I was once a prostitute (with follow up letter)

Question: I read your article, it was fantastic, and I wondered how you knew so much about the subject, but I bet you get email like that all the time!

I was once a prostitute, I have been delivered by Jesus and he was my husband. Then I met my husband Eric, who just happened to be involved in prison ministry… I told him, “we have so much in common, your in prison ministry, and I used to be a prisoner!”  Eric wanted nothing to do with me because of my past, but God had another plan!

I cannot believe the miracles God has done for me, he restored my relationship with my father who was an alcoholic and sexually abused me ever since I can remember, but God did not just restore the relationship, the man that I blamed for my drug addiction and all of life’s problems became a Christian and accepted Jesus as his Savior! My Dad, the one that I thought destroyed me, was praying me to the cross.

I wish you could hear my whole testimony, but that would be way too much typing…LOL Today I share my testimony with all types of groups, jails, teens, church congregations…but lately what has really been on my heart is the women out there in prostitution. I want to minister to them, but I’m not sure how to reach them.

God Bless,

Follow-up to the above queston:

Hi Gary,

Thank you for your response, praise God for the encouragement we both received! You can share anything about me that you wish…

I can’t wait to go back to the article and look at the questions from the other women you mentioned, I remember the first scripture I ever read, Jer 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I remember how I wanted so much for that to be true for me, but I was still deceived by the enemy and thought God could never accept someone like me.

I left rehab and continued on a path of destruction, but I kept wondering “what if” …  Could it be possible? Could God actually love someone like me? Could my life be different?  I really wanted to stop using, but I didn’t know how. It was only when I gave my life to Jesus Christ that I was able to walk away from that way of life or (way of death).

I have traveled down roads God never intended for me, but He is using that to reach others that have been brought down by drugs, abuse, neglect, the shame trap…the list goes on and on. Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

When I see these women, I see them as broken, beaten down by the world, and the sins of the world.  Society looks at them as just another waste of life, disposable. That is why I made the photo, I hope that others can see them in a different light, they are human beings, God loves them as much as he loves the person that may be judging them at the moment.

I remember, people looked at me in disgust and disdain, because they could not see the beauty in me, but God could. He put it there, He was my creator.

A sculptor begins with a giant slab of stone, and after he begins to chisel away at the outside, you can see a beautiful masterpiece coming through, like it had been there the whole time, and he is just removing  the extra stuff that is hindering his masterpiece.

Psalm 139:14 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

God Bless,

Answer: Thank you for your nice comments.  I am more than glad to have you put a link to our tract.  I was praying in the Spirit years ago and God had me praying for prostitutes, because He loves them today the same as when He walked this earth!  I would love to, not only hear your testimony, but put it onto our web site if you want.  In this way you could reach out to many others who are hurting.

I don’t know if you saw the other questions that we received from a prostitute, it is on the interactive Bible Study under the titles: immorality, sin, sex…

Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

So he said, “Teacher, say it.”

41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”

And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 7:36 – 50)

There are more than 100 people on our prayer letter list.  I believe this is the reason for people like you and others who are touched.  Please pray for us, as we will pray for you.  I would say the Lord will guide you into ministries as you seek His face.

My wife Marlene and I love hearing from people like yourself, becuase it encourages us in this ministry.  I hope it will be all right to share what you said with others.  Keep in touch!

Your brother and sister in Christ, Gary and Marlene Panell

P. S. I did look at your site, but want to go back to it when I have more time.

For more information email me.