October 31, 2006

Last night (10/31/06) we went to the strip clubs. I don't think we've ever gone on Halloween before. Each club complained they didn't have enough dancers because the girls were taking their kids trick-or-treating. The dancers were expected to show up for work later after the kids were in bed.

We had 75 bags, and each bag contained a photo album, chocolate candy, a Halloween tract, a "Need Prayer? Call ###-###" card, and a card inviting them to church. Two ladies (Norma and Sybil) from Spring 1st joined us. We had 3 new ladies from Consuming Fire with us -- one from Ireland, one from the U.K., and one from Sweden. We were an international group! Of course, we had our faithful men (Bill and Wes) to chauffeur and intercede for us.

The first club was rather slow. A new manager (who later introduced himself as Kevin C.) confronted my mom in the club and told her we couldn't be there that night. He said he knew who we were and that we were welcome any other time but not last night. She said okay and that she would round all of us up. About that time, another manager walked up and said to leave us alone. He told Kevin that we come in all the time, and we are welcome there. Kevin said he had told us to leave, and we needed to leave. The other manager said we were staying so Kevin basically said "suit yourself." So we stayed. None of us were aware at the time of this conversation. We didn't know about it until we got into the van to leave.

When I walked into the dressing room of this club, one of the dancers thanked me and then asked where we were from. I told her we were from 2 churches. She immediately started trying to cover herself up and said, "I'm so ashamed. I'm sorry. Let me get some clothes on." I told her she was fine. She asked why we did this. I told her because we want everyone to know that God loves them and still has a plan and a purpose for their lives. She said she lives in the Willis area and goes to church every Sunday. As we started to leave, she told the others dancers that "God isn't going to bless us tonight because of this." They all laughed. She kept saying she was ashamed. The girls thanked us for the bags, and we left the dressing room. Both managers (even Kevin) shook my hand and thanked us for coming in. Kevin said he goes to a church on Steubner-Airline and appreciates what we are doing. He told us if we needed a good church, we should try his church. I told him I was glad he had a church he liked.

As we were leaving the club, Kevin came out on the front steps and stopped us. He asked if we had been to a certain club. We told him we had not. He said they needed a lot of help. He wanted us to know he was a believer and that he sees himself as the girls' "pastor" because he doesn't let them do anything that God wouldn't be pleased with. He thanked us again and asked us to be praying for him and the girls. While we were talking to him, the bartender came out to smoke a cigarette. He handed me some money. I tried to give it back, but he wouldn't take it. I handed him a bag, he thanked me, and went back inside the club.

The second club wasn't very busy either. Debe, Debs and Becks spent quite a while talking to one dancer (Adriana) in the dressing room. She said she was six months pregnant and wasn't sure what she was going to do. Debs works with a ministry out of YWAM that provides emergency foster care/adoption for street kids. Debs was able to give her some guidance and godly counsel. They got her number and the YWAM ministry will be calling Adriana.

While they were in the dressing room, I was able to talk to James (the manager). He's trying to do better as far as drinking. His brother, Philip, who used to work at the first club, is now working as a telemarketer. Philip has been clean and sober for 3 weeks now. This was all due to an arrest, but his time in jail helped him to get clean. James' girlfriend, Debra, scratched her cornea and her eye became infected. She received a cornea transplant, but they aren't sure if it is going to work or not. Right now she is unable to see out of her right eye.

Wes was talking to the valet guy outside. The valet told him that two girls had left the club. One had moved to Seattle, and the other had moved to Texarkana. He said BOTH were OUT of the business. Praise God!!!

As we drove to the 3rd club, we noticed it was darker than normal on the street. The club was closed down, and there were fences around it. I have mixed emotions. On the one hand, I'm glad it closed down. Praise God! But part of me is concerned about Kevin (our favorite manager), Homey (the owner who gave us money), and the bartenders who befriended us. I pray that Kevin uses this as an opportunity to get out of the business and use his great people-skills outside of the adult entertainment industry.

The next stop was the modeling studio. Two young men were sitting on a couch when Becks and I walked into the lobby. One immediately reached into his pocket for something silver. I kept watching him and hoping it was a cell phone. I turned to them and asked if they wanted a bag. He immediately pushed the silver object into his pocket and grabbed for a bag. They were very considerate from that point on. The modeling studio had 10 girls working. I had never seen the girl who came to the door, but she knew who we were. She asked for time to cover-up first before coming to the door to get the bags.

The last club wouldn't let us beyond the cashier. They said they would distribute the bags for us. We had a few bags left and handed them out to the modeling studio next to the club and to a dance club in the same strip center. While we were in the clubs, a young girl had approached my dad and Wes. She said she was selling candy to get money for the baby she was going to have shortly. Debs, Becks, and Jenny talked to the girl (Robin) and told her about the Mother's Day Out ministry that YWAM offers. Robin received our last bag.

As usual, it was an incredible night. I stand in awe of how God orchestrates people and events. We rarely run across pregnant girls. Last night there were two, and this was the first time Debs had been with us. How cool is that?

Please be praying for all of the people we spoke with and for those who received bags. Also, please pray for Kevin, Homey and the bartenders from the third club.

Thanks for your prayers and continued support.