My name is Paul and my wife has always had a desire to bring out people’s inner beauty. Whether it’s complimenting strangers or speaking light into women shamed by darkness, Allisan wants people to realize how God sees them. As a hair stylist, Allisan brings this desire to life through her expertise, making women feel beautiful and speaking truth into their lives. God recently presented an opportunity that will allow us to use this desire and work with women caught in the sex industry in Phuket, Thailand. These women desperately need to know how much they are loved by our heavenly Father and realize how God sees them.
Phuket is home to both beautiful Thai beaches and one of the most notorious red light districts in the world. This exemplifies the stark contrast between what God intended for His creation and the pervasive, corrupting nature of sin – particularly in the sex industry.
- Current studies estimate there are 150,000 – 200,000 sex trade workers in Thailand. 30%+ are estimated to be children.
- Prostitution has been illegal in Thailand since 1960.
- The prostitution industry in Thailand earns approx $6.4 Billion a year in revenue.
- Thailand spends approx $200,000 on prevention measures.
- Phuket is 0.74% Christian
In a land like Thailand, where the international community has set out to fight against slavery and injustice, Phuket stands relatively alone. As of today, there is only one other non-profit organization specializing with at-risk children. We are praying that our approach to Ministry, with God’s help, will transform Phuket. We are praying for transformation.
The goal of this mission is to end slavery and proclaim the Gospel – the only way to truly “set the captives free” from any type of shame or sin. Scripture motivates us with instructions to “proclaim good news to the poor…bind up the broken hearted… and to proclaim freedom for the captives (Isaiah 61:2). A large part of how we will implement this is through a hair ministry. It’s our prayer that a recovery and reintegration program revolving around setting up a training salon to provide alternative work and therapy for women getting out of the sex industry will help us fulfil Isaiah 61:2.. Undoubtedly, Allisan will draw from our past experience of teaching hair to women in Cambodia to help start this mission.
Our story began with a yearning to serve and obey God’s call in our lives. Since then, we have learned that no good work is done apart from God and that He intended us to work together for His purposes (1 Cor. 3:7-9). We are constantly trusting in God to guide us and provide the necessary provisions to do His work. Thus, Allisan and I invite you to come alongside us in being a part of what God is doing in Phuket. We ask you to echo Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians for us:
“We constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).