There is a house across the street from me in Cape Town. I found it notable that the only people I saw going and coming from there were young ladies that had a certain and always similar (worldly and immodest) attractiveness. I never thought anything of it but then I also remembered seeing a van frequenting that house that was painted to advertise a 'gentlemen's club' that exists in town.

Today I put two and two together. I think this may be a house where the residents are dancers and 'entertainers'. I think the van may take them to and from 'work'.

I hope I am incorrect.

My heart goes out to these girls and the people who would have them do such work.

I mean to figure out if I am correct and now I will say a prayer against this activity every time I pass the house. But I think there are dangers involved in sticking my nose into such business.

Could I witness or otherwise seek to engage some of these folks in conversation if I see them entering or exiting this property? What might I need to keep in mind if I have such an opportunity?

EDIT: If any of the mods think it better that this be in a member's only forum, please do move it. I am unsure. But I also think it may be of some benefit to the greater internet audience.

__________________
Tim Lindsay
member, Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church, Halifax, NS, Canada
Living in Cape Town, South Africa
"under the Southern Cross, at the foot of Table Mountain, not far from the Cape of Good Hope"

Tim, we I'll be praying for you and for those young women involved.

__________________
We shall not adjust our Bible to the age; but before we have done with it, by God's grace, we shall adjust the age to the Bible. - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Lawrence Underwood, Jr.
Pastor - Providence Family Fellowship / Mobile, Alabama
1644/46 LBC
My Blog - Imprimis

Ouch! Be careful! I agree that there is danger in sticking your nose in that business. Danger for your spiritual and physical well-being!
Can you move?

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Shalom,
jessi
PCA
Steelers fan exiled to Virginia


“Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God.”
Martin Luther

Eh, knock on the door, bring them some lasagna, and invite them to church. Leave a box of Bibles and Reformed books on their doorstep. Think I'm kidding? I'm not. You'd be surprised....

__________________
JC - PCA - PA...homesick for SC
A we n' de Ya, ho; I mak sikker; Deus juvat

Indicabo tibi o homo quid sit bonum, et quid Dominus requirat a te: Utique facere iudicium, et diligere, misericordiam, et sollicitum ambulare cum Deo tuo. Michaeas 6:8

"Who says you can't go back, been all around the world and as a matter of fact. There's only one place left I want to go, who says you can't go home" Bon Jovi

Don't go near the house.

Send a woman to knock at their door with lasagna.

Keep your distance.

It's like the ring...... you see the problems it has caused, you know not to handle it, but as soon as you get close enough to it, you'll be strangely drawn to it and end up changing your name to Gollum.

__________________
K. Joel Gilliard, Husband of Danielle since 7/11/09 (I married up!)
Theologically Correct dot Com
http://www.theologicallycorrect.com
MEMBER: Wallace PCA in College Park, MD as of 10/18/09
The Blog: THINK! - Wrestlin' With Wordz -N- Ideaz
Now announcing: Life | Doctrine | Music - join the message board now! Site launch with streaming radio coming in 11/09!

Good advice. If the police have the same suspicions as you, you could find yourself under suspicion. I would echo Lady Flynt's advice of reaching out though. You never know what God will use to change someone's heart.

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Kathleen M
nondenominational
Montana

Thanks.

I don't think this is something where I need to move. But I am wondering about the dangers of engaging someone in conversation, asking questions, etc.

Knock on the door? This is South Africa! You can't see anyone's front door! You see a big gate and a tall fence and thick brambles and barbed wire and....

But I get the principle of what you are saying. Any ideas for my kind of neighborhood? In my area, you would pretty well have to see someone exiting the vehicle and entering their gate to be able to approach. Which does happen.

But really, I must not get ahead of myself. I need to know for sure what I am up against.

All answers to life can be found in the LoTR trilogy.

__________________
Andrew DeShazo
Husband of Kathryn
Father of Phillip-Giles B. DeShazo
Deacon
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Memphis, TN
"From out of the depth of unbroken Infinfity arose the Question, "Who am I?" And to that Question there is the answer, "I am God!" -Meher Baba, died 1969.

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Christ, died 33 AD, ressurected three days later.

Call the police! Sounds like illegal activity.

__________________
sarah
WI
OPC
My Pastor's Sermons: Mark Jenkins...he's awesome!!!

Tim,

Is this the only place you encounter these women?

Could you pray for and encourage folks in your church to do a door to door type outreach in your neighborhood specifically, where they invite people to come visit your church? (I just read your post on the houses in your area being gated..maybe there is another way to do the same)..

Not just going to this house specifically, but all the houses in your neighborhood, while also going to this house, leaving information about your church, the service times and soforth??

If suspensions are correct, and even if only one woman is saved out of such a lifestyle what a Glory to God that would be..

__________________
Bobbi Clark
Covenant Member
Pinewood Pres. (PCA) Middleburg

When I kept Silent, My bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. Psalm 32:3

Sorry, I didn't realise you meant Cape Town, South Africa. I'm pretty clueless on that one. The principle is the same though. Find a way to, even through another, reach out in a non-aggressive manner

Yes. I just see them coming and going from time to time.

Thanks for your comments, everyone. I am going to ask around - see what I can find out. I'll look a little more carefully as well. I'll also bring this up to my Bible study group. The church I attend is not in the area, but there are still things that can be done.

Yeah, just be careful!

I agree that God would be glorified by the repentance of these women.
I know that faith comes through the hearing of the word.
Yet, I still say be careful! You don't want to be seduced, arrested, or killed, any of which I could see happening if one gets involved in stopping a lucrative business.

Tim;


How many of your neighbors do you know, with everyone living in gated homes?
it sounds like a very lonely place..I could not fathom living in a place like that..

Would it be at all possible you could have a dinner at your home, inviting both members of your church and some of your neighbors??

Prostitution was decriminalized in SA about 10 years ago, so the police won't do anything unless it's a zoning violation, and they've got so much else on their plates that they won't do anything.

If you talk to their pimps, they will just say that those are nice, Reformed Christian girls. I can't imagine you will ever be able to tell them anything they've not already heard.

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Tim Vaughan
Member, Redeemer Presbyterian, OPC,
Santa Maria
California

Tim L., I don't know and maybe others don't either...Why are you in SA? I know you are in school, but what brought you there for school?
I'd just PM you, but I bet others are curious! Are you originally a Canadian? You look American

__________________
Martin - Reformed
Husband to the most godly, honorable and loyal wife Line
Searching for a Church
Webpage www.5solas.dk
Free Online Reformed Seminary - http://www.tnars.net
Soli Deo Gloria

Tim,

If what I've heard from those who are in South Africa is correct, that house is probably not the only house in your neighborhood that houses prostitutes. However, you shouldn't be only thinking about those who are in that type of "work." Probably a good percentage of houses in your area are homes to unbelievers. Don't just single out those who engage in indecent activity. Pray for the conversion of all peoples. Think about how you can be a witness to all unbelievers in your neighborhood.

__________________
Steven J. Carr (Sven)
http://beholdingthebeauty.blogspot.com/
Eagan, MN
PCA
"Weak is the effort of my heart / And cold my warmest thought / But when I see thee as thou art / I'll praise thee as I ought."--John Newton
Trophy Wife/Arm Candy: Crystal Ann Children: Steven Jr. and Hannah Grace

he beholds;

Okay, I'm curious, just what does an "American" look like???

Just like Tim!

I like Bobbi's idea about inviting them over to your home along with others. I think the best way to minister to people like that is with hospitality, not beating them over the head with rebuke and call for repentance.

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Daniel
PCA
Memphis, TN

That's what I want to know

Hi Tim,

I actually did some short term mission work in South Africa this past summer (in Jo'burg) and I'm pretty familiar with those type of homes with gates and barbed wire and immoral things going on in various homes. I will certainly be praying for you in this situation...that God would give you wisdom and opportunities (if it is His will) and I'll be praying for your safety as well!

Personally, I wouldn't approach the house....I witnessed a lot of severe persecution and hatred for the believers in Jo'burg. But, I would probably leave some Bibles near the entrance of house/gate and any church info. to your local church. If you happened to talk to any of the ladies or anyone else outside of the home.....I would do it with another believer and not by yourself...and I'd probably invite them over.....show them some hospitality......and try to share the gospel with them and invite them to your church. But I wouldn't do it in the streets...and I wouldn't approach the house. If you do bring it up to your Bible study, or Church...perhaps they can do some sort of outreach in your neighborhood.

As a word of encouragement....I found people in SA to be more willing to listen to the gospel than people in the states....we talked to many people in Jo'burg that were high on drugs or drunk, and prostitutes when we met them....and the Lord was pleased to bring some of them to repentance! It may certainly be that the Lord has you there for a reason! I often thought of Isaiah 55 when I was there!

__________________
Yvonne
Reformed Presbyterian
Currently seeking a Church

"A man's most glorious actions will at last be found to be but glorious sins, if he hath made himself, and not the glory of God, the end of those actions." -T. Brooks

I am a Canadian (born and bred) living in South Africa while I earn my doctorate at the University of Cape Town (sport science). The church mentioned in my signature (CRPC) is the Reformed Presbyterian church in my home town in Canada. That is where my parents and two of my brothers still live. Those two brothers are members at that church, which gives me great joy. After I graduate, I intend to look for a faculty position at an American university.

Interestingly, I do think Canadians generally look different than Americans. I have noticed this.

-----Added 3/24/2009 at 04:23:16 EST-----

Thanks for the reminder to consider all peoples. Unbelievers are unbelievers - I agree.

Thanks for your comments and encouragement, and for telling us of your experiences in Johannesburg.

I would not invite them over to your house only because of the circumstances. I would think that it would be wiser to invite them to your church under the safety net of other believers.

Tim,

In thinking of an invitation to your home, even then there needs to be some type of caution and care..in that IF they are in such a business, you would not want a neighborhood get together type event to be mistaken for a few hours of 'work' for them.

They could be slaves too. Just one more thing to be cautious about.

__________________
Patrick
MDiv, RTS Jackson
Pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church (OPC), Lisbon, NY

"He does well, that discourses of Christ; but he does infinitely better, that by experimental knowledge, feeds and lives on Christ." Thomas Brooks.
"Let us not please ourselves that we have deep understandings, but let us shew our understandings by our practice." Richard Sibbes

You are more likely to get a positive response to an invitation to your home, I would think. And you don't have to invite them only; invite other neighbors and/or friends from church.

If we are going to err on one side, I'd rather err on the side of hospitality. People may look at you with raised eyebrows for opening your home to such people, but there are worse things than raising eyebrows.