Street Girls

Another day in paradise?

STREET GIRLS
By Matt Roper
Paternoster. 174 pages
ISBN 1 85078 403 5

Few of us have any concept of what it means to have no home, no one who cares for us and no stability in our lives. These are all things we cherish and seek to provide for ourselves and others. Therefore the lives of the street girls of Brazil stand out in stark relief. Society has given up on them, but not Matt Roper and Signpost International.

Street Girls is the story of how a rather green, young Englishman was touched by the plight of these rejected members of Brazilian shanty towns. He was unable to look at them and do nothing, but rather he jumped in with both feet, often putting himself in much danger from the drug pushers. Gradually he helped form a project, which used creative dance to stimulate the girls to consider another way of life instead of drugs, theft, violence and prostitution. As the project grew, a home was set up where the girls could find the security and love most of them had never known.

Matt's story is an amazing one and many of these young people have come to know and love the Saviour, who is the only one who can really change lives. It is a little disappointing that the strength of the gospel does not come out until half way through the book, as in the first part one could be forgiven for thinking this is just another humanitarian project. However, I am so glad that the last paragraph puts the emphasis of hope for all humanity on Jesus Christ, the living Saviour.

Mary Stolarski, Southport

© Evangelicals Now - September 2001
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Main Articles

• Was your holiday ethical?
  You pay your money - you take your holiday. But where does the money end up?
• What happens when schoolgirls pray?
• Operation World
  Introduced by Jonathan Francis of Paternoster Press
• Step by Step
  On being a step-parent
• It could never happen here?
  Margaret Jones gives an introduction to the Churches' Child Protection Advisory Service
• Little Flock
  The way forward for smaller fellowships?
• Monthly column on the arts
  Professionalism wins... for the beautiful people
• Monthly column for youth leaders
  A strategy for schoolswork
• Monthly column on hymns and songs
  Where to find out more about hymns?
• I'm not God's gender?
  Mary Kassian on women approaching God as Father
• Letter from America
  When size matters

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