Outreach in 2023
We continue to meet the first Saturday in the month at Newsong Church or our Outreach in Patpong. We have an average of 30 women including some Lady Boys joining each month. A typical outreach starts at 4pm with some games, which are always loud and competitive. We then have worship including some songs with actions. A message is shared either by a speaker or a video clip before we break into our small groups for discussion and questions. Because people from 4 churches are represented, we are able to have leaders for each group and gear the discussion to the level of each group in their faith journey. Having the same small group each month, means everyone is more comfortable to ask questions and share and we are seeing fruit.
Each Wednesday afternoon, Prai, Sarah and Cam visit one of the Beer Garden Bars. Most of these women are unable to come to our monthly outreaches, so it is good to meet them on Wednesdays. It is a privilege to hears their stories, hopes and dreams and often we are able to pray for them as we leave. Two women are about to open their own smoothie stall; their dream come true. we hope to go and pray with them before it opens.
Rahab Christmas Party
On the 3rd December we had 37 women come to our Christmas party. Mei came after a cobbler told her about Rahab. It's amazing how well Rahab is known, as none of us know a local cobbler, but they know Rahab.
Lek came back just for the Christmas party. It took a lot of effort on her part to come as she is now very frail and walked with difficulty using a stick. She lives quite a distance from Rahab. She worked for a long time on Soi 2, most recently in a bar garden. She has attended Rahab events for many years.
Pei shared her testimony. She is well known to many of our Rahab women from her years working on Patpong and so her testimony was powerful to both them and to women new to Patpong. A testimony from someone who has been there and knows the ins and outs of Patpong is more relatable and applicable to their lives. We continue to pray that others will be impacted by her testimony.
November Outreach
In November, for the first time we were able to break our women up into small groups with leaders to facilitate discussion after watching a video clip on the Prodigal Son. Each time, they will remain in the same groups which are geared to their differing levels of understanding of Jesus and who they are in Him. There was some good discussion and they felt more comfortable asking questions in a small group. We finished in prayer for each other.
August Outreach
In August around 25 women came to Rahab for worship, hearing the word of God and sharing their hearts. Praise God 5 women accepted Christ.
Everyone then took food boxes into the bars to show Rahab and God's love.
July Outreach
Praise God for a great outreach in July when 28 women joined us from Patpong.
We met at Newsong Church for some time of worship as they practiced for their evening service.
Everyone then went up to Rahab for fellowship and a testimony from Yu. Six women came to Rahab
for the first time. We pray they felt welcome and will join us again next month.
We all went downstairs to share the love on Patpong giving out food parcels.
We're ready for visitors!!
While Rahab was largely shut down due to Covid restrictions, a lot of damage occurred to the building. Our meeting room stunk as there was a whole wall of black mold from a water leak in the ceiling. There was also serious termite damage.
Our toilet area had water leakage damage and one side of the ceiling was falling in. Pon got drenched in "water" on one occasion.
Alex has repaired all these areas and they now look fresh and clean, and we are again proud to have visitors to Rahab. Please come visit us.
First Outreach of 2022
On the 25th of June Rahab joined with Newsong Church who meet on the third floor of our building for outreach into the Patpong community. Rahab has contacts with the women as many regularly came to Rahab for bible study prior to Covid. We met at Newsong for coffee and cake while the worship team practiced for their evening service. Sixteen people came who had been invited and more joined later downstairs. Some of them are new to us at Rahab.
Afterwards everyone went downstairs to give out food to people on Patpong street. The women had so much fun sharing with whoever walked, rode or drove down the street. They took food to their friends in the bars who were unable to join us. This outreach with Newsong was fairly low key as we
build on existing relationships and develop new ones. We plan on joining with Newsong once a month and continuing our own bible study times with food, fellowship and prayer.
Rahab Mural
In 2019, Yim painted a mural for Rahab.
It took her a month to complete the mural at Rahab. The first half of the mural reminds of Isaan where most of the bar girls come from, with a rural scene including a Thai style thatched house and sunny skies. Yim painted it as a refreshing oasis in the heat and business of Bangkok. The second scene was painted coming into the Christmas season and she was reminded of a white Christmas card.
Yim paints portraits, animals and landscapes in watercolor and her paintings have been exhibited and sold. She also teaches art to children privately in their homes.
Yim attends Jaisamarn Church and has been a strong supporter of Rahab. She often plays guitar for worship during bible study and at Rahab outreach parties.
Update March 2022
Alex and Sarah are excited to return to volunteer with Rahab Ministries after having been home in New Zealand for the last 8 years.
Patpong looks very different currently, there is no night market, but first thing in the morning as we come into work, there is a food market.
The bars have largely been closed for the last 2 years, but Prai and Sasitorn have stayed in touch with many of the women who came to Rahab bible study. Other women continue to work in the Rahab food shop or laundry. As Thailand starts to open up again with less restrictions, we envisage the laundry and food shop will get busy again.
A meeting that was meant to be.
Many of the Patpong bar girls struggled during the time Bangkok was in lockdown. About a week before lockdown, Prai met Pong who used to work at Rahab, and they exchanged phone numbers. She had not seen Pong since had left Rahab and returned to working in Patpong. During lockdown, Prai phoned her to see if she was OK and expected her to be back in her village as many of them left Patpong during lockdown. Pong was sleeping in a bar as she did not have enough money to get home or to pay rent. Rahab, along with New Song Church who now have a team working out of Patpong, were able to help her out. Pong was overwhelmed that they would help her, and still loved her despite her being a “naughty” girl and going back to the bars.
Once lockdown was over, Rahab was able to reopen and had a party and bible study for the bar girls they know. They were not expecting a lot of women as many would still be in their village, but 39 women came. Nine of them had never been to Rahab before. Pong was not there because she has now returned to her village to care for her mother and does not plan on returning to the bars. Rahab continues to build on relationships with women in Patpong bringing them God’s love through His Word and love in action.
Jer 29:11
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.
Rahab Bible Study
We introduced a special Bible study in February 2017 for women working in the bars. Our initial plan was to do it in a smaller setting (5-7 women) so that we are able to focus on each of the women and help them with their journey with Jesus. But since starting, they have been bringing all their friends along, and now we get 25-30 women every Bible Study. However, It has been very effective and helpful. God had better plans! Through this Bible study we have had 4 women who decided to leave the bars for good. We are so grateful and we praise God for that!
Rahab Catering
In 2016, Rahab catering service called Rahab Bakery was started. The vision was to make Rahab more financially sustainable. Please pray that this business helps us to be more sustainable.
City Bible Church Hamilton
City Bible Church in Hamilton, NZ have been faithful supporters of Rahab for some time. Recently they dedicated one whole wall of Café Agora to promote Rahab.
Find our more on
Facebook -Cafe Agora or Cafe Agora
Looking to read about the issue?
Congratulations to Patricia Green on her book 'Rose in the red light'. Roses in the Red Light is the story of Patricia Green and her work with women in prostitution.
As you read this book you will be intrigued, you be shocked, you will laugh, you will cry and you will be angry at the injustice and exploitation of vulnerable young women. You will be inspired and encouraged by the stories of many of the women who have been given hope and whose lives have been changed.
*This book is no longer in print*
