The 11th Street Cowboy Bar and Mercy Gate Ministries partnered to put on a fundraiser/ educational event, the Keys to Freedom.
The event drew patrons from all over the Hill Country and San Antonio.
Dennis Alan and friends provided two lively sets of country music.
Patrons were encouraged to dance. The five musicians played country favorites from stars like Pat Green and Chris Stapleton.
11th Street co-owners, D. Foster and Richard Sutton strolled through the crowd greeting friends and meeting new supporters of Mercy Gate. Suttons wife Sasha also attended and spoke to the crowd.
While the crowd snacked on treats from Bricks River Café, the line to participate in the 50-50 drawing got long. At the drawing the lucky winner donated back her portion of the drawing to Mercy Gate.
Executive Director Chae Spencer and Board member Denise Cartright relayed that the problem of human trafficking was evident even in Bandera County. Cartright cited statistics about trafficking and quizzed the crowd on some basic facts about the crime.
Both women emphasized the need to recognize and report human trafficking. Bandera County Constable Greg Spengler recounted his experiences with a local that was a victim of trafficking and how she finally got help through Mercy Gate.
Cartwright introduced Richard and Sasha Sutton to the audience. Sutton and his wife read prepared statements about the need for organizations like Mercy Gate to help with human trafficking.
To end the program, a graduate of the Mercy Gate program gave courageous testimony about her experiences as a victim of human trafficking. She detailed her early life experiences that led to her becoming a trafficked woman.
She explained her experiences with the program and how it helped her develop her faith in God and her sense of self-worth.
Spencer spoke about the need for supporters. She said that the group’s goal was a hundred twenty partners. As the program finished, the band started its second set. The audience finished drinks and several couples hit the dance floor.
Mercy Gate Ministries is a non-profit group which is dedicated to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with those affected by human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Mercy Gate’s ministry is to break the bonds of captivity, impart power over victimization, and to provide advocacy to help survivors of sexual trauma.
The end goal is to help the survivors to become healthy contributors to society. They do this through residential and nonresidential programs, education, outreach, and advocacy opportunities.
