Diamonds, glitz and glam….

(Names were changed to protect privacy)

“That's far from reality of our outreach experiences in the clubs.   It's Friday night and on a neon lit billboard it advertises Cherry, Rayla, and Sprinkle.     We walk into a small building, no windows, air circulation, or light.   It's darker than the night.   We unload the car and set up our delicious beef brisket, baked potatoes, rolls and home made decorated cupcakes.   The smell of the food literally fills the air with a sense of home.   Cherry, Rayla and Sprinkle….dressed in tiny outfits waiting on customers to walk through the door had been saving up their appetite expecting our arrival.   Each of the dancers were so excited we were there….. no amount of money could ever put a smile on their face like that night.

Behind the neon lit sign with names in shiny lights…were three beautiful women who were 18, 19, and mid thirties.  Eighteen and nineteen!   My mind started racing as to why on earth they would be here.  Why they would be dancing for dollar bills that would hardly make enough to pay their bills.

Rayla, 19 sat down to eat after a man had come in and told her she was his boyfriend.   Rayla looked at me and said “i've never even met him before”  with a small chuckle behind her breath, she knew that before he would leave for the night she would get as much money as she could from him.   As I sat and talked with Rayla, I heard a completely love twisted story that made my heart race….Rayla was dropped off on the street when she was 11.  Her mom didn't want her anymore.  She had no dad. The state took her in and her journey for the next 8 years of her life would end her up at 19 in the back of a strip club dancing for dollars.

She said she was moved from house to house and when I asked her why, her simple response was this “they didn't want me anymore”! Does your heart not crush when you hear words uttered from a broken, unloved young lady.   She said she's dancing because.. when she turned 18 the state took her out of the foster care system because of her age and when the government stopped giving her foster care family money they told her to go.    A man who is 10 years her age “befriended” her and now lives off her.   He has no job, does not work and pays for nothing.   He takes her money from her every night.

This industry is far from diamonds, glitz and glam……it's far from any movie you will ever see.   Behind every neon lit sign with names in shiny lights is a soul, longing to be loved..longing for to know God Loves Her!”

Written by Rachelle Starr

Your prayer's are where the battle is fought for the lives of these women.    God is already moving in this club in so many ways, please continue your prayers for all of our clubs.