Scarlet Hope—Southeast's Mission Partner

By Aaron Scott

Right down the street from where I live, dozens of ladies are trapped in the adult entertainment industry. I have always thought that sex trafficking was something that happened in a distant land or in some other city, and that Liam Neeson is using his skills to stop sex trafficking out there. But exploitation and trafficking are destroying lives right here in Kentuckiana. Nearly all of us drive by the problem every day, either in ignorance or apathy. In this way, we might have more in common than we care to admit with the priest and the Levite in Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan. But Christ commands us to do more than walk on by.

For this reason, Scarlet Hope strives together with church partners like Southeast to reach women in the adult entertainment industry with the hope and the love of Jesus.

For 10 years now, Scarlet Hope has been serving exploited and trafficked women through club and street outreach, disciple-making programs, and alternative employment opportunities. As one of the newest members of the Scarlet Hope team, I am only beginning to understand the various ways God is using this ministry to reach people for the cause of Christ. Although the primary ministry of Scarlet Hope is to the ladies in the adult industry, I’m realizing that one of our greatest needs is for more men to get involved.

Street outreach on Thursday afternoons is one of the best ways for a man to join the mission of Scarlet Hope. I find that as I ride along in our bus and pray for the ladies we meet on the streets, the Lord begins to remove the shiny façade of glitz and glamour that the enemy has placed on the adult entertainment industry. I look into the eyes of women who have had their dignity and honor stripped from them, and I will never forget the utter hopelessness I see. Actually, it isn’t justhopelessness. It’s worse. It is a hopelessness that is chained to turmoil, addiction, hurt, and despair.

But the Gospel changes things because Jesus changes things. Jesus is in the business of remaking broken people. He came to restore, redeem, reconcile, and give His life as a ransom for everyone who is enslaved by sin. Jesus gives hope and freedom by taking the shame and punishment we all deserve, bearing it in our place on the cross. He restores dignity and honor to the ladies on the screen, on the stage, and on the streets, and He remakes them into the princesses of the Kingdom they were made to be. In return, all Christ asks of us is our trust.

Jesus invites us to trust Him with our past as He transforms us in the present and prepares glorious things for our future. And as people who have been set free from sin, we have been entrusted by our Savior to bring this same message of freedom into the darkest places of our world.

So, how can you join us in reaching the ladies in our region with the hope and love of Christ?
Partner. Volunteering is not exclusive to women. I encourage every man, especially pastors and church leaders, to join us on street outreach on Thursday afternoons, or to help prepare meals that are carried into the clubs at night.

Pray. This is the most important work that you can do to help! Would you commit to fall on your knees for 10 minutes each day and ask God to set women free through Scarlet Hope?

Proclaim. Will you tell your friends, business partners, and family members about us? We are always praying for new partnerships and volunteers.

Provide. All of us have been entrusted with financial resources to use for the cause of Christ. It costs $35,000 each year to support one of these special ladies through our Career Development Program, and we currently have 11 women in the program. Because we are one of Southeast’s Mission Partners, part of your giving to the church directly supports Scarlet Hope’s ministry.

In what way would God have you help?

If you would like to learn more about our ministry and how you can get involved, contact me at aaron@scarlethope.org or check out Scarlet Hope’s website at scarlethope.org.

This article is from the August 2018 issue of next magazine.