“I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Taking Hope to the Street!

Last week, I spent a few days in Athens, Greece, to “spy out the land” and see firsthand what God is doing among ministries reaching women trapped in trafficking. I visited two amazing organizations—one that provides a safe home for survivors, and another that focuses on street outreach, meeting women right where they are.

I was deeply moved by the national and international missionaries I met—people who have chosen to give their lives to serve these beautiful women who’ve been exploited in the sex industry. Their courage and compassion shone brightly in a place where darkness tries to reign.

One night, I joined the team as they went out into the streets. It was heartbreaking to see what we saw—streets lined with drug addicts openly using, others barely standing, and in between them, women, girls, and even transgenders waiting outside “hotels” for their next client. Among every few women, there were several Romanians—young and far from home.

We brought small gifts, smiles, and prayers. Many of the women knew the outreach team already and welcomed us warmly. Some shared bits of their stories—how they ended up there because of money, deception, or the influence of friends or family. Their words were brief, but the pain and shame in their eyes spoke louder than anything they said.

That night, as we prayed for them, I felt such a strong sense that now is the time.

The time to begin mobilizing the Bring Them Home Project—to build relationships of trust and love with these women, and to partner with ministries both in and outside of Romania who are already on the front lines.

We want to bring hope where there’s despair, light where there’s darkness, and remind these women that they are seen, valued, and loved by God.

Together, we can make a difference—one step at a time.

As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”‭‭
Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV

Blessing Ukraine 

Last month, we had the privilege of partnering with Reaching Out Romania, a ministry that has been rescuing trafficked victims for over 26 years. Led by the groundbreaking woman of God, Iana Matei, this ministry has been bringing hope and freedom to Romanian girls as young as 10.

In September, Iana traveled to Chellia, Ukraine, to deliver toys and games to three homes caring for mothers and children affected by the conflict. While there, she also evaluated some of the children for psychological trauma and trained the staff on how to assess and support them.

The children spend their days playing outside, but when night falls, they take shelter underground to stay safe from nightly bombings and sirens. Stepping Stone Missions was honored to help provide toys and games for one of these homes, offering a little joy and normalcy amidst unimaginable hardship.

Please continue to pray for Ukraine. Each night, the simple prayer of the children echoes:

“God, please stop the bombing.”

Together, through prayer, support, and small acts of kindness, we can bring hope and comfort to those living in the shadow of war.

Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
Revelation 19:9