Greatness Is Serving

Greatness Is Serving

By Carol Wiley
Director of Victim Assistance
Citizens for Community Values

In Matthew 20:26-28, Jesus contrasts how the Gentile’s view of greatness with His own. He says, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you: but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

This same message is woven throughout Scripture; we are called to be servants. It is also very clear that Jesus came to serve those trapped in undesirable lifestyles. Citizens for Community Values Victim Assistance Program’s mandate is to do just that, help young women leave the undesirable lifestyle of topless dancing and meet the One who can change their lives permanently.

As the Director of Victim Assistance I have a burning desire for Christians to know the truth about how the enemy is working through topless clubs, escort services, massage parlors, and porn vendors in video stores, bookstores, and via the internet to entrap and devour real flesh and blood human beings like a spider entraps a fly and then has it for dinner. Only the spider is much more civil in its approach to killing its victim. Victims of the porn and sex industry aren’t devoured quickly. They, for many and different and desperate reasons, step into a perpetual slow death that starts inside their soul and encompasses their minds, their spirits and finally their physical bodies. The cycle is complete and the haunting emptiness is reflected in the mirror of the soul, their eyes. They only know survival—life has passed the by.

Some may say that these women deserve what they get because they choose to do what they do. Granted consequences to the choices we make are inevitable and often just, but I for one am so grateful for God’s grace in my life. Constantly He has poured out love and grace and truthfully I have never deserved it. Therefore, I am called to offer that same love and grace to others even at times when they don’t necessarily deserve it. The joy of allowing Christ to love others through us is available to anyone who has the heart to serve as Jesus served.

Here is what one young women wrote as she shared her heart about the ordinary people involved with CCV as mentors.

"It’s me! I’ve been thinking of you a lot. CCV has changed my whole life. And, I have no idea how to repay you all. I’m out of the INDUSTRY! And I’m staying out. I was very lost after I found out I was pregnant. You helped me find a doctor, when I didn’t have one. A comfortable ,stable home, when I didn’t have one. You helped keep my car running, when it was down. You helped bring back my self-esteem, when it was gone. You also taught me how to dress my baby, when I was afraid that I wouldn’t do it right. So, NOW, I have a very good job, confidence, self-love and worth, a beautiful healthy child, and YOU on my side. And you actually got me wanting God in my life. You, also, taught me about lobbying. I didn’t think I would be interested in doing THAT! I realized that I could do so much more. I can make a big difference. Thank you for putting me back on the right road. I will always be beside you, willing to do almost anything you ask of me. Thank you, to me is not enough…. "

We have four young women at the present time who want to come into our program but can’t because we don’t have mentors for them. This is heartbreaking because when they finally get the courage to say enough is enough and reach out for help it is imperative to offer immediate help. We are convinced that the most important thing we can offer a woman is a Godly woman to mentor her and point her to Christ because apart from Him there is no permanent healing and change.

If you have been looking for an opportunity to serve as Jesus served by reaching out in grace to those who are broken and hurting. Your search is over! Call me, Carol Wiley at 685-1493 or email me at carol@ccvmemphis.org.