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 ribbon on
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When I first started reading this I thought wow good for her to go minister to these women, but as I read further to where they were in the strip clubs putting on their makeup ..... a scripture popped up in mind ... to abstain from the appearance of evil. It would be cool if the ministry could go invite the strippers to a place with Christians wanting to fix their hair amd makeup while soreading the word... I don't know either Tammy... Im confused on this one too.
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Permalink Reply by Tammy on
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Thanks Janie. I'm still praying about my conclusions as well. Still reading as well.
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Permalink Reply by Amanda on
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I live in Kentucky and I have nothing bad to say about their ministry. Their goal in going into the clubs isn't to get the women prepared for the entertainment. Their goal is godly. I'm not sure how you feel about your hairdresser but I think many women really open up in a situation where someone is offering a service like that to them. Even if we frown on them for that part, then please look at the Hope Program that they offer. It's a living home for exploited women where women can stay five months while they heal and rest and receive Christ-centered teaching and counseling.
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Permalink Reply by Seek on
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A scripture also pops into my mind:
Mark 2
15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
I agree, going into the club and helping the girls with hair and makeup in order to minister isn't the same as appearing evil. They're not stripping...they're there to minister and get close to these girls....and it's working. You shall know them by their fruits.
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Some of the women whom they've reached out to for the last five years have actually spoken at their fundraisers, telling their stories. The facility that just opened is a new part of the ministry because many women feel trapped in that lifestyle and the money is very enticing to them and they need help finding other jobs, etc ... I am currently reading Naomi Zacharias' book The Scent of Water and how she went into the brothels in Mumbai and to Amsterdam where prostitution is legal and women are behind windows, selling themselves to onlookers walking down the street -- the world famous red light district. Most of the people who provide resources to women in the sex industry do it to provide the women an option for them to leave but not to coerce them. But the help, in the form of counseling and even financial support isn't to enable them to stay where they are. Naomi launched Wellspring International to help at risk women and their children.
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When Jesus met the woman at Jacob's well, it's probably safe to say that the meeting was a divine appointment and not by accident. IOW, Jesus went out of His way most likely to see her and to have that conversation.
In all that I've read about Scarlet Hope, nowhere have I read that their specialty is to do hair, makeup, and nails for women in the adult entertainment industry.
What I have read is that they provide a meal as an outreach and in doing so they are allowed into the dressing rooms of the women and while there they have conversations with the women and they sometimes fix hair. Maybe they also do make-up and nails, I don't know and I haven't read anything about those services. If they didn't touch the women at all, would it then be OK?
I believe what is unsettling about this ministry in most minds is simply that they enter the strip clubs at all. Why did Jesus meet up with the woman at the well? I believe the conversation was important to Him and I believe that the conversation with the women is what is important to those in this ministry. Jesus did not have a superior attitude with the Samaritan woman or look down on her. He helped her see that she was a sinner in need of salvation and this ministry does the same thing with these women. Have you ever met someone who has so much guilt that they believe that God would never want them or help them, or even if God did, people wouldn't? We are not to excuse sin but sinners need hope. If I'm wrong in my reasoning, it won't be the first time, and it's just the way I see it. I'm not asking anyone to agree with me, but it is never about making people feel better about themselves -- it is about helping people see that they have value in God.
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Grace to you,
I will continue replying as the Spirit leads, but my conversation with you has become circular. I have only to read the four gospels to see tbe heart of Jesus toward women, and toward sinful women at that, and I will leave you with 1 Cor 13:2, "... If I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love I am nothing." The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.
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If they didn't touch the women at all, would it then be OK?
I realize this is off topic but this above comment reminds me of somewhere in the bible it says to be careful who you lay hands on. Something like that. Does any one know if there is a forum topic on this here ? I cant find one. But I have always been curious about what people say it means
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Janie,
Here is an article with an explanation about that Scripture, and it appears to be in the context of designating spiritual leadership.
http://www.gotquestions.org/laying-on-of-hands.html
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I believe what is unsettling about this ministry in most minds is simply that they enter the strip clubs at all.
I think that explains it beautifully.
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Amanda, the only problem I have with this view is Jesus didn't go into the woman's room at the well during any of her many sexual activities. He didn't bring condoms & tell them to be careful of sexual diseases. He didn't serve them dinner & then say, off you go to the pole. As far as you not reading about the make-up, you just did. I haven't completely made my conclusions but am still reading & praying. It reminds me of a dude that goes into bars, takes Snoop Dog songs & puts Christian lyrics to them & say he's witnessing. I find that a bit perplexing. The Lord doesn't need the world to help Him out. I agree that I don't like the part about them going inside. Why not wait until they've done their deed, wait outside & then show them love?
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Tammy,
If Scarlet Hope is doing all of those things then I'm in agreement with you. I can only go by what I've seen in the local news and what I've read from those who support the ministry, the testimonies of the women they've helped, and the information on their main site and some other sites that help them with funding, such as the t-shirt site. But I'm not inside any ministry and I've just joined a new church and don't really know all there is to know about it either. I'd like to see a full documentary about what they actually do for the women and specifically what they do when they visit the club. What you posted is the first I've ever read about the make-up part, and I have read that they fix hair but that was stated on one of their sites and it wasn't the reason why they were in the clubs from what I understand. However, if it is, then I agree. That is wrong. The intention is wrong.
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