Austria (MNN) — Your prayers are needed for Austria.
Operation Mobilization says plans to build Europe's largest brothel are in the works. Called the "FunMotel," a large-scale brothel on the outskirts of Vienna would service 1000 customers a day in nearly 150 rooms.
The Austrian businessman behind this project reportedly claims the FunMotel will transform the sex industry from "grocer to supermarket." Along with decreasing the social stigma attached to prostitution and brothels, an increase in market demand will put more women at risk of sex trafficking.
Ask the Lord to intervene in this situation. Pray the brothel won't be built.
According to an April report from the European Commission, human trafficking is on the rise in Europe. Trafficking went up 18% between 2008 and 2010; this could be "the tip of the iceberg," though, according to some EU officials.
A "clear majority" of victims in the European Commission's report, some 61 percent, hail from a European Union nation. Most claimed citizenship in Romania or Bulgaria, the two poorest EU states.
OM EAST, an OM team supporting churches throughout Eurasia, brings the hope of Christ to Vienna's prostitutes. Their claims support this finding, stating on the OM EAST Web site that every second prostitute in Greece and Austria is from Romania.
To try and "turn the tide" of this massive injustice, OM EAST is networking with other agencies on preventative measures like outreaches, meetings in Eastern European churches and schools, and good literature projects to strengthen families.
Click here to learn more about the work of OM EAST and how you can come alongside their efforts.
Please pray for those caught in the hopeless web of sex trafficking. Pray that the light of Christ will shine into their lives through OM workers. Pray that more will be done to protect women from this evil.
