I met T a couple of months ago at one of the clubs we serve at. She immediately expressed a desire to leave, but couldn’t work up the courage to do so. Still, on Sundays, she would attend church with me and break down over the despair she felt every week over having to work in the sex-industry. Her desire to follow God is genuine, but the control addiction has on her life is so strong.

It wasn’t too longer after that I heard she had been in a fight at the club and broke her hand, therefore losing her job and temporary use of her dominant hand. With this limitation, she felt hopeless to even find another job, as she couldn’t write on her own to fill out a job application.

As we were driving to church the next Sunday, she asked Eric and I, “I just wonder…what have I done that’s so bad that all these things keep happening to me?” I sat in silence as thoughts raced through my head. She hadn’t done anything…and yet I knew her question was bigger than what she could vocalize. She doubted if God saw her and cared about her situation. I decided that was more important to vocalize than a theological description of how God’s justice works.

But that’s not the end of the story. 3 days later, I picked her up from the hospital where she had a cast put on so her hand could heal and took her home to the motel room she’s been sharing with her boyfriend while living in Louisville. An hour later, she called me crying. Her boyfriend broke up with her, and kicked her out of the room. She had nowhere to go, and the man she thought loved her had rejected her.

In a little under a month, T’s job, health, relationship, and home were taken away from her.

That evening, I drove from my stable job to my safe home and sat across a table eating dinner with my boyfriend. And I felt numb. I hurt for T, but there was something more going on. It took me 24 hours to even put a word to it, but now I know what was crippling me:

Fear.

I had just watched God remove everything from my friend’s life so He could draw her closer to Him. And while I prayed that T would one day see these things as the ultimate glorification of His name, I was also saying:

“…but we’re cool, right God? I mean, I know you give and take away…but remember last year? And the year before that? You’ve already ripped things from my hands before I was ready to give them up, but I’ve been refined through that! Don’t you see it? So it would be really nice if I could get some kind of guarantee from you that things aren’t going to change for awhile.”

Those weren’t my actual words, 1) because I immediately knew how foolish they were, and 2) I didn’t want to admit that, despite their foolishness, there are days where I really wish things worked that way.

This week at church, our pastor talked about how God DOES want to give you “Your Best Life Now”, but that HE decides what the definition of “best life” is. For all of us, our “best life” is one where we recognize that we own NOTHING, we deserve NOTHING, and God will allow NOTHING to interfere with His glory. Any other reality we believe exists is false.

Thankfully, T has chosen to get help so that she can move toward the “best life” God has intended for her.  Pray for her healing. Pray for her peace. Pray that she does not give up.

And pray that the very thing you fear losing the most would begin to pale in comparison to the presence of God. If He chooses to take it away, it will ultimately lead to your joy. If He allows you to keep it, may it be said that it is only by His grace that He would count you worthy of His calling for His glory. (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

Written by Amy W.
SH Outreach Team Member

I can’t wait to see what God will do.

I never cease to see God’s hand move every Thursday night and tonight was no exception. I want to start off in thanksgiving for the hearts of so many. Without you this ministry would not be what it is today. I picked up food from Northside church tonight! Want to give a big shout out to the wonderful ladies that take time out of their day to prepare food for the ladies in the clubs. I know that many others are involved from other churches as well so THANK YOU!!! The girls cannot wait to see what they are having for supper and are so excited to be able to take some home to their kids.

The night began with our support group. We ended up having 4 ex dancers there tonight and we got down to business. We all shared how our weeks have been and any struggles that have held us captive. Then we took turns encouraging each other in those areas of struggle. Some struggling to get a job, some with trying to stay off drugs, some wondering how they live in victory after many abortions, others struggling with the feeling of never being good enough, I myself struggling with boundary issues. We all shared and encouraged.. It was beautiful.. The contrast between seeing these girls in the clubs barely clothed, without hope, to seeing them fully dressed looking radiant and a hope that would inspire a song.. oh how beautiful.. To hear the wisdom that ONLY God can give left me in awe. In awe of a father in love with his daughters. I could only imagine God’s face as they told each other how beautiful and strong they were. Wisdom that I had only heard in a Beth Moore study was on the lips of ex dancers that had only been out of the clubs for a few weeks!!! Tell me that isn’t crazy!

How blessed i felt to just be sitting in the room with these amazing women that were so in love with Jesus. I miss that excitement of first knowing him.. That child like faith when you knew that he would supply every need. To be in love with him and to feel him close.. I just took in a deep breath of his spirit that was so very present. How refreshing..Not that I don’t experience that at times now but you know how it is when you are a new believer and experiencing all that God has for the first time. It seems as though the rivers in the Bible are alive. Like you can hear them flowing and almost smell the fresh wind that blows through the trees.. Well I wanted it back:) God never changed. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. So I walked away with a fresh wind and fire..

I went to a different club tonight. There were only two girls there and they were busy. I wasn’t sure we would even be able to talk with them. Finally one came to us. She was 22 years old and beautiful. As she sat there with her long blonde hair and her golden skin I could only think of my daughter.. I asked how her relationship with her parents was. She said it was good but they did not like her working there. My mind again went to my own daughter. I imagined Riley at 22.. and my heart began to break.. I imagined her sitting there in her place.. I wondered how her mother must feel.. That this giel is someones daughter and how broken their hearts must be to know that their daughter thinks so less of herself that she is dancing for money.. I could picture God’s heart and how much He wants her to know that she is worth so much more. I had a hard time talking to her for fear that I would cry.. She gave me her number and expressed how she did not want to be there but there were no jobs available. She said she didn’t believe in God because of the loss of her brother.. There was a time she believed but it hurt to much now.. Oh how the enemy lies to us all.. I decided right there that I am going to pray for that young girl like I do my own. Oh how they hurt and how my heart breaks for them to know Jesus..

Thank you each of you.. for your prayers..you never know what can come of them but one thing is for sure. I’m believing God! If he makes my heart this heavy and ask of me and many others to leave their homes every Thursday night to cook, pray, and to go to strip clubs, you better believe its for a reason and I can’t wait to see what happens!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Because of Him,
Casey M.
Outreach team member SH

We headed to the back of the dressing room and quickly realized there were 25+ women working this night! It was a busy night! The conditions in which these women work are horrendous to say the least, most of them ending up here as a last resort!

This night our intent was to go in and provide pampering services for the ladies where we could immediately get one on one time with the ladies. It was wonderful. They warmed up right away and allowed us to do their hair, makeup, foot massages, and just sit and talk with them! The banana pudding that was made for us they raved over! We can’t thank our cooks enough for the beautiful desserts and meals they supply us every week! They appreciate it so much!

Managers were telling us thank you and the girls…all their faces would light up with a gleam of hope when they each saw us. They knew we were there to show them love and show them first and foremost the love of Christ!

Many of the ladies that received a foot massage could not believe that we would get down on the floor and even touch their feet. They were moved beyond words! Each women kept opening up to us more and more. We heard stories of them being asked to prostitute in their dancing careers, abuse unheard of, hopes of pregnancies, and longings to leave this kind of lifestyle.

We could write all day about the endless stories we heard, but two stuck out.

Dancer T spoke a lot with us as she told us her marriage to her husband has been rough. He’s a convicted felon and can’t seem to find a job. Her 5 year old little boy was molested last year when she left him with a babysitter. Her little boy has now been taken out of her custody and she wants more than anything to get him back. The pain that is has taken her through has led her searching for endless amounts of drugs and money. When we did T’s makeup she asked how much she could pay us and when we told her it was absolutely free because we loved Jesus and he loved her, she looked with tears in her eyes and said “I’ve never ever gotten anything for free!”

Dancer S came back in the dressing room and sat down. A question that would follow her entrance was going to be a direct chance to witness the gospel. S told us that she was just asked by a customer to go to a hotel room for $3000.00 and have sex with him. She said that she doesn’t see anything wrong with making money this way and she doesn’t see how it’s different than anything else. We could see the justifying begin. But the question that struck us straight to our core, she asked “Is this money a blessing from God?” Wow! The Lord allowed A on our team to witness through that question to her and it was awesome. We don’t’ know what happened after they talked, but we do know that a big seed was planted tonight.

We pray that one day soon S and T will both rejoice that though they once were blind in darkness, they now can see~ Thank you Lord for providing such amazing opportunities to minister the gospel to so many women!

He is good and providing a way all over this city! To Jesus be All Glory!