July 23, 2008
Last night we went to the strip clubs and took gift bags to the girls. Each bag contained earrings, reading material, an invitation to church, a card with a number to call for prayer, an encouraging scripture and chocolate candy. Quite frankly, I didn't want to go last night. I was exhausted and wanted to go home and crash. I told the Lord I hoped it would be worth it, but even if it wasn't (in the natural), I would do my part.
All of the clubs were busy yet the girls took time to talk with us. I took my dog, Chassie, in with me. All of the girls and a lot of men were talking to her and to me about her. There were quite a few new girls so Chassie made it easy for us to talk. I didn't bring up God. It was a chance for us to get to know each other first. The other will come.
In one of the clubs, a girl was in the dressing room studying a textbook. She told Tammy she's studying to become a Medical Assistant. Please pray that she does well in school and finds a job so that she can get out of the business.
The last club made the whole night worth it. As usual, the valet guys welcomed us with open arms. That whole attitude prevailed throughout the club. We had the run of the club and visited with numerous girls -- especially in the dressing room. Danielle told us she is a pre-K teacher from 7a-5p then dances from 7p-2a and then goes to school on the weekends. Oh, and she's a lesbian. Not sure why she brought that up, but she did. She was very tall and stunningly beautiful. Extremely nice. It was her birthday so men were pinning bills to her top and bottom "garments". Danielle asked for prayer that she could find other work so she could stop dancing. She said she hadn't been to church in a while. I told her it was understandable because of the hours she was putting in. She said, "Yes, but I need God in my life. I can't be too busy for Him." Preach it, sista!
Laurie and I left the club. I thought everyone was outside. No one was. Laurie said, "I think I saw your mother sitting down."
"No way."
"Yes, I think I did."
"Why was she sitting down? Maybe we better go check on them."
We walk into the club and there's my mom, Sweet Norma, Tammy and Amanda all sitting in the middle of the club talking to a group of people right by/under a stage. I wish I could have taken a picture! Several interesting and conflicting conversations were taking place:
1) As my mom & Norma were leaving, a man approached them and asked them if they would have a drink and talk to him for a minute. He said he was a roughneck and had been to strip clubs all over the country and had NEVER seen anything like what we were doing. He appreciated it.
2) A 41-year old dancer was sitting with them and said, "Thank you for coming. You give me hope. I appreciate all you do for us." She teared up many times during the conversations. She said she has 3 kids to support and can't support them on a McDonald's salary.
3) A man engaged Tammy in a conversation where he was trying to argue and make it appear that we are there to judge the girls. The 41-year old dancer kept speaking up and defending us. She kept telling the guy that we aren't like that -- that we don't judge. She said she knows we want her to quit but she's never once felt judged by us. Go, God!
4) The fourth man freaked out that God had chased him down and found him in a strip club. It seems he's been watching tv preachers and is under conviction.
For those who think ministry can only take place within the 4 walls of a church, I believe what happened last night proves otherwise. God is at work in the strip clubs. His unfailing love is constantly pursuing us no matter where we are. He knows no boundaries. There are hurting people all around us. We need to see them as God sees them. (Brandon Heath has a new song out saying the same thing.) Then we need to open our mouths and speak life and hope and love to them.
Thanks for your support of this ministry. We couldn't do it without you!
Piercing the Darkness, Drenda and the PTD team
P.S. Now for a little bit of shameless promotion:
I have a book coming out in August that I co-authored. It's entitled "Saints and Scoundrels of the Bible: The Good, The Bad, The Dastardly". I'll put a synopsis of it at the end of this email. There will be a "Meet the Authors Night" on August 1 from 6:30p-9p at WoodsEdge in The Woodlands where a LOT of authors will be available to sign their books & talk. My book will be there even though it's not available in stores until mid-August. If you are in the Houston area, I'd love for you to stop by and let me thank you personally for praying and supporting Piercing the Darkness. There'll be cheesecake and giveaways, too. I'm attaching a flyer about the event. I hope to see you there!
Description of Saints & Scoundrels
Discover a new approach to Scripture with this imaginative way of looking at things that are right in front of us, all while delving deep into biblical truths.
There are many ways to learn about the Bible, even if it seems to be totally familiar to us. It is, in fact, full of so many little known, interesting stories like the ones that rivet today's audiences -- full of intrigue and surprising changes of character.
Broken up into individual sections, such as "Freaks and Geeks," "Dashers and Vixens," "Big Shots and Mug Shots," "Leaders and Laborers," and "Prophets and Losses," it can be read a bit at a time. Saints & Scoundrels of the Bible reveals many of the little-known facts about Scripture in an entertaining and informative manner, so the reader will be fascinated and constantly saying, "I didn't know that!"
With chapters such as "The Trickster Trailed," "The Perils of Paul," "Tempting Tamar," "A Greedy Grandmother," and "The Deadly Dance," readers will turn each page to find out what happens next in these captivating tales. This clever new way of reading Scripture puts a light-hearted twist on old stories, all while drawing the reader closer to God's truth. There is nothing old or boring in this creative approach to learning about the Bible.