Pretty bold graphic, right? But read the bottom…don’t get crazy, and please don’t leave the blog. I assure you I haven’t lost my mind.
If you’ve been around a while you know that my life can be some what unpredictable. I’m a hobby/skills/learning/adventure junkie, so I tend to try all kinds of things. Let me be perfectly clear: I’m not going to be working as a stripper.
Remember last week when I wrote to you about “Dangerous Prayers?” If you didn’t catch that one…I recommend you read it before continuing on with this post. Well, about six months ago I prayed a dangerous prayer.
I found myself in North Dakota. I zillion miles from anywhere I ever imaged living long term. Away from my BFF in Shreveport, away from any business ties I’d made over the last few years. I was trying to get some kind of work/career thing established here, but nothing was turning out. Photography sessions were left unbooked, my social calendar was empty. I was very down because I felt like my life wasn’t prospering. I wasn’t doing anything remarkable for myself or for God’s Kingdom. Deep down I knew my time in North Dakota was meant for more. The trouble was, I had no idea where to start looking.
So one day when I was at a low point, I prayed. Nothing I was doing was panning out. I knew God had a plan for me while I’m in Practically Canada, and I wanted in on it. I prayed and told God that I was here. My plans weren’t working and I truly wanted to give up on “my stuff.” I was tired of being sad because I didn’t feel like my life was going anywhere. I told Him that I was finally broken and ready to be used–however He saw fit–to further His kingdom. I asked Him to use my life as a vessel to create glory for Himself. I asked Him to do something with my life that no one could mistake for something I’d done on my own. I told Him I wanted people to see how I use my life and recognize that the God I serve is the one and only God…the Living God…the Loving God.
Yeah, the prayer went something like that. It was pretty heavy. I’ve asked God to show me my purpose before…but the difference this time was that I didn’t want a purpose for myself. I wanted desperately for Him to be my purpose. For Him to use me for His purpose.
When I had finished praying I went back to business. I probably watched some “Wonder Years” on Netflix and went to the gym or something. I didn’t know what to expect from God. I knew he would answer. I fully understood that I had prayed a dangerous prayer…one that could be answered with a “Get up and move to an overseas mission field,” or “Sell everything,” or “Get a job at McDonalds.” I knew the answer might not be what I wanted to hear…but honestly, I didn’t know what I wanted anymore. I just wanted to be used for His purpose.
The next day–kid you not–the answer came.
Now, mind you, it’s been a few months. The details are a bit tricky for me to remember. I was doing a search online. Randomly looking up things about Williston, ND {a town 1.5 hours away, the center of the ND oil boom}. In my fitness classes some women were complaining about how “mainstream” Minot had gotten. They blamed it on the boom in Williston. They said, “…At least we aren’t in Williston. It’s getting down right dangerous over there.”
This piqued my interest. Hence the Google search. At the time when you put “Williston, ND” into a search this article from CNN Money was one of the top results. For some reason I clicked over. I read the article. In a nutshell, it says that the strip clubs in what was once a very quiet town are now the largest, highest profiting clubs in the country.
I’ll be honest with you. I’ve never really though much about strippers. I know the job exists. But I’ve never thought about it much. It seemed like a choice, a job, something girls did to make easy money. Something dirty men took part in.
However…all that changed. I read the article and I couldn’t believe it. Girls are coming from all over the country and the world to dance in North Dakota. They can make nearly $3000 in one night. As I read, I heard God speak to me. I know it was Him, because I would never conjure this thought up on my own.
He was passionate and stern. Loving and graceful. He told me that those were His girls and He wanted them back. God put a sadness in my heart. He allowed me to feel what He felt for these women working in the clubs. They are people, humans. Not things to be labeled “stripper” and shunned from society. He loves these girls because He made them. He wants them to know. You see, Jesus’ sacrifice was not only for those of us living our lives “the right way.” {What does that even mean anyway?} He died for everyone. There is no place in this world that is too dark for His Light to shine. There is no hole too deep for Him to reach. He loves these dear women and now I do too.
So with my heart open and listening I asked God what He wanted me to do about it. A peace washed over me and I knew that meant He’d show me.
Eventually God lead me to another Google search, which opened my eyes to a lovely organization called Strip Church. They specialize in training up teams and mission plants to reach out to women working in the sex industry. They had a training coming up in February, in Dallas.
All this happened in August-ish.
I thought the idea was amazing. I spent loads of time looking at other outreach’s websites. Seeing what they do and how they do it. Looking at results. I knew this was something that we needed here, but I was scared. I was terrified. When I prayed, I never expected this to be the answer. Strip clubs? I didn’t know anything about clubs. Or stippers. Or what it’s like to have a less-than-cushy lifestyle. If you know me {or read here often} you know I’m not real street-wise. I’m more board game/awkward moment savvy.
God had answered me in a big way…but now I was pulling a Jonah and back pedaling. I started praying again. Telling Him He had the wrong girl. How would I forge a relationship with these women who had known so much pain in their lives? What could I do for an industry gal? Surely there was someone better equipped.
Friends, we serve a faithful God. He continues to see potential in us when we feel in over our heads. Gently over the following months He continued to tell me this is what He wanted and I was right for the job. {After all, my prayer was that He would use me to do something that only HE could really DO.} It took months for me to say the words aloud. “Uhhh, I think God wants me to minister to strippers.”
It’s got a weird ring to it. But finally I told my dear friend Emily over our weekly Bible study. To my amazement she didn’t think I was crazy. She didn’t even try to talk me out of it. Her prayers encouraged me to tell Derek. Again, he didn’t think I was crazy. He didn’t ask for a divorce or anything rash. Instead, he said, “I think that’s amazing. That’s exactly what you should do.” So slowly I began telling more and more people. Eventually I had the elevator pitch down: “God has called me to start a women’s ministry. It’s an outreach to women working in the sex industry in North Dakota.” Believe me…this is an improvement over my first few awkward attempts at explaining.
Finally I got the nerve to tell our pastor at church. This was a big one. I needed advice and prayer. I’ve never even been on a mission trip, let alone lead the plans for a new outreach. Again, the Holy Spirit had gone before me. He was excited and said he felt like this ministry had “Jesus’ signature on it.” That was so exciting and nerve-calming to hear. He is truly a man of God who sees the church as the honest body of Christ. I just love that.
So another month passed and I went to Shreveport, then on to Dallas. Sorry for being so mysterious about why I was there. As you can see…I really wanted to sit down and tell you all about it. Now you know. I’ll be posting lots more on this topic as things begin to take shape. I hope you don’t think I’m crazy. I’m in love with a stripper. {Like the song.} I’m in love with all of them because God is in love with all of them. {Now you get the graphic.}
Thursday I meet again with my pastor to tell him all about the training conference in Dallas and everything I learned. Friday I’ll be explaining to you what a ministry of this kind looks like, how it works and why it is so important. Until then…please keep this all in your prayers. These are women that God is very passionate about. It’s not our place to judge their lives or choices. We don’t know their story. It’s our job to love them, and recognize that they are fearfully and wonderfully made just like you and I.
Get pumped. Can you believe this was the answer I got? Yeah…me neither. God is awesome.
Amy
