How do you share about a perfect heavenly father when they’ve been abused by their fathers? How do you convey unconditional love when all they’ve seen are broken relationships?
For women in the sex industry, there is a gap between God’s truth and their reality. That gap– the obstacles keeping them from Christ– might be their upbringing or their way of thinking. The gap could be there because of their lack in basic needs (steady income, shelter, healthy relationships) or the rejection they constantly carry. Christ came to get in the middle of that gap. Partnering with Him, we are called to do the same.
To reach women in the sex industry with the Gospel you must get to know them. In order to build a bridge that connects them to Christ you have to understand their world view and meet them where they are. Jesus demonstrated this perfectly!
We must start with the foundation of this bridge in order to build it up. The foundation is our common ground. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by HIS grace as a gift, through the redemption that is Jesus Christ” Romans 3:23-24. For some reason–and we can probably guess it– women working in the sex industry do not feel like they belong in a church. Most people caught in sin feel that they must clean themselves up before coming to Christ. To reach a woman whose work has been hidden in the darkness of night, preach the truth that none of us are good enough to earn God’s love. We never have been and never will be. Confess your own need for Jesus to her. Lovingly expose the sinful nature in the both of you as the reason you need Jesus! You both want better romantic relationships or to be better mothers. You both struggle with fear or discouragement.
If you are reaching out to women in the sex industry, you are already on the right track to bridging the gap. Many women in the industry will work hard to keep distance between themselves and the Church. Many churches will even stay as far as they can from women working in this industry. When you bring the Light to these women, that distance diminishes.
Jesus is the Ultimate Bridge who reconciled man to God. We cannot emphasize enough to the women we serve that Jesus is the answer. He is why we do what we do and He is the only Hope. To continue building the bridge for these women, build up her faith by establishing the attributes and truths of Christ that she can lean on.
A bridge should be a reliable structure. She must begin to believe that she can put her trust in Jesus who is constant and trustworthy. You can help demonstrate this by also being a consistent example to her. As the Holy Spirit works in her and she begins to believe the Gospel, help her to take a step of faith. You have helped to build a bridge for her. Encourage and challenge her to cross it with you. Offer your time to come alongside her in learning to follow Jesus. The perfect way has already been paved for us. Invite her into your life. Demonstrate, in the flesh, what it looks like to have a relationship with Jesus and to walk with Him in this life.
