November 16, 2007
Last Friday night we went to the strip clubs and took gift bags to the dancers. Each bag contained a gift, an invitation to church, christian reading material, encouraging scripture, a card with a number to call if they want prayer, and chocolate candy.
Even though the parking lot was full, the first club had few people inside. The cashier told us that Kevin had a seizure the night before but was doing okay. While we were in the dressing room, Janet (the bartender) and another girl came up to us, grabbed our hands and told us that Kevin needs our prayers because he is very sick. They told us about the seizure and were very concerned. I've tried to call Kevin, but the girl who answers says "he's sleeping". She says he's okay and is going to the doctor this week. I'll keep trying to talk to him.
Amanda spoke with Nikki who had just broken up with her boyfriend. She's been dancing for too long but the money is good. Nikki says when she gets her act together, she will turn to God. Amanda told her she doesn't need to get right first. She just needs Jesus, and the rest will happen with His help. Sherry walked up and told Amanda the first time she saw us she thought we were wives coming in to get our husbands. She said she appreciates what we do. The 96-year-old cook gave us $20 again because he believes in what we're doing. He said, "God has been good to me and will continue to bless me."
We saw Richard at the next club. He said it was the middle of shift change, and we could leave the bags at the door.
We went to the new club where we had seen our friends (from the burned-down club). This club was closed. No note. Not sure what is going on there.
I received a call from a girl named Michelle on the prayer line yesterday. She requested prayer to get through Step 9 of the 12 Steps. She said she's having a really hard time getting through this step. Step 9 is making amends with people we have harmed, except when to do so would injure that person or others. This is a very difficult step for anyone to address. I applaud her for trying and for asking for prayer. I tried to call but the number was not a valid number.
If you're not familiar with each step of the 12 Steps, here they are. These steps not only apply to alcohol and drugs but to any life-controlling problem we may have (anger, gossiping, compulsive shopping, stealing, lying, overspending, procrastination, etc.).
1. Admit I am powerless over alcohol (or any other life-controlling problem) and that my life has become unmanageable.
2. Believe that a Power (God) is greater than me and can restore me to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn my will and my life over to the care of God as I understand Him.
4. Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of my self (This could be painful.)
5. Admit to God, myself, and to someone else the exact nature of my wrong.
6. Be entirely ready to have God remove all these character defects (sin).
7. Humbly ask Him to remove my shortcomings (& sin).
8. Make a list of all persons I have harmed and be willing to make amends to them all.
9. Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continue to take personal inventory and when I am wrong, promptly admit it.
11. Seek through prayer and meditation (& Scripture reading) to improve my conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for me and the power to carry that out. (That's a sermon in itself.)
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, carry this message to others and continue to practice these principles in all of my affairs.
Please keep Kevin and Michelle and all of the others in your prayers.
Piercing the Darkness with Spring First and Life-Well (the church formerly known as "Consuming Fire"),
Drenda
P.S. The next outreach is Tuesday, November 27th.