Gateley and four friends: Stories from the other side
They looked like women you might run into anywhere, but they had a special story to tell. They were all friends of Edwina Gateley, either because they had joined her in her ministry to assist women escape the violence of prostitution, or had themselves been victims of that violence.
The first speaker was Carolyn Groves, director of pastoral counseling at Genesis House, the welcoming home for former prostitutes established in Chicago by Edwina Gateley more than 20 years ago. Carolyn spoke of Laura, a young woman who came to the ministry too late for her life to be saved. She died of AIDS, but not before she had found peace and hope and had affected others with her beautiful spirit. “When somebody believes God loves them, miracles can happen.”
Next came Olivia Howard, whose story has just been published in a book, Listening to Olivia: Violence, Poverty and Prostitution, by Jody Raphael. Poised and self-confident, Olivia told of growing up as one of three daughters of alcoholic parents. Never giving the girls much emotional support, the parents did not stop her when Olivia left home for the Job Corps at the age of 15, where older girls introduced her to the streets. She went from a job as a barmaid to a strip joint on Chicago’s Rush Street, where she succumbed to prostitution and drug addiction before breaking away 14 years ago. “I had been satisfying my pleasures; finally I began to satisfy my spirit.” Olivia is now director of addiction services at a community counseling center in the western suburbs of Chicago.
Next came Kandi Fowler. The former 14-year-old prostitute and drug addict began her new life by coming to Genesis House because of her HIV positive sister-in-law. Inspired by people like Olivia, she’s been in recovery seven years. Her father was a murderer, pimp, wife abuser and dope dealer. Moving from heroin to crack cocaine, she was in prison four times for drug possession, home invasion, and burglary. “I lost my spirit in prostitution”, said Fowler. But helped by Genesis House she found the courage to break away, earn her GED, and finally a master’s degree. She is now a drug counselor at Haymarket in Chicago.
Brenda Myers-Powell took us on the journey of a little girl “who just wanted to be shiny”. She was born to a 15 year old girl on a kitchen table, molested at the age of five and later abused by the uncle who was her hero, the neighborhood slut at 13 and a mother at 14, turning tricks at 16 and beaten repeatedly. She found redemption at Genesis House. She is now an advocate for women in prostitution and a motivational speaker.
All the women were effusive in their praise for Edwina. Although Genesis House has gone out of existence, its ministry has been picked up as Sophia’s Circle, which still ministers to victims in the Chicago area.
Edwina’s commitment is still vital. She says: “The call to conversion comes from the edges. If we don’t listen to the excluded, we will not be the authentic Church.”