I imagine when the Lord
called Bambi Flores to begin ministry for dancers that she did not anticipate
meeting the women of CLUB X. While the strip clubs that we see are not like how
the movies portray, this one is certainly not what anyone could expect. The dancers
are several decades beyond the average dancer that we typically meet The
neighbors of this establishment are a liquor store, an “adult” store, and a gas
station. The entire stretch of road feels desolate and lonely, though it is
almost always busy. In front of the door stands a tall, iron knight whose
shadow covers the few cars that dot the parking lot. Inside, the women usually
are gathered around a television set watching something altogether.
Compared to the
ever-rotating roster of dancers at other clubs, CLUB X consistently holds the
same women. Many of the women are old enough to be our parents or grandparents
even. There are several Asian women who struggle with English, but nod in
greeting us before disappearing to the back. In all the times we’ve been in CLUB
X, very few customers have come by. We often wonder how they stay in business
at all, but for 30 years it has been open. Websites that review bars and clubs
have detailed accounts of men visiting and partaking in what the women offered,
only to speak horrifying things and describe these women as objects to be used
and thrown away, and not revered and cherished.
At first, the women
of CLUB X had no interest in Velvet Hearts. The Go Team was met with cold
greetings and awkward thanks as they took the gifts. Likely disappointed that
they door opening gave way to a group of women instead of paying customers,
they offered only a little in the way of hospitality at first. But God, in His
faithfulness, continued to call Velvet Hearts to go and meet these women every
other week, and the walls began to come down. These women who are daughters,
and sisters, and mothers, and grandmothers, who were once just children with
dreams in their hearts, who have loved and lost, who have known heartache and
pain...these women began to open up their hearts to us. They would yell “The
church ladies are here!” And someone would dip behind the bar to grab bottles
of water for us. Standard greetings eventually gave way to hugs, and surface
conversations soon became deep. Questions started to come like ‘why did Jesus
die?’, ‘is my nephew in Heaven’, and ‘what is Heaven like?’ They told us that
they look forward to seeing us and are sad when they realize it isn’t our week
to come. They shared difficult family topics and prayer requests. We became
like regulars to them, each time seeming less and less threatening as we
remembered details of their lives and asked for updates on their children or a
sick spouse. Little by little, we got to be part of the lives of these incredibly
strong women.
From the very beginning
of me joining Velvet Hearts, I have had the prayerful support of an older woman
at my church. In her thick, Ecuadorian accent, she told me that for years she
has been driving by a club on her way to see family. She ALWAYS prays, “Lord, destroy the place,
but save the people.” Nearly every Sunday we talk about the exciting things
that God is doing in the ministry and she continued to encourage me. I found
out that the club she drives by and has prayed for all this time is CLUB X. I explained
to her how much this meant to me, and that God is doing incredible things
there. She asked if she could provide gifts for us to hand out. And I said yes.
She brought beautiful bags filled with full sized Bath & Body Works soaps
and lotions, pocket-sized New Testament Bibles, and small toiletries. She
prayed over the gifts with her husband and brought them to me at church one
Sunday. She said “The Lord’s word will not return void. He is faithful.” What I
later learned, was that this woman and her husband were not financially in the
place to give such an extravagant gift. She felt the Lord’s call and responded
without hesitation, such a gracious picture of the widow who gave her two small
coins, all that she had. She prayed and she believed that God is bigger than
the club. He is bigger than her finances. And He is bigger than the chains that
have bound these women.
The next outreach we
took the gifts my sweet friend made. When we arrived it was apparent the place
was dead. No cars outside and so
dark. We went in as usual and find out
from the women that CLUB X is closing its doors for good. After 30 years, these
women, some who have worked at this same place for 30 years, are out of work. Closing,
CLUB X is closing. The prayers of a righteous
women have been heard. No longer will a
man enter this establishment demanding sexual favors and call them demeaning
names. No longer will they undress under dim lights and hope, somewhat dreadfully,
for a patron to bring money. No longer do they have to pretend to enjoy
whatever fetish and perversion a customer has just so they might be able to
afford to eat this week. How amazing is it that the very outreach for
which this woman’s gifts are provided is the same week the club is closing? Some might call this coincidence, but I know
it is favor from the Most High.
The prayers of His
people are heard. He hears, and His word does not return void. He is so
faithful. We don’t believe that CLUB X closing is just happenstance. We believe
that we have seen spiritual victory over that club. For the women, this is only
the beginning. They are fearful because of this displacement and what it will
mean for their income and livelihood. They are being forced out of the only
life they have ever known, with no education and no experience outside of this
sexually oriented business. At 40-65 years of age, they don’t know where to turn.
BUT GOD, in His sovereignty and faithfulness knows each and every one of these
fantastically, unique women. He is not surprised by the dramatic shift in their
lives. And we believe that He is ABLE to do immeasurably more than what we can think
or imagine for them.
Please continue to pray for
our friends. Pray that they will be willing to meet with us and let us love on
them. Pray that they will feel the Peace that surpasses all understanding and
that they would encounter a God who is bigger than all their needs. A God who
sees them where they are, loves them more than they know, and is calling them
near.
With so much love and thankfulness,
Katie Gregg
Velvet Hearts Go Team
