Meet Shannon

This is Shannon. Shannon is not a dancer- but she is a "woman at the well." When I first saw her I was drawn to her and thought to myself, "I want to get to know her." God even hears our thoughts and less than an hour later, she approached me and asked me if I would have time to talk with her. We talked briefly and scheduled an appointment for her to meet me at my office the next day. She shared with me how she has been addicted to crack/cocaine for years. She is a mother of 4 children with 3 different dads and 2 of the fathers are in prison and she has lost custody of all them.

A week ago I found myself at Shannon's crack house- begging her to leave with me. Addiction has a stronghold on a person like no other. She would not leave with me- like she pictured doing when she asked me when she was sober to come and get her if her car was there. So, with out success in getting her out- I rallied the troops. Those in my circle were praying- all over the country- as far as California. We filled a car and starting driving around the crack house over and over again.

Knowing that Jesus name is the most powerful name- I looked forward to hearing what was happening in this crack house while Jesus name was being spoken.

1. Shannon left the house days earlier than typical- a normal binge for her lasts 3-5 days with out eating, sleeping, or drinking anything. After we showed up- we ruined the party. PTL. I got a text from her at 2:00 a.m.that night "I'm home. U can call me if u want." I called and told her that I loved her, everything was going to be ok.

2. Shannon said that when she got to the house that afternoon, that a guy said to her, "You look different- something has changed about you. You have never looked like this before." Even then, she knew what he saw- she told him that she was learning to fall in love with Jesus.

3. After we messed up the party- she said she couldn't do the drugs anymore. She had her head in her lap and when she looked down at the floor, she saw a tiny little cross...imagine that... a little cross on the floor of a crack house!

4. She had a great deal of anxiety and didn't want to leave the house. The people inside kept telling her- they are gone- you can leave now. She told them- "I can tell they are not gone- I know they are out there somewhere!" She says she could feel our prayers- at times much greater than at other times.

Shannon was looking for help. She has lived in Bloomington for 7 years and has isolated herself from everyone. Her mother died of a drug overdose 8 years ago. Her father has disowned her because she ruined his reputation.

Shannon is like thousands of women that are looking for love. Are you willing to share God's love with her? Her life is messy. Are you willing to invest in those that need to experience God's grace first hand?

"Is my faith strong enough to encounter sin and love the sinner until he or she will realize and respond to the Source of that love?" written by Mark Taylor, Christian Standard.

I need more people willing to get in the lives of the hundreds of people that enter the doors of Eastview that are looking for this love. Can you help me put God's love in action?

It’s difficult to describe what it’s like spending your Saturday night in a strip club and then less than 6 hours later partaking in communion with your church family on Sunday morning. I was talking to my sister the next day about how difficult it is to leave the club feeling that I just left everyone behind- that maybe I didn’t do enough or maybe I was not bold enough. My young, wise sister, reminded me that they are NEVER out of the reach of God’s love. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus didn’t wait until we got everything in order- while we were in the midst of our “Biggest” sin- that’s when he shed His blood for us. That’s what makes communion so special. These women that are living in such darkness do not even realize that there is a God that loves them right now!

I spent most of my evening in the dressing room listening to the girls talk about their lives: their boyfriends, their children, complaining about the customers, how much money they are or are not making. But, I would consider that I had 2 significant God opportunities.

The first time I went to this club, I met one of the DJ’s there. After I assured him I was not interested in dancing, he would not stop asking me what I do for a living. I responded that I work in an office. (he didn’t know it was a church office!) But he kept going on and on asking me…. He said, “I can tell there is something different about you- you’re sophisticated.” I believe that your light shines brightest in the darkness- and he had no other way to describe what he saw in me but as “sophisticated.” Once my friend, Amber finally blurted out to him what I do at the church - he was really puzzled. For the rest of the night he watched me and when I was back stage, he wanted to talk to me and ask all kinds of questions about the church and tell me about his background. At that point, he told me that he had attended Northwoods Church in Peoria several times. He enjoyed the church and described the sermons as “motivational speaking.”

He was working Saturday night- as he has for over 15 years there. I went to the DJ booth to say hi to him and he immediately recognized me. Amber told him that I ask her about him all the time to which he didn’t believe. I assured him that I do think about him all the time, in fact, I have a post-it above my computer in my office with his name on it and I pray for him everyday. He responded that I had just made his night, seemed humbled and then someone yelled from the stage because he was obviously falling behind on his DJ duties… so we said good-bye – for now.

The second conversation was with Amy. Amy is a dancer that was feeling very discouraged with her body and had not been making very much money. The girls have to pay to dance. The house fee is at least $50 a night and if they are late for their shift, they are fined. The owner also gets a cut of everything they make- lap dances, VIP rooms, etc. The owner gets $125 from the VIP room and the girls can charge whatever they want above that. Then, the managers are there with their clipboards walking around the dressing room making sure the girls turn in their money throughout the evening.

Amy has actually been paying her house fees out of her own pocket, because she has not been making enough money to cover her charges. She is a single mom with 2 children. She started talking about how difficult it is for her to work there knowing that most of the men are committing adultery. At that moment, we got interrupted. (It was just getting good!) But, I as I was feeling frustrated that our conversation ended so abruptly, I remembered that she had given me her phone number to give my friend that sells their outfits.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

(I went to the club with my friend, Amber, author of the blog “One More Night.” Amber no longer dances, but her main source of income is selling the outfits that the girls wear in the club. She uses it as an opportunity to stay in the world where she once lived.)

One More Night

(The story below was written by a good friend of mine about her past as a stripper. Our friendship began about 2 years ago. As I have come to love this woman, my love has grown for other ladies that are still out there....one more night. The story below was written for one of her classes- she is a full time college student at Lincoln Christian University. Her dream is to have a ministry to reach out to dancers and help them find the Light.)

One More Night

As I walk up the steps to the stage, I turn off my emotions. I become the robot that I have to be when I'm up there. With my heels tightly fastened and my head held high, I close my eyes even though they remain open, and I begin to feel the music. One more night, I tell myself, one more night in this darkness. As the night comes to an end and I count my money and leave, the drive home is so lonely and all I can think about is the nastiness I felt tonight. Even though I made the goal I set for myself, the hundreds in my pocket feel like pennies in my soul.

My children were always my escape. I only had to work 3 nights a week so it gave me plenty of time with them and being with them made me feel normal. But in reality, our life was never normal. Almost all my friends were dancers and they would constantly call me with all the drama that goes along with this lifestyle- the drugs, prostitution, boyfriends cheating on them, boyfriends beating them, and their kids being taken away. Sometimes I felt like I was the "Mother Teresa" of the stripper life- maybe that just made me feel better about myself. But I was far from better though, although I didn't always share their drama, I did my best to ignore the voice inside me calling out for help. It was a normal day to hear about my best friend being beat on or having another abortion. Us dancers needed each other, no one could understand us the way we could understand each other.

One more night I sat in the dressing room, starring at myself in the mirror. I would tell myself, "I hate my life. How did eight years go by so quickly? Is this all I'm ever gonna be?" So many years I've spent on that stage, numb to everything that really mattered. Money was my idol- my drug of choice. Money controlled my happiness.

I became close to a girl that I worked with, Asher was her stage name. In her face, I saw brokenness from years of heroin abuse and sadness. We would sit in the dressing room and talk about how she used heroin and lived in a whore house in Peoria. The stories would shock me and I couldn't even imagine how she made it through all that she did. I wondered, "Is that what people think about me? Do they feel shocked and feel sorry when they hear about me?" I was never ashamed to tell anyone that I was a dancer. I figured it was a legal job and I was supporting three kids alone so it was okay. I would always make up some excuse to convince myself that I wasn't doing anything wrong. But, the truth was that I was totally destroying myself and I didn't recognize the damage.

Asher and I would pal up at work and do whatever it took to con money out of whoever. Cocaine became our daily bread. I never let drugs get the best of me, but I did do them, lots of them. Asher couldn't control the drugs like I could though and I watched her go downhill fast. I started not seeing her at work and we slowly lost contact. Often, I would think about her and hoped she was safe. After some time I heard that she was badly addicted to drugs, was separated from her husband, and her children had been taken away from her by DCFS. It really bothered me and I started wondering about my own life.

My mother would constantly ask me to come to church with her. I worked on Saturday nights so I would use that as my excuse not to go. But, she would always keep asking. I always thought, "Why does she want me to go so bad? I'm a freaking stripper!" There would be special occassions when I would give in and go with her. Being at church was so emotionally devastating because I felt like I was already in hell. I was figity and anxious and felt a rush of negative emotions. I was mad at myself for being there because I felt like I was a hypocrite. I was mad at God for making me face my demons and I was mad at my mom for just not leaving me alone.

During the worship was the worst. Times before when I had gone to church I would hear the music but not listen to the words, but something changed one Sunday morning, God made me listen to the words. Every word in the songs cut like knives in my heart and all I wanted was the tears that were falling from my eyes to stop before someone would notice and I would have to explain something that I didn't even understand. I needed my numbness to take over but I couldn't shake this emotion. And then, as I was looking over the balcony scanning the crowds of hundreds, I see what I so badly at that moment needed to see- -Asher sitting in the front row. If God could change her and she could be there- then He could change me. I knew from that point on that my life was going to change. I felt God, I heard His call, and from that dark and lonely place, I walked to His light and I was free!

April 2008 I quit dancing. Breaking that tie was not and has not been easy. It continues to be difficult. Coming to God has left me broke, I've lost a lot of friends, and I've had a lot to change. But, I feel happy and proud to know that I am forgiven and if I die today then heaven will be my home.

Praise God!

Some ministries can go on for a long time before ever seeing the fruit of their labor. I was challenged by Bill Hybels book, Just Walk Across the Room, when he says that sometimes as believers, our job is just to take someone from a negative 7 to a negative 4 on how they feel about God and the Gospel. I'm a salesman. I like to "close the deal." Jesus tells us in John 4 that some will sow and others will reap their hard work. Today, I was blessed to reap the harvest!

An ex-dancer friend of mine found out that I was going to a club this week-end, she told me about a friend of hers, Hollie that was a dancer there. I contacted Hollie and then I met her boyfriend, Jose (one of the managers at the club) and we spent about 3 hours together on Saturday afternoon talking about how God is working in their lives.

Then today, I got a message from Hollie saying, "I can't wait anymore. When can I get baptized?" Less then 2 hours later, a small crowd of our Eastview staff witnessed the baptism of our new brother and sister in Christ, Hollie and Jose.

I know that God has amazing things in store for them and I look forward to see how they will continue to be salt and light wherever they are. I also know that satan will enjoy attacking them and discouraging them in their new faith journey. Please join me in battle to support and encourage Hollie and Jose through our prayers.

Leading up to Saturday....

First- thank you for the many prayers! We felt your prayers and God was totally moving before us and opening the way. Looking at what has transpired in the past several weeks - I can see why I was hearing the strong voice of God specifically telling me "You need to go to Kappa on Saturday night before Mother's Day." It's difficult to explain to someone how you hear God speaking to you- especially so specifically in this case. Let me tell you all the praises and open doors that God provided by obeying his command to Go! The chain of events......

1. I have felt the calling for some time now to begin an outreach in the strip clubs. I've met with several church pastors/leaders in the Peoria area to begin this outreach (most of the clubs are in the Peoria area.) We made some preliminary assignments to get about 10 area churches together to unite and plan together this summer to begin the outreach. I was perfectly fine with the timing- felt no rush and kept praying. In my mind I thought- we'll get started some time this fall.

2. About 2 weeks ago- I started getting this feeling (like I couldn't breath) and a sense of extreme urgency that YOU specifically need to go to Kappa Saturday night before Mother's Day. I heard it... but it was still a matter of how exactly do I do that?

3. Monday- I get a call from Bath & Body Works-saying they have items they want to donate to the church for Mother's Day- do we have something we can do with them? Immediately, I knew what that meant- it was the final confirmation I needed and I just had to drive there- ask for a manager and get permission to come back.

4. Monday night- I drove out to Kappa with a good friend, Michelle, and talked to the manager. I asked if we could come back on Saturday for Mother's Day and bring dinner to the girls. Evidently, because of health department guidelines- that was not an option. So- I said fine, I have gifts- can I just bring the gifts?... "Why do you want to do this again?" My reply- don't you have a lot of single moms? I want to show them appreciation. Wow! That's really nice of you.

5. Wednesday night- I find out that one of the dancers from Kappa has been attending Eastview for the last several months. I text her, ask if she's working on Saturday and if I can meet her. She replies- yes- she's working- yes - she would love to meet me AND her boyfriend (one of the managers) AND one of the DJ's there have also been attending!! She invites me to her house on Saturday afternoon.

6. Thursday morning- my bible reading was from John 4. Have I read the story of Jesus meeting the woman at the well? Yes! But, it hit me differently this time. My great group from Peoria and I had been brainstorming different names..... Meet me at the Well seemed perfect. (Since "meet me at the well" was already taken for a blog- that's how it became "Meet me at Jacob's Well") I LOVE IT!

7. Saturday afternoon- I go to my new friend's house and she invited the 2 others that have been joining her at Eastview. I was there for over 3 hours and we talked about all kinds of things... the greatest included how/what/when/why they all want to be baptized together....I am amazed at how God is using this dynamic 3 on the inside to be the salt and light. I didn't know anything about them before wanting to go there- but God did. I pray that our going was an encouragement to them in their faith and it will give them additional boldness as they are there. For us going to the club where they would all be working a few hours later... they provided an extra feeling of safety and comfort knowing that we had other believers that would have our back.

Look at that... a perfect 7.

Preparing for Mother's Day

Thank you to those of you that donated items for the special Mother's Day gift bags! A lot of the dancers are single mothers- so this will be a great opportunity to open the doors! We had a great time of preparation- we made hand written notes and included our contact info- and now we'll pray for future follow-up. Our prayer is that this intial contact will just be the beginning of new friendships and relationships with these precious women!
We spent time praying and reading John 4. If you've not read it lately- it will help you understand what and why we're going into the strip club.
What's inside the bag? Candle (made by Ginger), tickets to the children's discovery museum, box filled with chocolate hugs and kisses, gum, candy, Biaggi's free appetizer and free drink coupons, toothpaste, lotion, and our hand written note. Most importantly, the love and prayers that went into each and every bag.

What is Meet me at the Well?

Meet me at the well comes from John 4, where Jesus met the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. This woman was known to be "living in sin" and no respectable man would have ever talked to her in public. But, the Gospel is for every person, no matter what his or her race, social position, or past sins. Jesus crossed all barriers to share the gospel, and all those that follow Him must do the same. Will you?

Jesus always met people right were they were. His actions were questioned by the religious leaders and this was his response: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:31

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

Let's GO be LIGHT in the darkness!