Lauran serves as a consultant with grassroots organizations, encouraging the development of new projects dealing with the issues of prostitution, trafficking in persons and other forms of abuse and exploitation.  While based in The Netherlands, she travels extensively throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas, teaching, training and consulting.

She writes: I wish you’d all been there:  people from more than 40 countries, all committed to Christ’s call to ministry in the darkest places in this world, worshiping and praising God in many languages and forms, learning from each other, sharing joy—and sadness, victory—and frustration.  It was the International Christian Alliance on Prostitution (ICAP)/Global Conference! This was our 4th conference at the Green Lake Conference Center and I think it was THE BEST!  Our theme was “JOY” and if you’d come to the conference center during the week, you would have seen and felt it!

When you think about prostitution and human trafficking, and you imagine people who have been victims and who have been in ministry with victims, I doubt that the word “joy” would come to your mind.  But that’s what separates those of us who are following Christ’s Call to service from all who are following other voices:  we know that even in the most dark and violent situations, there can be restoration and healing.  And Christ’s Joy will come!

The ICAP/Global Conference was the dream of many “practitioners”—those who walk the streets and into the brothels of this world, and meet people in prostitution with the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.  They wanted a place to BE together, to worship and share and learn.  God called me to direct the conference, starting with the first one in 2004.  And what a Joy it’s been!

One outcome of the conferences is the formation of the organization ICAP—“International Christian Alliance on Prostitution”.  Our mission:  “ICAP seeks to unite, equip and empower practitioners who compassionately challenge injustice and offer freedom to those being sexually exploited through prostitution including human trafficking.” 

The Leadership Team consists of representatives from every region of the world—all practitioners, most local founders of important projects which are meeting people in prostitution with the Hope of Jesus.  A major highlight for me at the conference was the work that the Leadership Team did in seeking God’s heart for a creative future.  We spent time in preparation for that future and with much prayer.  During the process, the team invited me to be their Coordinator, and I enthusiastically accepted.  The development of the organization has been a long, circuitous journey for all of us and we were all thankful to know God’s Spirit of Unity that we had longed for!

·        Pray for Lauran and the many women who are seeking to free victims of human trafficking all over the world.