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 Amanda on
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Grace,
I'm sorry if I've hurt your feelings in anyway with any of my comments. I agree wholeheartedly that we should not justify sin, condone sin, or sin in any way with the people to whom we testify to about Christ. I've said in several comments that I'd like to see them get away from going into the clubs. I think the ministry has good works. I can't write them off completely for the good that they do. These are my feelings. To me it doesn't appear that they are condoning the sinful lifestyles of the women. Could my perception be wrong? Yes. Again, I apologize for any offenses that my opinions and comments have made to anyone and everyone. I'm sorry.
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Permalink Reply by Tammy on
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Grace, I think if someone would have given him a bed, he would have sold it personally. That's one reason I don't aid others at their sin. As I've said earlier, if the Lord changes my views on this, I give Him the praise but to date, I hold to my view as well. I don't see it as unloving just a conviction of your beliefs. You never said to not love them.
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Permalink Reply by Deserey Velasquez on
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This discussion has caused me to have both a positive and negative reaction. First of all, I respect what they are trying to do. They feel a calling from God to reach out to these ladies and I see nothing wrong with that. I have worked in an RTC with kids who have come from backgrounds that those former dancers in the videos LT posted had. Reading this discussion and hearing what those women said on the videos reminds me of those kids and makes me wonder how many of them will end up in a lifestyle like that if no one ever reaches out to them and shows them God's love. You have to meet people where they are at. Even Jesus ate with sinners.
However, I do have some concerns but I will only mention one. I agree with them going to the club with food for the women especially since it is women taking it. I think it would be a different matter if men were taking the food due to where they are going. I do not agree that they should be doing the women's hair and makeup. I do not see anywhere that Jesus offered to help anyone commit the sin. I will use the example formerly mentioned-He did not offer to help the prostitute pick out what dress she is going to wear. As Christians our role model is Jesus. Yes Jesus meets us on our level but that doesn't mean He assists us with our sin. No! He calls us to repent.
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Permalink Reply by ribbon on
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I think I am more backwards than I thought because I never thought about a stripper being broke.
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LOLOL Janie. You know you wrong. Sorry. I needed that laugh. It's been a rough day.
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I guess I am wrong Tammy ... =D. I sure don't know much. Please know I wasn't trying to make fun of them with what I said though. I really did think that they brought in the big bucks.
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Deserey,
Hi. It's good to see you commenting, and I agree with all that you say, even about taking the meal to the clubs. If I thought that while they were there that they were actually assisting the women to get ready for the shows, I would be upset, too, but I don't think they are doing that at all.
However, just because I don't think so doesn't mean it isn't so, and I would like to see them move away from actually visiting the clubs. The social worker wannabe in me is just glad to see anytime that anyone is helping in anyway in the lives of women at risk and their children, and Christ in me makes me want to see even the most vilest of sinners be saved and set free, and I know my own sins have been many.
I hope they are not enabling, justifying, or condoning the sinful lifestyles of those in the adult entertainment industry in any way, shape, or form. I don't believe that they are, but I am going to call them and find out more straight from them about what they do when they are in the dressing rooms at the clubs. From what I understand their support in the residential programs goes to the ones who have become saved, have left the lifestyle and have "turned in their dancing shoes" and are now transitioning into a new life in Christ, looking for new employment, etc ...
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PS They are pretty well known in Louisville and the surrounding areas now that the need for them to go to the clubs is likely obsolete. I think it's safe to say that women are coming to them almost daily. But I'm only speculating.
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Permalink Reply by Seek on
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In thinking on this, I was wondering for those who have a problem with them doing the hair and makeup, how would you feel if you knew this was the only way they could get these girls to spend more than 5 seconds letting them talk with them?
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I called Scarlet Hope and talked with someone named Courtney this morning.
She was very kind and answered all my questions. She said they no longer fix hair anymore and what happened regarding the make-up was simply that a few professional make-up artists are on staff with the ministry and in a few clubs those women used that as a way of breaking down walls with some of the girls just to be able to have a conversation with them at all, but it wasn't the norm or part of training volunteers for the outreach.
Courtney said Scarlet Hope only takes the meal and they talk with the women who turn to them with questions while they are in the clubs. Courtney said they set the meal up in different places at different clubs but have found that if it's out where the men are, there's too much distraction for the dancers when male customers are present.
The 12 bed facility that just opened in January 2013 is only avalilable to the women who have chosen to leave the entertainment industry. The program lasts five months and three women have just finished it in June and six women have enrolled to begin the next five months which will start in August and they will graduate in December if they stay and finish the program. Here is a link describing the program http://www.scarlethope.org/our-vision/hope-program/
Here is the number I called this morning 1-502-409-HOPE
I told Courtney that a major concern some people have when wondering if they should support your ministry is that you actually are enabling the women to sin by fixing hair and doing make-up, and I can see why that is a concern.
Courtney said she understands also and they only take the meal now and pray that God will give them moments where they can sow the gospel message in the hearts of the dancers right where they are at and they have witnessed conviction in the faces of many. She said they used to fix hair and it was only to have the personal time with the women and gain their trust.
Courtney said if anyone has any questions, to please call and Scarlet Hope is more than willing to talk to you. She said their ministry has been very blessed and they want to honor God completely. They want the women to leave the adult entertainment industry but wanting it for them isn't enough -- as it says in James 2:14-17.
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Of course James 2 is talking about a brother or sister. In light of the whole of Scripture, being unequally yoked with unbelievers and yet being all things to all people that by all means we might save some, as Paul said of himself, and the teachings about our freedoms in Christ, what is the best way to reach out to women in the sex industry? May God teach us.
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