You’ve probably heard of the porn ministry XXXChurch, but have you heard of the stripper ministry JC’s Girls Girls Girls? Started by a former stripper and supported by Sandals Church in Riverside, Calif., the ministry attends porn conventions and reaches out to workers in the adult entertainment industry, much like XXXChurch, but these girls have been there before.
The news media is starting to pay attention (they just love a good church sex story, don’t they?), though some of the coverage is a little more incendiary than it needs to be, like the title of the AP story: Minister Buys Lap Dances To Tell Strippers About God.
And the lap dances? Former stripper Heather Veitch pays for them so she can talk to strippers about God. It sounds awful when you say a ‘minister’ is buying them, but I think it makes a little more sense in context.
Much of their web site is targeted for people in the industry, so there’s soft-focus and glamour shot pictures, an alluring shot of a woman hugging a Bible (!?), and a JC’s Girls Girls Girls In Action! DVD–not exactly church web site material, but certainly more tame than the underwear page in a Sears sales flier.
Say what you want about their site, their approach to ministry is cool, especially encouraging people in the industry to come to church as they are, still involved in the industry and trying to sort things out. That’s how church should be, though so often it’s not. (link via Joel Frederick)
Nate Klaiber
February 21, 2006
Sad part is – many will criticize them for their approach. I, for one, applaud.
I have had the chance to meet (and interview) the folks from xxxchurch.com and they are great guys (in spite of all of the flack they receive).
Interesting topic….
EatingPie
February 21, 2006
Boogie Nights.
In that movie Dirk Diggler was so low he prostituted himself to other guys. In the scene where he’s making the deal, in the backdrop, a church with Jesus emblazoned with open arms.
What did this say to me?
That these people are so far gone, they’re beyond salvation… beyond in the sense that there’s NOBODY to minister to them. Certainly *I* can’t do it because sexual tempation is way too much.
But these women, going to people in the porn industry, giving them hope for salvation — exactly where Jesus would have gone (and did… though he hung with prostitutes). Awesome!
-Pie
Juan Peron
February 22, 2006
I am all about what they’re trying to do. I think the church has too often let it’s own issues get in the way of the mission we are sent to accomplish.
“In the world, not of it”
“Wise as serpents, harmless as doves”
Rings a bell…
corey
February 22, 2006
I love it. EatingPie (above) is right. These are the folks that Jesus would’ve been drawn to (which is a bit of a dumb statement, because we’re ALL the sinners that Jesus was drawn to). The lost, the broken, the spun-out. This feels more “Christian” to me than pot-lucks, programming debates, and “God Hates Fags” protests.
This kind of thing renews my love for Americhurch (the capital “C” body of believers in America).
Joshua
February 22, 2006
Unfortunately to my knowledge, no one else is reaching out to those in the adult industry in this manner. I am certain that many of the girls are living lives that they did not intend on when they were 6 years old playing with Barbie dolls. Many of them faced some manner of sexual, emotional or physical abuse and found that this was their only way out.
Jesus Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost. It’s easy to sit on the sidelines and point our fingers about the methods used, but let me ask all of us one question….What are you or your church doing to reach those in the adult industry? Secondly…Would those in the adult industry be welcomed in your church on a Sunday?
Our search light should be able to shine in the darkest areas of the globe. Too often it is shining to the whole when it is the sick that need the physician.
Jonathan Blundell
February 23, 2006
How does that compare to this letter to the editor in our local paper: http://jdblundell.blogspot.com/2006/02/immoral-heathens.html
a different Joshua
February 23, 2006
There are a couple other church’s I’ve heard of doing some outreach along these lines including http://www.southlandchristian.org/news/71/3186.
The 6mo old church plant I’m involved with is currently seeking and praying for ways to reach out to local dancers through acts of kindness and service. I’ll be emailing JC’s Girls for some ideas. This is an excellent outreach, and unless churches are willing to get outside of their walls and their comfort zones, we will never effectively reach those we are called to serve.
Conservative Culture
February 25, 2006
JC’girls – Strippers Reach Out
Leave it to Church Marketing Sucks to find the news about church ministries that don’t get air time in or out of the church. Many are aware of the XXXChurch ministry which posts itself as the #1 Christian Porn Site. I reaches out to Christians w…
los
February 26, 2006
So I’m sitting in the car with lori from jc’s girls and matt her husband driving home from sandals tonight. I’m glad they made this site. We’ve got so much drama from christians. Thanks for having our backs.
Los
James
February 27, 2006
This is what Christianity should look like today. I love it! Let’s pray!
Hula
March 3, 2006
Umm… I just found this website and I’m blown away!
But since I love to read so much, how much you want to bet I’ll keep coming back and also sharing this with my boyfriend?
Thanks for the good read!
julietheartist
March 12, 2006
Adult entertainment, strip club outreach & sex industry ministry is not new. There have been over a dozen former dancers & sex industry survivors who have been reaching out to the industry for years now – some for over a decade. Check out http://www.beautyfromashes.org & see the Links & Resources page to get an encouraging list of ministries founded and/or directed by survivors, as well as ministries that are experienced @ making an impact in this unique & enormously large, mission field.
Eug
August 8, 2007
Our church is starting this ministry with the help of JC’s Girls and Southland Christian Church. San Diego is pretty conservative, we have a no touch law. At the same time we have more strip joints per capita due to being a military town, and city corruption in the form of officials being bribed by Strip joint owners to repeal the no touch laws. These kinds of ministries are long over due. Praise God for the godly women who are called by God to do a ministry men are not able to.
Melanie
January 4, 2009
I have mixed feelings on some of these ministries. XXXChurch is awesome. I love the fact that they are in the actual show passing out bibles and loving on people that they meet. It’s true that not everyone can do this sort of ministry, but thankfully Craig Gross followed the call of God in reaching out.
Some of the others like JC’s Girls are questionable to me. I saw in a video somewhere where Heather Veitch said that the girls involved in her ministry have to be attractive. Her words were that the girls in the industry won’t take it seriously because they would assume that someone doesn’t do a job like stripping because they CAN’T. Huh? Ministry is not about that. And then she tends to sexualize her ministry, which I think is where a lot of people have the problem. I am not against her ministry, but I question her apparent theology and some of her methods. I think its FANTASTIC that they will go into strip clubs and buy a lap dance from these girls just to talk to them about Jesus. Puttin their money where their mouth is. I love it. So, those are my thoughts for whatever they are worth. :)
vafa Shamsai
August 20, 2009
I was going to open a church for strippers four years ago but I didn’t have enough supporters. I am glad your website is about that. I used to be a dancer and I always felt like i was more honest than the church goers in so many ways. I will pray for your prosperity.
I think its great!
xoxo
vafa
Carly
September 28, 2011
I’m a former stripper now a born again believer reaching out to strippers and prostitutes in Toronto Canada. I’ll have my website up soon about my ministry.
Melanie
February 24, 2013
I’m the same “Melanie” that wrote the comment above back in 2009 and boy have my views changed! I am all for Heathers ministry.. she is still out there doing outreach. God forgive me for judging her the way that I did.
There are no local churches in my area that “allows” strippers and porn stars to attend services… at least not knowingly. Theres a desperate need for a church like this.
Sayuri Smith
November 22, 2016
I have written a devotional for these women… I used to dance and God was the only difference between me and the other girls. God helped me get through every night without killing the customers, one of the other girls or management. It has helped others as well. It is a guide to the Holy Bible and guides strippers on how to have a relationship with God. Please visit the website for more information or google ScripturesForStrippers! Kudos on this story!
A Sister in Christ
April 13, 2017
Praise God for this ministry! I clicked on some of the links above to find out more about those ministries. Unfortunately, the domain for JC’s Girls Girls Girls has changed, and the link provided goes to a site that I’m sure you’re not wanting to promote. I didn’t find another way contact you, so I thought I’d just post here. I love you all and want to encourage you in your ministry and your walk with Christ.