"I tell you the truth," Jesus said, "corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do" (Matthew 21:31, NLB). And so he angered the religious people of his time by associating with sinners, with liars, thieves and prostitutes, accepting them, loving them, sharing with them the purifying grace of God.

When Maria was asked to start a church in a small mountain village in central Europe, she decided to do as Jesus did.

One day about two years ago, a lady who had heard of Maria's ministry through her sister invited her to come and start a church in her village. 

"I did not know what type of people would come," Maria remembers. "Some of the people we started to have were a few pimps and prostitutes."

For the rest of the story, see Engage magazine.