Last night (2/10)

Last night we went to the strip clubs and took gift bags to the dancers. Each bag contained a cuddly teddy bear, an invitation to church, an encouraging scripture and chocolate candy.

Last month we took the book "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. Ashley told us she read it in 2 days and loved it. Red, a deejay, told us he gave the book to his wife. She later texted him that she read the book and loved it. He even saved her text message to show to us.

Lenore has been dancing for 5 years and wants to get out of the business. She says she has a background in fashion design and hair. We'll give her some of our contacts who are in the hair business.

Christie has 5 boys who live with her mother in Miami. She's been dancing for at least 3-1/2 months.

Little Mama and Percy have been sick. Percy was at home because he was too sick to get out. We prayed for Little Mama outside the club.

We went to a new club. It's the same building that previously housed the club that burned. It's been renovated and looks very nice. The girls were happy to see us.

Another girl has been married for a year and has a 1-year old son. She said she's dancing to put her husband through school. She's 19.

We ran into a girl who spoke very little English. Fortunately, Laurie was with us and translated. This girl pays $80 to go to an ESL class. Laurie's church has an ESL program that is free. Laurie is providing details on time, location, etc. to her.

We had a new team member join us last night. Her name is Vicky, and she told us about a lady in her Bible study group. This woman moved to Houston 14 years ago and noticed the billboards up & down I-45 advertising the various adult-entertainment venues. She began praying that her sons would not see the billboards. She felt impressed that she should not pray that way, but instead should be praying for the girls. For the past 14 years she's been praying for the girls in the clubs up & down I-45. Her prayers paved the way for this ministry. I can't wait to meet this lady and thank her for her prayers. No telling how many lives have been touched because of her prayers (and yours).

One of the dancers showed up at Laurie and Amanda's church last month. She says she attends a church in the north Houston area, is getting baptized and is out of the business. Go, God!
As always, we couldn't do this without you!! Thanks for your prayers and support!

Drenda and the PTD team

Last night (1/6/09)

Last night we went to the strip clubs and took gift bags to the dancers.  Each bag contained the book "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers.  If you haven't read this book, I HIGHLY recommend it.  The bags also contained an invitation to church, an encouraging scripture and candy.

It was a very interesting night, and we had a lot of long conversations with the girls and guys. One girl from a higher-end club is now working at one of the lower-end clubs.  She said the club where we first met her was "getting too crazy".  She didn't elaborate, and we didn't push it. I gave her the phone number to a recruiter in case she is ready to leave the business.

Crashawn just broke up with her abusive boyfriend, but she talks like she might get back together with him.

Keisha is a former dancer and is going to medical assistant school and graduates in July.  She was inebriated, and we encouraged her not to drive home.  She couldn't believe we were there doing what we do.

Big Bo said his son's custody issues with his baby's mamma have greatly improved.  He thanked us for our prayers.

One of the cashiers is reading Victoria Osteen's book, and I stood and listened to her, the manager and a dancer discuss how awesome Joel Osteen is and how much they like his book and his preaching. Joel, if you're reading, you have a loyal following in one Houston strip club. Go, God! 

As we were leaving a modeling studio, a man pulled up in a SUV, stared at us and drove on by.  We got in the van and didn't think much about it other than he was probably a customer who was being delayed.  After I got in the van, I heard my dad talking to a man at the back of the van.  I jumped out of the van and went to see what was going on.  The man introduced himself and said he was with Redeemed Ministries.  I said, "My pastor just met with you on Monday."  He responded, "You're the one!"  Redeemed Ministries is a ministry to victims of human trafficking.  When he saw our van, he thought we were transporting women.  We were -- just not in the way he thought.  It's okay.  We thought he was a customer.  :)  He got to meet the team, and I'm sure we will be doing outreaches together at some point.

At the last club, a couple of guys stopped Tammy and asked what we were doing.  She told them.  They thought it was the coolest thing they'd ever seen. They asked what church we were from.  Tammy told them we all go to different churches but come together to do this ministry.  They were shocked.  They couldn't believe different churches could work together.  Again, they thought that was the coolest thing ever. They asked for extra bags/books to give away to their friends.

Only God can put all of this together.  Thanks for your prayers & support.

Drenda and the PTD team

Reflecting on 2008

Many times in this ministry I feel like it's a waste of time. This year was no different. I always wonder if we're making a difference.  On several occasions I was ready to shut down the ministry, but I can't. There are still girls and guys who need to know there's hope.

This year we saw several "regulars" leave their line of work in the adult entertainment business. We are ecstatic!

*Mary is working in real estate now. She was a cashier in one of the clubs.

*Dave, our favorite former deejay, got arrested and is totally out of the business now. He says he's glad to be away. He starts classes this week to become a truck driver.  He also is celebrating over 100 days of sobriety!  This was his first new year being sober in many, many years.  He's faithful to attend and to serve in his church.  We are so proud of him.  Go, God!

*Karri found us by searching the internet. We met her one night several years ago while she was working at a club. She's a former dancer and wanted to let us know she's out of the business and living for God. She's an intercessor who is very involved in the political arena. She went to the Republican convention this year to pray before and during the convention.

*Kevin. Our favorite former manager. I remember a couple of years ago when we visited him in the hospital after he was shot in the face outside of the club he managed. I asked him then if he was ready to get out of the business. He replied, "No, I'll never leave. This is all I know. I've been doing it for 30 years. I can't do anything else." Well, he can do other things. He's a fantastic cook! He's totally out of the business and working at a restaurant in the Spring area. GO, GOD!!!

I am totally humbled that God has allowed me to be a part of their lives.

I'm also grateful for an incredible team who faithfully serve with me. Their compassion for the girls amazes and challenges me. The PTD team:

My husband, Wes

My parents, Bill & Sybil

Norma

Tammy & Kristen

Amanda

Laurie

Debs, Naomi and the girls from Ireland

Anne (who is currently serving as a missionary in South Africa)

Ineke (who came all the way from Holland)

Joy who spent a few months with us while student teaching at a local school district. She went back home to Ohio to intern with a ministry. I know Joy will be a blessing there.

One particular highlight this year (if only because I overcame the IRS paperwork hurdle): Piercing the Darkness Ministries became a 501(c)3 organization.  This means we are a tax-exempt charitable organization, and any donations made to us can be written off your taxes!

As always, I'm grateful to Spring 1st for their intercession, financial support and for providing a van! The Loft...you guys are incredible! Thank you for letting us be a part of your ministry. And thanks again for sponsoring the December gift bags!

Thanks to all of you who sent encouraging emails throughout the year. You'll never know how those emails ministered to me.

It takes a team to do this ministry. Some team members are out front in the trenches. Others are providing backup and support. We can't do this without each other.

Thank you.

Drenda

P.S. I can't wait to see what God's gonna do in 2009!