BONUS Episode 95 – This week, we celebrate our upcoming 100th episode by highlighting ministries that serve the world in the Name of Christ in various ways. We will release one episode EVERY DAY this week.

Today, Stephanie welcomes Christy and Vinita to talk about the rescue work of NaiAsha, a safe house for survivors of human trafficking and sex abuse in India. Vinita is Indian, and the director for NaiAsha. Christy is American, and Vinita’s fiercest supporter. They had nothing in common, until God united their hearts for a common passion against human trafficking in India.

NOTE TO PARENTS: While NOT explicit, this episode shares veiled but raw details. We do not recommend it for young years.

Vinita shares her story of being abused at 16, which led to a season of homelessness in her honor and shame culture. Loneliness and utter lack of support ranked among her greatest struggles at that time. After she built a good life for herself again, she felt called by God to dedicate her life to serve other women who came from similar difficulties and to provide the support she wished she had had when she was struggling to survive.

About 10 years ago, she started a safe house for young women. They started small—with two young ladies. They have now helped 282 women, including 40 in their care today. Christy met Vinita on a discovery trip to India, and God cemented their friendship in powerful ways.

In this raw episode, they share the struggles they face to run a safe house for girls who initially exhibit extreme anger and violence upon arriving on site, and how they slowly transform into beautiful, confident, capable young women with a bright future ahead. This requires a lengthy trust-building process before they can start acquiring skills to thrive in society, including an education and a deep theological grounding. Vinita shares that one of her greatest joys is to see the “older” girls, who have learned to trust them, begin to mentor the newly arrived ones who still struggle with anger and violence, and be for this “new” generation what Vinita had been for them.

NaiAsha means “New Hope” in Hindi. Indeed, NaiAsha nurtures these precious souls until they turn 18, the legal age of independence in India. It means some girls stay with them for up to 5 years. Imagine the horror that brings a 13-year old to the door of NaiAsha… The next project is to transition these young women into society when they turn 18. They are not all ready to become independent on their 18th birthday. So NaiAsha has launched a transition home, for girls aged 18 and above who still need to stay within the safety of NaiAsha a bit longer.

This is where Christy comes in. Through funding, prayer and soul care, she and her small non-profit provide the tools for Vinita and her team not to burn out as they work against the fastest growing industry in the world, and in one of its darkest places.

TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD!

If you've enjoyed this episode, you will LOVE our Gospel Spice series! Check out the first episode of each season:

The Gospel of Matthew:

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/3281/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/3281/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/3281/link/

The Psalms: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/33755/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/33755/link/

The Gospel of Luke: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/40838/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/40838/link/

The Book of Proverbs: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/68112/link/

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/68112/link/

 

DISCOVER 1Together & NaiAsha:

go to 1together.org to find out more.

1 Together connects and equips the global Church in healthy partnerships and shared transformation resulting in measurable progress.

Many, whether in America or internationally, long to be part of the global mission, but don't know where to start or need a freshening of what exists. Our goal is to connect and equip in:

HEALTHY PARTNERSHIPS: Determining what a healthy partnership looks like, with mutual respect, outlined expectations, and appropriate relationship.

SHARED TRANSFORMATION: Due to rubbing shoulders in relationship and learning from each other, all who interact with each other should experience heart change that flows out into their extended communities.

MEASURABLE PROGRESS: Identifying outcomes that those who partner together can see and ways they can help each other to reach them.

Also go to biblica.com for more.

You are invited to join us on the Gospel Spice Prayer Bible Study, titled "The heart behind prayer" starting September 20, 2025! Details and registration here: https://www.gospelspice.com/prayer 

There are a few things in our Christian life that we know we should do more, or at least better – and prayer just might top the list. Prayer is a mystery. Why would a conversation with a human have any influence on God’s eternal, sovereign plan? It defies logic, and beckons love. How can God, the Almighty Lord of Hosts, be this close, this personal? It defies understanding, and beckons involvement.

But, lack of time, inspiration, and discipline, combined with the ruthless tyranny of our busy lives, push prayer to the periphery, to the “one day I’ll get to it” pile. And yet, we can excel at what we endeavor to undertake. So, why isn’t prayer more of a spiritual priority? Could we develop a mindset around prayer that made it attractive, inspiring, even maybe delightful? What if we attuned our spiritual ears to listen to God, and our spiritual eyes to see His provision?

As an unassuming student, I’m going to humbly offer to share the little I have learned from others about the joy of prayer. I will give us theology, practical tips, and useful resources, sharing what works for me as we, together, learn to pray.

If you find prayer intimidating, or if your lack of prayer makes you feel guilty or “less than,” then this is the place for you! If you have been a student of prayer for many years, this is the place for you too! If you have breath in your lungs, then prayer can become one of the deepest joys of your day. Don’t miss out!

A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT PRAYER

To pray is to believe that God not only hears, but that He responds. It is to stand in the gap for a broken world, wielding the authority of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and trusting in the goodness of the Father. The question is not whether prayer works, but whether we are willing to pray the kinds of prayers that invite God’s Kingdom into the darkest places of the earth—and of our own hearts.

We may never fully understand the mechanics of prayer, or how it intersects with God's sovereignty, but we are not called to understand everything. We are called to be faithful. And faithfulness means showing up—in prayer, in persistence, in expectation.

So today, let us pray not only for the comfort of our hearts, but for the transformation of the world. Let us take our place as image-bearers, co-laborers, and co-heirs. Let us believe that God is still listening—and still acting. Because He is.

There’s only one way to find out what might happen when we truly pray like this.

Let’s begin.

THE MINDSET BEHIND THIS COURSE

Before we begin, let me tell you the obvious: I don’t really know how to pray. I’m a humble student and absolute beginner at the holy endeavor that is prayer. So, this course isn’t really about what I’ve learned, or any wisdom I might have gathered. But, I’ve sat at the feet of many prayer warriors over the decades, through books and teachings.

So, I’ll share what I learned from them. Humility is going to be our primary heart posture! With each lesson, I will offer a few thoughts, practices, and ideas – with much humility, and not taking myself too seriously. I will also share her favorite books and resources about prayer. FInally, I will introduce you to some of the most influential prayer warriors of our history as the Body of Christ.

Most importantly, I will invite YOU to pray! Learning to pray comes from praying. Our humble ambition is to inspire you to pray, and to give you a few tips on how to do that. Then, it’s up to you! Prayer is a lifelong endeavor. Let’s make it delightful together!

So, let’s get started.

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