Bringing Christ to the Clubs

It has been a month since I last posted....and a very busy month! We took our monthly bags to the ladies in the clubs this month for Christmas. Each bag contained a Pearl Bracelet, Necklace and Earring Set, a book, which I will talk about more below, a rose, some candy and a Purse Prayer. Our visit was well received again by all the ladies and management. Some of the ladies called me by name-which I have to admit was extremely heart-warming. One of the clubs had zero business when we walked in, which made it easy to just sit with the girls and talk and pray for a few minutes. Two of the ladies we talked with and prayed for actually called the church a few days later. I returned their phone call and spent an hour listening to one of their life story's. She has many issues and circumstances surrounding her life right now that would serve to both drive her to the Lord and to drive her away from the Lord. Please pray that God would rescue her now and place her feet on solid ground, so that Satan cannot use these circumstances to lie to her about Gods' love for her.
The book that we gave the ladies is written by Deanna (Tyra) Wilson and is called "A Wounded Daughters Diary"-Exploring Gods Grace from the Stripclub to the Classroom. It was just recently published and the lady who wrote it is a friend of mine. We went to bible college together 15-16 years ago, and between then and now-she has walked a road that would now allow her to minister effectively to the dancers we are trying to reach. The Lord brought her back into my life through Facebook and has connected us to minister to the broken people in the stripclubs. I have already had some ladies tell me that they have started or finished the book and that it is helping them. Please pray for Tyra that God would do more than she ever imagined with this labor of love in writing her testimony for others to read.
Additionally, Greater Harvest Church bought Christmas gifts for two of the ladies children that recently gave their hearts to the Lord. One of them received 4 new outfits for her 7 month old and the other received 5 new shirts and a pair of basketball shorts for her 13 yr. old son.
In looking forward to 2010, I am believing God to give us even greater access to the clubs He directs us to, for more bible studies with more salvations as a result, for a larger percentage of those that respond in the clubs to come to church and ultimately to see Daughters made of these Dancers!
Thank you for taking the time to read these blogs and to pray for the harvest. Your prayers are not in vain-I promise you.

That not even ONE would Perish!!

The more we do this, the more we are amazed at the strategic and creative and loving ways that God will move to turn these ladies into His daughters! If you read back to the last bible study, you will find that Becki, Kelly and I had quite a chaotic environment to hold a bible study in. One of the girls was especially bent on making a distraction. That is time that the bouncer came in and gave his life to the Lord. Well, when we went back this last Tuesday, I specifically prayed for that particular girl, before we ever got out of the car to go in. I asked God to make it possible that I could present her to Him that night. We went to the dressing room to wait for any girls to come in. This one girl was the first to walk in and she did so with her arms outstretched to give us a hug!!! She went and got another dancer who remembered us from XTC a few months ago. The two of them sat and listened for about 40 minutes. They had a lot of questions, fears and concerns about Christianity. God was faithful to fill my mouth with words of comfort and truth that they could understand. I asked them both if they were ready to commit theirs lives to Jesus. To be honest, I was not sure I would get a positive response. They BOTH said they wanted Him to come into their hearts!!!!! Before we prayed for them individually, I asked if anyone else in the room wanted prayer. We ended up with 9 of us in a circle holding hands. Two were guys who had come in to pick up two of the girls to take them home!
Jesus meant it when He said to go into all the world and preach the gospel. It is also true that we can do this because we can do ALL things through Christ who gives us the strength!! Please pray for our continued success, for signs, miracles and wonders to follow us, and for our protection.

Plowing the Ground

Last Thursday night, our team went back to the clubs. Each time we go, it is amazing to see the difference in experience.

We went back to Moments, where we were told last time that we could not leave the bags with the girls. Kelly and I made it into the doors this time and met the manager at the front. He was the manager that had allowed us to give the bags in previous times. I told him that it was good to see him and he agreed to take all of the bags back to the ladies. Thank you Lord!

Next, we went to Show Palace, where we have been having the bible studies in the dressing room. The receptionist, bartender and manager now know me by name and acted excited to see us. As we made our way to the dressing rooms, the DJ announced over the speaker that the "church ladies are here". LOL! That is really funny! The dressing room had girls that were all new to us in there. We gave the bags, answered some questions as to why we were doing this, and then prayed in a big circle. One precious girl was five months pregnant, and though she was cold to us when we first walked in, she was crying at the end of the prayer. I put my hands on her pregnant belly and prayed that God would protect and bless her child. I brought up the bible study to these new girls and they agreed that they would like to be a part of it!!! One girl responded by saying-"sure..it can't hurt." On our way out, I saw one the ladies that I had purposely brought a bible to give to her. I didn't realize that she was there, because she was out on the floor working. She stopped dancing for a moment, gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I told her that I had the bible for her. She was very thankful. I set the Word of God on the stage next to her and when I walked out, I turned and saw the bible sitting up there where she was dancing. What a beautiful and perfect image!!! Jesus is the Word made manifest and that is exactly where He wants us to take Him--to the hurting, to the shamed, to the sick, to the lonely, to the sinner, to the backslider. He has no problem being in the midst of people in these conditions. We are so honored to be His ambassadors!

Our next stop was Moulin Cabaret. They had a new manager, but he listened to our reason for being there and then escorted us in. Immediately, we saw three ladies standing together to the side of the stage. I attempted to hand a bag to one of them who quickly told me -"No thank you". She was very irritated at our presence there and I tried to explain what was in the gift bags and gave it another shot. She still refused to take it. I simply handed a bag right past her to another girl and then to the other one. One of the other two grabbed my arm and whispered in my ear-"what church do you go to?". I told her and she said that she really needed help. I walked her to the bar and saw that Kelly was behind me walking with the other girl who accepted the bag. We sat and talked and she explained that she was homeless and that the other girl talking to Kelly was her daughter. That literally broke my heart. She said that when we walked in the door, she saw so much compassion on my face that she knew she could talk to me. I explained to her that what she saw in my face was the love that Jesus has for her and that He wanted to make a way out for her. Since then, we have put her in a hotel for the week, gathered a few clothes for the two of them and stocked them on groceries. Please pray for this mother and daughter. The mother committed her life to Christ last night and wants to be picked up for church on Sunday.

Our last stop was at the Royal Palace, where we were successful in getting in again. There was not alot of personal contact with the girls, as they were all working, but we did get a few hugs.

There have been 2 girls and 2 patrons of these various clubs that have attended church more than once now and we are really believing for a complete healing in their lives. Please continue to pray that we are equipped with the necessary resources to help them in their present financial conditions and also that the forces of hell will be pushed back, so that these beautiful daughters of God can experience true and lasting love.

Another Bible Study, Another Victory!

Last night, I went back into a local Men's club to have a second bible study with the ladies that work there with Becki and Kelly. It was a much different experience than the week before. Last week, as you remember from my last blog, was supernaturally easy with 4 salvations as a result! Last night, it was evident that Satan was furious. You see, two of the girls that were saved last week, actually came to church on Sunday and were really ministered to, and are planning on coming back this week. When we arrived last night, with homemade cookies and gifts in hand, we were met with a new group of girls that were not interested in us being there at all! Without getting into graphic details, the opposition was great and meant to make us very uncomfortable. I was determined to minister to somebody regardless of whether or not we were to have a formal bible study. I began to talk to a lady that was getting ready and she opened up to me about how she felt she should be a part of what we were doing, but didn't want to get into something that she couldn't follow through with. As we were talking, a couple of girls began to gather, including two that were there last week. I began to speak to them as a group and pulled some chairs up to have them sit. I began to talk about the Love of God and then the bouncer for the club walked in and sat down. I invited him to stay and be a part of this bible study on God's love. He said he would stay. For about 30 minutes we attempted to teach about His love and we were constantly interrupted. I just pressed on through the lesson, making sure to address each one in there by name as I spoke, attempting to make it personal for them. The bouncer pulled a chair up to be closer to the group. By the end, everyone was either pulled away from the study, had to go dance, or was leaving the job for the night. Everyone except the bouncer. He just stayed and focused on what I was preaching. We gathered what girls were standing at the mirrors for a time of prayer. Most of them had some type of request for prayer. When we finished praying as a group, I asked to speak with the bouncer again on a personal note. I explained his need for a saviour that would give him the peace he was longing for. I asked if he would like to ask Jesus to be his Lord and Saviour. He humbly told me yes and we bowed our heads to pray. There we were in the middle of this busy dressing room in two chairs, holding hands and bowing our heads to pray a prayer of salvation out loud. Talk about a strange picture! I could see in his eyes the gratefulness he was feeling when we said Amen. Please pray for this man-I sense a call to the ministry on his life. We will be going back in a couple of weeks, so please keep the Dancers to Daughters team in your prayers.

A BIBLE STUDY IN THE DRESSING ROOMS??

Yes, you read the title correctly! Last time, I asked the girls at Show Palace if they wanted to have a bible study there at the club. I got a good response and permission from the manager before we left that night.
It was scheduled for tonight, Tuesday-October 20th at 6:00. I went with Tara this last Saturday night to post a couple of flyers reminding them and inviting the ladies to come.
We got there tonight (myself, Becki and Kelly) with a bible study prepared on "Knowing God". When we got there, we walked into the dressing room and kinda waited a few minutes. There ended up being 4 women that sat down and wanted to be a part. 3 of them were dancers there and 1 was actually a patron! For about 40 minutes I talked about a biblical view of God vs. an innacurate view based on our broken experiences in life. All 4 women were crying at some point. At the end, I asked each one individually if they would like to commit their lives to the Lord from this moment on and trust Him to lead them where He desires. Each lady thought about it and guess what???---ALL 4 of them said a prayer of repentance and asked Jesus to come into their hearts!!
The harvest truly is plentiful.
Please be encouraged by this to find the broken people around you and just ask them if they would like a new start in life-a life with Jesus. You will be surprised how ripe the harvest is!

Prayer Paved the Way!!

I just returned home from an incredibly successful night of ministry to the dancers, managers, bouncers in the Pasadena/South Houston Adult Entertainment Clubs and to some ladies at a massage parlor! We had a team of 6 this time, including our driver David, who ministers to the men on the outside of the clubs. Again, we prepared gift bags to deliver to the ladies. In each bag tonight was a necklace and bracelet set, chocolate bars, the Purse Prayer and church information. We also had travel coffee mugs for the managers and bouncers filled with chocolate, a scripture and prayer and the church information as well.

Tonight was different than we expected, but I believe the Lord ordered our steps strategically.

There was a different manager at Moments tonight and he would not even let us leave the bags with the girls at the front door. We did get to talk to a couple of ladies that were just arriving for work and were still in the parking lot. One girl said that they love getting the bags each month and that she loves the scripture and prayer that are in there.

We went to Show Palace next, where the manager let us go into the dressing rooms last month. We continued to have favor with him tonight and we went to the back to give the girls the bags. One girl from last month, remembered my name and said that she hadn't forgotten about me(she was supposed to email me last time), but that her boyfriend left her financially destitute and that she had been trying to move with alot of complications. Tara, myself, Christie, Dina and Kelly were all in the dressing room and I asked the dancers if they wanted prayer. We all held hands in a circle and prayed! The circle grew as three more girls walked in and wanted prayer as well. Before we left, I took the plunge and asked all the girls about doing a bible study there at the club on a day that was slow and an hour or so before work. They said YES!!! We agreed on a Tuesday at 6:00, starting in two weeks. I asked the manager on my way out for permission to do this, as I told him that many of the girls wanted prayer and I didn't want to disrespect their work time to meet all the needs; that we really needed more time to open the bible and pray for each girl! He shook my hand and said that he thought that would be good and that I had his permission. Thank you LORD!

Next, we went to XTC, which the Lord had shown some needs to cover in prayer there concerning our personal safety. We prayed before we went and none of us got a "check" in our spirits about not going. Well, when we showed up--it was shut down! We learned that we may not get a check-if there is nothing there to be concerned about! :)--Literally! More importantly, we saw that God is the ultimate protection for us and whatever was planned to harm us was made ineffective.

Next stop: Moulin Cabaret--we have not been able to get in the doors the two times we have gone. Jason, the bouncer that David prayed with last time (to get another job-among numerous other needs, was not there. We are believing he got another job! Instead this new bouncer, after a few questions let us right in. The manager told me that I could come back again next month. FAVOR and OPEN DOORS.

Then we went to Total Pleasures massage parlor. Heather was there again and Dina and I prayed with her to re-commit her life to the Lord. In tears, she prayed a prayer of repentance and recommitment to the Lord. She lives all the way in Cypress, but said that she really wants to go to our church, but she doesn't have the transportation that she needs. Her roommate does have a vehicle, but she says she wouldn't bring her down her for church. We must pray for a way for Heather to pursue God in this new season of her life now.

Next we went into the RandP (Royal Palace) and met the "cashier", who eventually told us he was the owner after agreeing to let us in the doors. He asked what concept was behind these bags. I told him that because God loves him that we do too, and like these bags are free gifts-so is the love of God. He let us in after that.

I was reminded this last week that Mary Magdalene came to Jesus as a prostitute and washed his feet with her tears and her most valuable posession-the oil in her box. She was totally accepted by our Lord and is remembered as being one of the most extragavant worshippers in history. When you pray for this ministry, please keep in mind that any one of these precious ladies has the potential to pour her entire life out as a sacrifice to our Lord. They simply need to know that He has called them to be His beautiful Daughters.

Back to the Clubs!

Last night, 7 of us from the Dancers to Daughters outreach team at Greater Harvest, went back to the Adult Entertainment clubs in Pasadena.

The manager at Moments met us outside again and took the gift bags to the girls inside. We brought a special bag for the men managers and the bouncer. They had an Astros hat, scripture with prayer and homemade brownie (specially made by our own Laurie Webb!). The girls bags had a cute metallic snap mirror and glittery lipgloss, with the "purse prayer", and a brownie.

We went back to Show Palace and this time, I asked the manager if we could go back to the dressing room to meet the girls in person instead of leaving the bags up front. Rosie, the receptionist seemed a little warmer to me this time and DJ, the manager escorted us back to the dressing rooms! While in there, the girls were telling us how they were just discussing God and His "rules" about drinking wine. :) One girl, in particular asked for my name so that she could write it down with my email address. I am praying she will write.

At XTC, we went back to the dressing room again. There were only a few girls working at the time, but we did talk to a couple of them.

We went back to Moulin Cabaret and saw the bouncer-Jason, again. He was surprised that our driver-David Williams, remembered his circumstances from the last time we were there. They did not let us in, but we did give Jason the bags to take in and David was able to pray with him before we left. He wanted prayer for his finances so that he could get away from that enviroment.

Lastly, Louise and I went to Total Pleasure, a massage parlor. For those that don't know, if a massage parlor has a doorbell you have to ring and bars on the doors and windows...don't expect a high end spa!! These massage parlors are dark, dirty and reserved for one activity-prostitution. Many of these places actually hold underage girls from other countries that are forced to work this way. Last night, though-we met Heather. She was in her twenties and began to cry when we spoke of the Lord. She told us that she needed prayer. She has lost her two children-10 and 3 to the state. The 3 year old has been adopted by someone in Florida. Very heartbreaking. She looked like she could be anyone's daughter. Please pray for Heather. I believe she is ripe for salvation.