2006 Archives
To view the articles from 2006, please use the links to your left in the sidebar. We will start you out here, with our first article from March of 2006
March 14, 2006
Last night (3/14/06) we went to the strip clubs with a new group of ladies from Spring First Church. They are starting a "Piercing the Darkness" ministry out of their church. I enjoyed meeting them and hearing their hearts. They are a great group of ladies.
It was an unusual night in the sense that each club had all new girls. The managers were the same. Some of the bouncers and djays were different. At the first club our usual, friendly cashier was not there. There were probably 10-12 new girls in this club. We didn't stay long.
At the second club we got to see James (the bouncer who had/has a drinking problem). He was still looking good. He said he was doing better, and his girlfriend was out of jail. They are working on her probation and seemed to be trying to do things right. I told him I was proud of him. He seemed to appreciate that. There were about 7 girls in this club. When we were in the dressing room, I walked up to one of the girls to give her a bag. She asked what it was for. I said, "Happy St. Patrick's Day." She kinda looked at me. I told her we wanted her to know that we loved her and were praying for her. She looked at me again and thanked me for the bag. As we were walking out, she told us that the weekends were busier but she didn't work the weekends because of her kids. She said her kids were more important than money. We agreed with her and walked out of the dressing room. Once we were in the van, Andrea commented about the conviction this girl must have been under to blurt that out. Another girl apologized to us on our way out because there weren't more girls there. We were quite all right with that. :)
The third club is where God has given us the most favor. Even at this club, all of the "regulars" weren't there. The cashier that we've loved and prayed for no longer works there. Praise God! Although we will miss her….She ALWAYS greeted us with a huge, beautiful smile and hug. The usual bartender wasn't there. We still walked in like we owned the place and handed out bags, and no one interfered. Even the new bartender asked for a bag like he knew what they were. We gave bags to the girls in the parking lot. Very little conversation but lots of seed sowing.
Our next stop was the modeling studio. Again, a new girl came to the door, and we left 5 bags with her.
Our last stop was the totally nude club and the modeling studio next door to it. As we were approaching the totally nude club, a guy in the parking lot went running inside. As we approached the door, a dancer barely opened the door and was saying "Where? Where are they?" as I reached for the door and opened it. She said, "Oh, they're here!" The cashier said we could leave the bags at the door (usually he calls and asks if we can go on in). Then two semi-big guys came around the corner and blocked the way into the club. I asked them if they wanted bags for their wives/girlfriends/sisters/moms, etc. They took our bags and softened their stance as they were checking out the bags. The girl at the door asked where we were from. Andrea told her, and she thanked us for the bags and for coming to see them. She seemed quite surprised that we were from a church.
We handed out all 60 bags. Each bag contained Avon lotion and the usual smorgasbord of cards, pens (with the number for prayer), candy, tract, etc.
I appreciate Pastor Hogan and his wife, Brenda, for their willingness to start this type of ministry out of their church. I believe they have a wonderful group of ladies who have a heart for the dancers and who will cover this ministry with prayer.
Thanks to everyone for your continued prayers and support!