Thinking about marrying an ex-prostitute

Dear Pastor,

I am a 30-year-old man and my girlfriend is 28. We are living together. When she was 23 years old, she got married to a man who came to Jamaica as a tourist. The man took away the marriage certificate. He told her that he would file for her, but he never did.

He eventually told her that he changed his mind about their relationship. He said she should marry someone else because he has found another woman. This girl got really mixed up. She admitted that she started to sell her body to earn a living, and that was how she met the man who married her. She used to go to bed with two or three men every night. However, she stopped selling her body after they got married because he used to send her money.

After I met her, and she came to live with me, she stopped doing the streets. I knew what she was doing, so it was hard for me to settle down with her. However, she was not going back to the streets any more. I even set traps to find out if any man was coming to our house.

I have one child with another woman, but because I am living with this woman, my child's mother and myself broke up.

Every time I think of marrying a woman who was an ex-prostitute, it bothers my mind. I do not know what to do. She is a beautiful lady, and she is now working and does not depend on me for everything.

She takes care of the home and she cooks well. I assist her in the cooking. The American man divorced her long ago.

Would you advise me to marry this woman? Please, I am asking you as a father to tell me what to do.

I.

Dear I.,

You know a lot about this woman. She got married to a man who was in the island as a tourist. That marriage did not work. She used to sell her body on the street.

She gave that up and has settled down with you. But you still believe that you have taken a risk with her. If you know that you truly love this woman, you should not allow her past life to hinder you from marrying her. However, both of you should go for counselling, and you should not rush into marriage.

I knew of a man, years ago, in Canada who was a pastor, and he fell in love with a former prostitute. People criticised him, but he married her and they lived happily together. The difference with that prostitute and your girlfriend is that she embraced Christ as her saviour and Lord. Your girlfriend has not done so as yet, perhaps she will. Time would tell.

Both of you need to come to know the Lord. She is already functioning as a wife. I repeat, if you know that you love her, you should consider marrying her.

I wish you well.

Pastor