ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
When the sun sets over Fulton Industrial Boulevard, the "business day" begins. The street lined with strip clubs and seedy motels, buzzes with prostitutes, pimps and johns.
It may seem like an unlikely place to find a group of women from a Rockdale County church. But for the team led by Kasey McClure, it is ground zero for their ministry, 4 Sarah.
McClure, a former stripper, began the nonprofit organization to help girls escape what she said is a dangerous and destructive industry.
McClure said it leads to alcohol and drug abuse and a life of crime.
On two Saturday nights in March and April, CBS Atlanta followed the missionaries as they stopped at strip clubs, sex spas and motels.
Armed with gift bags filled with treats, a Bible and information about resources, the McClure and her team speak to the girls who sell sex for a living.
"Our main goal is to get them out of course, but we know that it takes a while. Sometimes they're not ready. A lot of times they're not ready. It might be years before we see results for one girl we work with," McClure said.
McClure said some girls believe stripping or prostituting is the only way to make money to support themselves and sometimes children.
McClure tries to earn the girls' trust by not judging and returning month after month with gifts and advice.
As the team drives down the street, they pull over to hand gift bags to prostitutes walking on the shoulder of the road.
"You're beautiful. You deserve better," McClure said to one girl.
McClure said many of the girls working in the sex industry come from poverty and a history of sexual abuse.
McClure and her team became hopeful when they met "Amber" at a motel.
At the time, Amber, 19, said she was 9-months pregnant and turning tricks up to 15 times a day.
"I knew I had to do something to survive," Amber said. "I don't want to do it. The only thing that gets me through is I find a hole in the wall I look at it. When I'm done I count my money, go pay for my room and go to sleep."
The women pray with Amber, give her gifts for her baby and offer to get her a safe place to live.
Amber said "thank you," but walked away without accepting their offer.
McClure said she's not surprised. It takes time for women like Amber to trust them.
"Hopefully we touched her life today and she's willing to listen to what we have to say. Even if it's not today she'll remember this night and later in the future she'll know God truly loves her," McClure said.
Copyright 2012 WGCL-TV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
