Guest Bio
Loving the Unlovable in a Practical Way
The 700 Club
CBN.com
–BIZARRE BEGINNINGS
Todd and Erin say they had a normal life. Todd was a computer programmer and Erin was a human resource director, until God came and changed everything. Todd and Erin went on a 21-day fast to find a building or some land for their church as they had outgrown their current location. After the prayer was over, God spoke to Erin to go “love on strippers.” Erin had never been to a strip club, or smoked or even drank alcohol. Erin says she was a ‘goody-goody’ but God chose her to minister to strippers.
Erin then called a strip club and asked if she could bring some food for the girls there. She did not want to preach or hand out flyers, she just wanted to love on them. The manager agreed and asked her to come over. Ever since then, Erin has been going to these clubs with food, gifts and her loving heart. Todd, Erin’s husband says, “our mission is to love in a practical way with no strings attached.”
HOW TO PICK UP A STRIPPER
Todd pastors Friendship Community Church where mostly strippers, addicts, bartenders, homosexuals and Muslims come to visit. Their motto is to share the love of Christ by doing practical things such as being a person in whom people can trust, even if it means answering calls at 5 am. They say that if God can use a pastor’s wife to help strippers, God can use anyone to pour out His love unconditionally. Todd and Erin model Christ and want Christians to show God’s love in practical ways. Todd goes to restaurants to talk to people about Christ whether they are introverted, extroverted, rich or poor.
When Erin ministers to the girls, she usually takes some food and gifts. She has been going for two years and has built relationships with them. She says the girls recognize her and hug her when she steps in. She helps them get dressed, do their make-up or sometimes just talks about their spouses or boyfriends. Erin has gained their trust. She says she doesn’t preach or condemn them but tells them that they are valuable to God and valuable to her. Erin exemplifies what she says by modeling Christ.
AFTER EFFECTS
Erin talks about one such person who was impacted by their ministry. Katie is an ex-stripper who worked at the strip club where Erin ministered. One day, Erin gave her Mary Kay make-up as a gift and Katie told Erin that she has always wanted it but could never afford it. Giving Katie this make-up paved the way for Erin to talk about Jesus. Katie accepted Christ and renounced her ways. Katie wants to be a police officer. She has taken her exams and will be getting into the police academy soon. She is a straight A student and has a perfect attendance. Katie also has her own Bible study group and will be hosting vacation Bible school soon. Today, Katie along with Mary and Lisa who have similar stories, share this love with girls who are in the stripping business. Todd says, “this is the best kind of outreach evangelism we know to do and we are exemplifying God’s love the best way we can.”
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