The Streets Disciples take their name from a song called, “Just A Moment” which was recorded by New York City hip-hop artist, Nas. The group has formed to offer support and aid to the victims of human trafficking. The ministry networks with other churches and social service agencies to provide legal services, housing assistance, advocacy and spiritual counseling to those in the need. The ministry also seeks to offer support to the parents and grandparents of commercially sexually exploited people. The Streets Disciples plan to offer educational services to at-risk youth.
The Streets Disciples welcomes members who would like to participate in our fight to bring freedom and dignity to brothers and sisters trapped in the new American slave trade. Opportunities for service range from clerical work to street level evangelistic ministry. Not everyone is called to be a frontline soldier. If you can help with correspondence or help us prepare lunches for the folks whom we serve, we can use your help. We need new volunteers from 21 years old on with a special appeal to young women age 21-40.
The Ministry is deeply grateful to our church family for your generous donations of toiletries and clothing; we are genuinely blessed by your giving. We are in need again, so of course, we come to you first. We need your physical presence! Please prayerfully consider volunteering with us as a social worker to partner with us in trying to better meet the needs of our marginalized sisters and brothers; The Closet (sorting, hanging and folding clothing donations - time can be arranged); technology support and teaching classes.
For generations, the scourge of human trafficking has been synonymous with Oakland, California. The 1972, Blaxploitation film, “The Mack” introduced Oakland’s flesh trade to the world. The Hughes Brothers 1999 documentary, “American Pimp” merely served to update the city’s tragic problem. Human trafficking has quietly risen to become the second most prevalent criminal enterprise on the planet.
Locally, both the pimps and the people that they exploit have become younger. Today, there are children, some as young as ten years old being sexually exploited on the streets of Oakland.
We look forward to hearing from you!
For more information on how you can join with the Streets Disciples to serve our community, please contact any member for more information: Sis. Mattie Johnson (Co-Leader), Deaconess Tonia Pugh (Co-Leader), Sis. Joyce Allen, Sis. Bennie Banks, Sis. Petrina Perteet, Rev. Dorothy Shanks, Sis. Judie Ware, Dr. Lani Wilson, or, contact the ministry via the Church Office at (510) 544-8910.
