Took another crazy trip for StripChurch.com with those crazy gals from GirlfriendIT.com — we are looking at putting together a very unique ministry trip for ladies. This trip had us starting the morning out EARLY (text messages began around 5:30am). My compadre Stephen & I picked up Patty & Lisa from the airport in the StripChurch bus (have you seen it yet?).
We swapped the bus & stephen for Craig and a scion and headed 4 hours to nowhere. Do you know where Ely, NV is? I didn’t think so. Ely is home to the oldest legal brothel in the state of Nevada. There are quite a few words that could describe the experience: weird, interesting, depressing, run down, desolate, removed from ‘normal’ life. Our mission for the day had 2 objectives.
1) Build relationships between StripChurch, GirlFriendIT and the owners of the brothel.
2) Scout a new kind of ‘missions trip’ for a group of ladies – it will be a make over (of sorts) to bring life, love, hope and grace to the gals who live in very bad conditions.
The controversy: Should any time, relationship and money be invested into renovating the living conditions for prostitutes working in a brothel? Your opinions and thoughts will be intriguing. The mission will chart on. Look for the trip near October.
This is going to be a great time on May 3 & 4 raising money for the ministries (strip church & xxxchurch.com) that I am actively involved in. Check out the video and strongly consider jumping on board in 1 of 2 ways:
1. Commit to being a bowler & join us in Vegas – there are some AWESOME! perks. — www.FireproofMinistries.com (see bowlfest on right hand side)
our first run with having a group join us for a “mission trip” to Vegas. As some of you know we plan on doing ALL types of conventions in Las Vegas for churches to join us on a mission trip BUT the trials run happened to be the AVN porn show. Ryan Meeks (Sr. Pastor) and a great crew from EastLake Church in the Seattle area were the BEST group to have our first time through. Heather (groups leader @ EastLake) & I started working together to bring them down to join us just 2 short months ago. Their church got lit up to do this convention after Craig had been to their church to speak about porn and also about our ministry into this area. Be sure to check out www.xxxchurch.tv this week to watch the episode.
Some cool stuff that came out of the trip:
- 1 porn star has expressed a real desire to get out of the industry and has begun the process thanks to the ladies from Eastlake and the gals on our team
- Jake made an in-road with a porn exec. that wants to talk about faith, his mom being a pastor and have an ongoing conversation.
- the first trip went off with out any major snafoo’s & the team learned to share their faith on the convention floor — watch out EastLake! I have a suspicion that you are going to be doing some cool new things when these people get back and going.
- Stephen did a great job avoiding accidents… barely. (Heather & Stephen, it will be the year of the Ryan!)
it sounds so much easier than it is. to get started on ‘going’ requires risk. with this mandate laid on my heart, I have been pushing through a bit of anxiety and fear to move out from an arena where i am comfortable and confident into new opportunities and ministry where i actually need God.
Partnering with Craig on StripChurch has refueled my passion to “GO!” where God is leading or making opportunities. Craig, starting with debates and the AVN show, has struck up a friendship with Ron Jeremy, most notably for me (and hopefully for you) from the Surreal Life, season II. Yesterday, we linked up with Ron in Hollywood and spent the afternoon eating, talking, laughing and sharing perspectives on God, sex & eternity. It was interesting, weird and refreshing.
I am adopting one of Craig’s axiom’s - ‘Show up where people don’t expect you to be’. To that I would like to add that when you do, ‘God will do what you don’t expect him to do’. This isn’t as hard as it sounds, but it really has become something that most of us as followers of Christ really struggle to do. We are more in the church (buildings) than out there sharing grace with the world as a Church (followers bound together in Christ). We struggle to “GO!” and would rather make programs @ our churches for people to ‘COME’.
I am planning that my new efforts for Christ will be ones where I have opportunities to be friends with people like Ron. May God use us all to bring grace and love to the world. May GRACE always be held just in front of TRUTH.
[wow - it's been almost a month since i have been on this blog; sorry about that - here are some ministry updates]
As many of you know, one of the projects that I am doing with my time this year is participating fully in the launch of “STRIP CHURCH” (www.stripchurch.com). Last night we had gathering here in Vegas for key donors, supports and fans of xxxchurch.com & fireproof ministries. Our goal was simply to roll-put our full ministry strategy and garner the initial support and investment to get this brand new outreach work off the ground. Over the next few days and weeks leading up to the new year, we will see what God has in store for the ministry in the support area. Certainly there is a lot of interest and enthusiasm.
For most who have not lived here (or near here), the very thought of living and ministering any where in the Vegas area certainly conjures up thoughts of craziness & wildness. Now add to that the fact that we plan to do ministry RIGHT ON THE STRIP and in the conventions/trade shows that are here year round, that adds an extra factor of “what?” to the equation when talking with people and explaining this new ministry.
check out the “ABOUT US” section on the site to start to get a picture of where this ministry came from and where we are going. www.stripchurch.com | PICS
check back early next week – there is another very cool project that I will be working on in PHX in conjunction with Factor1!
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