Their role in the fight has been the same from the beginning: to offer a safe place with a meal and conversations. The women appreciate the offer of companionship and safety greatly, from Mary’s experience. It means a whole lot to “know that, for 3 hours, it’s going to be okay.”
A look inside the ministry of Rahab’s Sisters
Rahab’s Sisters opens the doors of Saints Peter and Paul Episcopal Church in SE Portland from 7pm-10pm to marginalized and vulnerable women. Their guests have backgrounds ranging from the sex industry to homelessness and domestic violence.
I spoke with Mary Dettmann, president of the board of directors for Rahab’s Sisters. It was a privilege to listen to her heart for the ministry and go beyond the statistics. Mary has been involved with the ministry since shortly after its beginnings in the early 2000s.
Rahab’s Sisters was birthed out of a plea to the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon from two separate parties. The leadership of Saints Peter and Paul Church was very aware of the “grittiness” of their neighborhood–they wanted to do something. At the same time a deacon from Grace Memorial was looking for a ministry for vulnerable women. The two ideas converged into what is now Rahab’s Sisters.
Their role in the fight has been the same from the beginning: to offer a safe place with a meal and conversations. The women appreciate the offer of companionship and safety greatly, from Mary’s experience. It means a whole lot to “know that, for 3 hours, it’s going to be okay.” The Friday evenings at Saints Peter and Paul provide a time when these ladies do not have to worry about the very present burdens of their life, pimps, boyfriends, or any physically abusive situations.
There are several very important factors in creating this type of environment, however. Rahab’s Sisters hires a security guard for each evening. Not only do the women really appreciate his presence, but they also appreciate that he is the only male present. Rahab’s Sisters has found that an all-female environment is the way their guests feel most comfortable to open up, relax, and enjoy a loving community.
Within the Portland community of anti-trafficking efforts they are also able to provide insight to others working directly with sex-trafficking. Because of connections with those more directly involved, the staff of Rahab’s Sisters are able to get in touch with the right people if one of their guests is needing, and wanting, to escape a dangerous situation. As an organization they make themselves available to share what they do with others. Mary considers them blessed to have had opportunities like having a table at the Ignite conference. They now have a “gold mine” of connections throughout the community; people are aware that Rahab’s Sisters exists and are wanting to help.
Because Rahab’s Sisters operates in a dark and challenging world, there is always a need for consistent and solid support. Basic needs are usually donations of toothpaste, laundry soap, or any women’s personal hygiene products for their guests. Monetary donations would help pay for the security guard and more supplies, to keep the women safe and comfortable. Mary also expressed a desire for prayer warriors, to pray for the volunteers and the guests. She shared that Christians need to realize how simple, powerful, and beneficial simply talking to our God can be.
So where does Rahab’s Sisters want to be in the coming years? When asked about their future goals, Mary responded that they truly feel that this is where they need to be. Five, ten, or fifteen years from now, they plan on being right where they are, serving as the calm in the midst of the storm.
