All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
Strip Club
Rachelle Starrn was raised in a Christian home & had never been inside a strip club in her life. But she felt this calling from God to reach out to women in the sex industry. She knew that God had given her a passion for those women to know how much He loves them & how precious they were in His eyes. Whatever doubts, she knew God was calling her to take action. He didn't want her to just to feel compassion for them but to do something about it.
In 2008, she started Scarlet Hope, a ministry that reaches out to women involved in the sex industry. They take big, southern-comfort-style dinners to strip clubs. Their prayer is that they're not just feeding their stomachs but they're feeding a deeper spiritual hunger. In some clubs, they fix hair & make-up so they can get some one-on-one time with the girls. It gives them the opportunity to pray with women in the middle of the strip club.
She states that many hearts have been changed & lives touched & many turned to Christ for forgiveness & new beginnings. She says she has seen Jesus show up many times in the back of a strip club dressing room. Many dancers opened up to them, sharing their struggles, asking for prayers, & some have even accepted their invitations to church.
What are your thoughts on this testimony? When I read it I must admit doubts flooded me. I know Jesus goes to the sinners but He didn't put their make-up on before prostituting themselves. Am I wrong with my feelings? No one knows the mind of God but do you really believe God would have them take such drastic steps to reach others?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tammy on
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Graze, I'm not saying don't go to them. I'm saying don't go in the den of lions. You can always reach out to them outside but help them get ready. I think on an earlier post Grace said she wouldn't help a thief fix his mask before going in to rob someone. It was hilarious but so true.
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Permalink Reply by Mary O on
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I have mixed feelings about the Scarlet Hope ministry.
We have a ministry like this in Minnesota except they minister to prostitutes on the street. Or maybe I should say they rescue prostitutes from the streets. A lot of them are trapped and don't know how to get out of what they're in. Others have no where else to go. They don't believe their families would still want them. The ministry can help them to reunite with their families. It begins the healing process. How many of us have ever thought about how we've sinned and wondered how could Jesus ever want me? It's the same kind of thing. How could my family still love me and want me?
It's like their self-image has been ruined. They have to start somewhere to make a comeback. Maybe elevating their self esteem is the way to go. I've done some prayer work with this ministry. The prostitutes are very hesitant to trust anyone.
Love,
Mary
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Permalink Reply by journeyman on
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YES! God does reach out this way! God reaches us right where we are!
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Permalink Reply by ribbon on
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I am wondering.... since I am very confused about this subject, does it make me to be arrogant? I never think myself to be arrogant. I have never had anybody walk into a bar to preach to me. But, I have talked about God plenty to others when I was drinking. I am wondering if a Christian had of came to me then , would I have changed? I heard that the bible says only the Holy Spirit can draw you so I am thinking not. I am still confused about this strip club question , but in defence I don't call it judging. I might say whore house ... but around my area... where I live that's what their places are called. Some news use the word "prostitution" but to me it means the same thing. I would love to be strong enough in the Lord and know His word and not have my fears so I could go out into the world to spread the word of God His love. But I have never thought to go into these places. Does Christians go into these whore/prostitution places during working hours? Anyway.... just wanted to say I am not arrogant nor am I judging.... I always just thought when people went out to these places they just stood out with invitations and talk to them as long as they would listen.
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Permalink Reply by Amanda on
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Janie,
I never see you as arrogant. The Father draws us to Jesus and Jesus reveals Himself and the Father to us. This is my understanding and we are born again through a work of the Holy Spirit.
I understand your confusion about the topic. It's a tough one. I had mixed feelings at first but the more I learned about Scarlet Hope, the better I felt about them. I would like to see Scarlet Hope stop visiting the night clubs. I think they've helped enough women in the last five years that they are well known for the help they are willing to provide and now the women can seek them out. I think they continue doing it because it's how they got started. Also, they want to befriend new women just entering that scene. The answers are never easy, and I'm easily duped by wrong teachings and bad ministries. But I still have a good opinion of Scarlet Hope even in the face of all of that stuff.
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Greetings all,
This topic caught my interest and I posted something primarily regarding the ministry after some brief research and then felt led to pull my post down. I am the first to admit that I am a skeptic and cautious by nature. It is important to know something valid about a ministry before you can give it support of any kind, because support means partnership. This group, since they openly ask for support, needs to do a better job IMO of presenting themselves before people they wish to draw support from. Their website is pretty generic. It does not detail much about their ministry or their beliefs, both of which should be important to anyone wanting to stand with them in this ministry. After a little more research I came across two YouTube videos that give us an idea as to what they are really about. There are still some important gaps, at least for me (and I will not detail my concerns), but there appears to be a message of hope and a pathway presented that leads them away from the sin that enslaves them and towards a Savior who wants to free them. I found the two videos below to be compelling but not complete. I post them for those who are interested to view them if you wish.
Lord Bless,
LT
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LT,
Thank you for posting these. The testimonies are what really move me. I agree that there are gaps, and I'd like to see a documentary completed about them and they certainly need our prayers. I understand the controversy but in my heart I think if just one woman has been helped, an eternal difference has been made. I also have a soft place for those who've been abused as children. Many lose sight of their options or just lose hope altogether.
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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on
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Does the end justify the means? Would Jesus or the apostles do what these sisters are doing, as far as putting on their makeup? Can our Lord call these sisters/women to do just that, according to what we know about him, His holiness etc...?
Can the women that the ministry is trying to help turn around and throw in the faces of the sisters the fact that they have helped them sin?
Can we help people without assisting them in their sin?
From the videos, it is obvious that the ministry blesses those enslave in that life style. The women who invest in these beautiful work obviously love the Lord and have compassion. Can they do it better, I believe we can all do better and we will all make mistakes as we endeavor to serve God, we learn from the mistakes and hopefully grow and mature in our practices. I believe, from personal experiences, that people appreciate when we (Christians) do not sacrifice our convictions, yet do all we can to reach them.
Tammy - thanks for sharing beloved.
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From what I gather there are 25 churches in the Louisville Area that support the ministry of Scarlet Hope. Here is a link to the weekly newspaper that one of those churches puts out -- Southeast Christian Church. However, the women in the ministry come from different churches.
http://www.southeastoutlook.org/news/features/article_081a93aa-fcec...
Here is a section of the article they ran in September 2012. Since then, the ministry has opened a new facility where women who leave the industry can stay and make the transition.
"Emily Williams, who works with Scarlet Hope, said women in the clubs are shocked that “church ladies” come to them.
“These women have never heard the true Gospel,” she said. “Some have come across Christians before that talked at them but not with them. One of the biggest misconceptions they believe is that they have to clean up their act before they can come to Jesus. They think they have to get sober first, off drugs, get their life right. But the great news we tell them is when Jesus died, He cleans you up in the darkest time of your life.”
Southeast Christian Church is one of 25 churches in the Louisville area that supports Scarlet Hope with time and resources. As the ministry expands, so do needs.
This year, Scarlet Hope added a Hope for Kids program, teaching children about Jesus while their moms study the Bible.
“As we help the women, we also impact the children,” Starr said. “That’s reaching the next generation.”
Here is a link to the statement of faith of Southeast Christian Church
http://www.southeastchristian.org/?page=3441
I have no way of knowing how many, if any, of the women in the ministry of Scarlet Hope are members of Southeast. I just know this church supports them. The end doesn't justify the means -- that is true.
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Grace - Good word beloved.
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