author
Since 2022, Doriana (Italy) has been part of the team that prayerfully supports OM's anti-trafficking ministry in Tuscany, Italy. The team meets regularly to pray and receive training.
At the end of 2024, she decided to propose that they also meet during the time the ministry team goes out on the streets.
"The prayer meeting is held online to bring together people from different cities," she explained. "We always begin the meeting with praise and thanksgiving to God, praying for a blessing on the outing, for the protection of the team, and for compassion for the people they will meet, as well as the heart and eyes of Jesus.
"We pray for the people on the streets to be open to receiving what God has for them and for the manifestation of God's power to liberate and heal.
"When possible, we receive prayer requests from the outing group in real time, allowing us to go to the Father more specifically for the people on the streets as they are approached," Doriana continued. "There is a very rapid turnover among women working in prostitution, and the opportunities to cultivate relationships are fewer than in the past. Even though many of the people we meet on the street won't have time to see how He enters their lives, we are certain that God Himself will care for the seed that has been planted.
"Only He has the complete vision of each person's life, but for us it is a privilege and a joy to be able to carry out that part of the work entrusted to us, even if we don't know how He will use it."
People are trafficked by acquaintances, relatives, trusted people, boyfriends, or supposed employers who deceive them with false promises of work or education.
Human trafficking is the third largest source of income for criminal organizations in Italy after drugs and the arms trade. The turnover is approximately €90 million per month.*
In Italy, it is estimated that between 70,000 and 120,000 people are victims of sex trafficking.** Around 65 per cent of them end up as street prostitutes.
The majority of trafficking victims in Italy come from Nigeria, Romania, Albania, Morocco, and Brazil.
OM works with other organisations to combat the injustice of sexual trafficking by offering assistance to victims on many levels. The street unit meets with victims regularly, building relationships and supporting individuals to help them start a new life, find work, and get psychological and spiritual support, as well as providing practical assistance.
The long-term dream is that in every city where prostitution exists, there will also be a ministry that works with victims. To achieve this goal, the team carries out awareness-raising activities in society and in churches about what is happening in Italy.
Learn more about the work of the Anti-Trafficking Team here. (In Italian)
* http://www.observtoriointerventitratta.it
**Associazione Giovanni 23imo
Share On Your Socials
In a world that teaches young people that they must earn everything — love, value and acceptance — the OM team in Italia wanted to show teens that the greatest gift, salvation in Christ, is totally free.
In Italy, two OMers are seeing the Lord at work in the older generation.
Jesus followers in Italy face the challenge of distinguishing the gospel message of salvation from the message of Catholicism, without becoming closed off from the world around them.
Everyday conversations provied opportunities for Christine to share her faith and build relationships.
A short-term ministry team from Germany supported the ministry efforts in Italy to share God's love with young and old alike.
OM in Italia recently invited TeenStreet participants for a TeenStreet Day: a 'mini-Teenstreet' with games, adoration, messages and much more!
“Just as others do, I also make my gifts available for the Kingdom of God. It’s interesting to see how God uses art to talk to people,” shared Jessica.
In collaboration with other Christian organisations, the OM team in Italia are helping believers reach out to their peers.
"I’m not sure what words to use to describe God’s presence. Are there words capable of expressing it? Or emotions that can fully convey what you feel? Is there a color capable of representing it?" wonders Jessica.
Arianna spent a week with the OM team in Poland sharing Christ's love with those impacted by war.
