About Freedom61
Freedom61 is a ministry of YWAM Latvia, bringing hope and light into the darkness surrounding sexual exploitation. Founded in 2010 with prayer walks around Riga and a heart to see women freed from exploitation, our ministry is now serving in many spheres stemming from this same desire to see people set free.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…”
-Isaiah 61:1
Freedom61 sees that we are called by God to set the captives free. Our ministry does this through:
- Intentional prayer and worship
- Reaching out to women on the streets in Riga who are working in prostitution
- Providing a safe place for the girls to find health and wholeness as they choose to walk in freedom from addictions
- Spreading awareness about the realities of sexual exploitation to both those who buy sex and those who are vulnerable to exploitation
Old Town Outreach
Old town in Riga is sometimes referred to as the “Bangkok of the Baltic,” because of the prevalence of sexual tourism. We see that if we want to reach those who have been sexually exploited, we also must reach the demand. We connect with men who come to Riga, through honest dialogue and raising awareness of sexual exploitation, partnering with men from local churches who go out with us twice a month.
Freedom61 Café
Our main outreach to women on the streets of Riga takes place in our café, located in an area where prostitution is prevalent. Three nights a week we, provide a safe place for women to come and be treated like human beings, receiving homemade soup, hot coffee, and lovingly prepared baked goods. Here get to know the women, show them unconditional love, and provide them resources to step out of prostitution when they are ready. In the cafe we lend an attentive ear, offering prayer, and speak words of hope, truth, and love into their lives.
Prayer
At the foundation of who we are as a ministry prayer and worship is central. We know that without God’s leading what we do will lose its effectiveness, so we make sure that everything we do comes from the place of prayer and intercession.
Prevention
Throughout Latvia there are many who are vulnerable to exploitation due to different economic and social factors. Our ministry goes to them in schools, orphanages, and at-risk communities to raise awareness about the many different factors that lead to exploitation and how to prevent going down that path as well.
Freedom61 Women´s Center
Located in the countryside of Kurzeme, Latvia, the Freedom61 Women’s Center offers a place of hope and restoration for women coming out of addictions, sexual exploitation, and chaotic lifestyles. Founded on Christian principles, the center offers a holistic approach to healing, life skills training, counseling, Bible studies, vocational opportunities, and giving back to the community. We recognize the difficulty for the women to step into a new and different lifestyle, but the center provides an opportunity to walk alongside other women as they learn to live in health and freedom.
