jewelry and clothing that ultimately is exported to the US and sold via the methods of Pampered Chef or Tupperware parties. Joe believes the women are creating high-quality goods for social conscious purchasing. The social side of the business offers counseling following the women’s decisions to exit the bar industry. Additionally, the ministry offers free child-care and housing. Joe and Becky have created a storefront for the work to be conducted, and the hours are aligned to a mother’s schedule. This holistic ministry considers image marketing, exceptional goods, and personal dignity in its desire to rescue women from the dangerous and undignified work of the sex-industry. Ultimately, Joe and Becky want to sell enough jewelry and goods to create jobs for over 100 women at any one time. Their purpose is clear – restoration of women; their methods are also clear – job creation.

If you are interested in this ministry, you are invited to host a party. When We return we can provide you the contact information, as we do not have permission (currently) to post their names of websites online.

We also visited a Buddhist ministry and business committed to recycling and solitude. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Returning to the Mitten - Small Family Update

By -
Image
Running - What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger? I went for a run on Thursday morning at the end of April. I was in West Michigan for a consulting project and enjoying a later start to the day. I left my in-laws house to run a route I enjoyed many years ago. Lindsay's uncle has a home on my West Michigan running route, and I decided to stop to say hello while running. I simply wanted to offer a hug and enjoy some connection. It was a delightful pitstop. I said, "I miss you." He said, "I miss you, too. Come home." His demeanor was energizing and directness a bit unraveling. His words fell distinctly on my ears. I continued running and his words wouldn’t leave me. I kept running and wondering if/how I should tell Lindsay about the encounter. Siri called Lindsay while I continued running. I wasn't going too fast (I couldn't if I tried according to my son). I asked Lindsay, "What if I said when we leave for Bethany we will not be returning to South
Read more

Moving, Healing, and Times of Transition

By -
Image
               We have a spreadsheet for this season. The final column is for the dog. When I first made the spreadsheet, she wasn’t included. Then the plans were made to pack, travel, and move. Everything made sense until we asked about the dog’s whereabouts. I admit it is nice for the confusion to be about a dog. It’s been a  dogged  two years, yet our family is intact; our home is selling; the children are registered for schools; I get to keep my job; and Lindsay has an incredible opportunity on the horizon. But the real news is some we have been waiting for since February. Madeline had her MRI and CAT scan early in the morning last Thursday. A few hours later the results were available in MyChart. Lindsay called to read it to me. She hadn’t yet read it herself, so we were bracing to hear the words for the first time together. I was so anxious and even as positive words laced the opening lines, I was waiting for the “but.” The report communicated several things: 1. Decreased cervica
Read more

Returning to the ECC

By -
Image
Returning to ECC artwork by Julie Courtney Excelsior, MN We  were reflecting on Ida B. Wells and Sojourner Truth when the email came through acknowledging the activation of my ordination in the Evangelical Covenant Church. I was attending a conference centered on African American Religious autobiographies at the time. Somewhere between a discussion of Sojourner Truth’s words to Douglass, “Is God Dead?” and the autonomous power of Ida B. Wells defending Douglass’ white wife, I saw the email notification. Someone invited the rest of us to hear   Ida B Wells’ words, “Because white people forget Christianity and good breeding when dealing with those who belong to the darker races is no justification for this dark race to do the same. I cannot see it any other way than that the truly Christian, well-bred person is always so, no matter with whom they come in contact.” The decision to activate my Covenant ordination and suspend my ordination in the Reformed Church in American is not without
Read more