Chicago was experiencing a huge rate of prostitution at the beginning of the 21st century. Close to 1,000 women were arrested just in the summer months alone. Our church opened a center in rural Illinois that served as a rehabilitation facility for those women interested in turning their lives around. It went beyond the original location and today it is a national organization helping people struggling with addiction, former members of criminal gangs and those involved in prostitution. It provided an alternative to incarceration or homelessness, often saving lives in the process.
Key Takeaways:
- Wilfredo “Choco” De Jesús developed New Life for Women, known as The Farm, to rehabilitate troubled women.
- The walls of the home are decorated with Christian-themed posters and Scriptures verses.
- Maricellia Rodriguez had a rough childhood, but worked her way up at The Farm from intern to program director.
“The Farm has since gone nationwide in providing a Christian alternative to what the former drug addicts, gang members, and prostitutes might face otherwise: prison, homelessness, or even death.”