Power of Love update

Jennifer Colella leads TCC's ministry to strip clubs, Power of Love. Below is an update from the most recent visit she and her team made to the downtown Daytona area.

Praise God for another safe and successful outreach! We headed to Daytona Friday night bearing gifts of homemade cupcakes and Valentine's gift bags filled with goodies for the ladies. We went to club #1 and were given favor once again. The ladies were happy to receive the bags and cupcakes. One young lady asked why we were giving her gifts. When told it was because she is worthy and loved, her eyes welled up with tears. She said no one had ever told her she was worthy before. On the way out, after giving out the last bag, we realized a young lady was following us. We turned around and with a shy hello we realized she wanted a bag! We asked her to hold on as we went out to the van and got a bag just for her. In return we got a big hug, a smile and a thank you.

We headed to club #2. The owner wasn't around, but we were still welcomed in. Once in, we were shocked to find out that by 8 p.m. they had 70 women! We knew we didn't have enough bags, so we decided to hand out what we had in our hands and come back after we went to the other clubs if we had extra bags. We went to the dressing room to drop off the cupcakes and passed out bags to all the ladies there and made our way back out to the van. We were heartbroken to leave without giving everyone a bag, but we felt sure we would have extra bags after we finished the last two clubs.

We went on to club #3. There were a lot of ladies there, but mostly new faces. We didn't see any of the regulars. Club #4 was like a ghost town. We did get to talk with the manager, but there were only two dancers and a bartender working. Like all the other times, the atmosphere was so heavy and depressing.

We were excited to have extra bags so we could go back to club #2. This time as we made our way around the floor, we saw the owner. The last time we saw him on our Christmas outreach he was very anxious because his girlfriend, who was struggling with drugs, had been missing and no one knew where she was. This time however, he was very excited to see us and even told us his prayers had been answered. He explained that his girlfriend has been clean and sober for three months now and was very happy that their relationship was doing well. He then pointed to the stage and said: "There she is." If you remember, months ago he had told us that she wanted him to quit the business and that it was the club environment that caused her drug problem. We were excited to hear she's sober, but knowing that she's back in the club raises concern. The really awesome thing about this whole situation is that we know her heart is to see them both out of this business. She has asked him to quit many times. She's sober right now and we were able to meet her and give her a bag. The seed has been planted, and God is working.

Before leaving we apologized to the owner of club #2 for not having enough bags for all the ladies. He said most of these girls weren't regulars anyway and it doesn't matter because we come all year long and any of the regulars we missed will catch us another time. That was so encouraging to hear him express his approval and even expectancy to see us again. I told him we'd be back in April so that any of the ladies who have missed us in the past will be able to count on a date that they could see us and receive a bag. I also asked him if the girls liked what they were receiving in the bags. He said, "Absolutely, these women are like little girls on the inside and need to be treated special, but these guys don't get that. They don't understand. The girls love it when you come in here and give 'em gifts." God has so blessed us with this club! Already, the team can't wait to go back! What a wonderful ending to the outreach! This was the fastest outreach we've ever had, and although it would of been nice to have more bags, the night went extremely well with God reminding the team just how important this ministry is and confirming that we need to keep going with an expectant heart because we are expected!

We had an added surprise blessing after the outreach. One of the ladies we met on an outreach contacted us and wanted to go to church with us! A team member picked her up Sunday morning and we got to worship with her and she even went up front after service with a team member to pray. After church we were able to take her to lunch and had a really wonderful morning. God is so faithful and good!

Thank you so much for all your prayers and hard work with the bags, baked goods, and donating time, money and supplies. This Kingdom work couldn't be done without all of you. You are special, you are appreciated and loved very much!

Note: If you want to help ensure that this ministry can expand the number of filled bags to distribute, you are invited to donate 3 to 4 ounce bottles of new, quality scented body wash, lotion & sprays; fashionable jewelry (bracelets, earrings and necklaces); and new make-up of all sizes and brands (samples OK). Donations may be deposited in the Power of Love basket on the Mission Wall in the Cafe. Jennifer may be e-mailed here.

Love in any language

A woman at Tomoka Christian named Jennifer leads a new ministry to exotic dancers called The Power of Love. A team of ladies who stepped up to serve in that ministry went out for the first time recently to minister to those trapped in the sex industry at clubs in Daytona Beach. Below is a report from Jennifer.

Praise God! The Lord is so faithful. It was an amazing day from start to finish. We began the day with a powerful time of praise and worship, then we prepared and prayed for the gift bags. Julie went over the game plan for the outreach, and then Pastor Ray from the Daytona Outreach Center prayed for and anointed each of the team members. Ablaze with the Holy Spirit, the eight of us loaded up in the DOC van. Immediately the intercessors began praying and worship music filled the van.

God led us through five strip clubs in Daytona Beach. God prepared the way for His power of love to flow like rivers. We were welcomed into every club we set foot in!

The women and managers we met had looks on their faces as if they had been waiting for us. In the first club we entered, Julie explained to the manager that we were a faith-based organization that supported and offered help to people in the sex industry. He told us he had a girl for us, and then took us to the dressing room and introduced us to a girl who was 18 years old and five months pregnant. Julie and I gave her a hug and then handed her a gift bag with our contact information, letting her know if there was anything we could do for her she could call us for help.

At another club, the manager said: "Where have you been? I wish you would have been here last week. I had a girl that just quit. She was getting beat up by her boyfriend...and shooting up." By the end of the visit we agreed with the manager that we would work together to help these girls.

The most special part of the night for me was at a club whose manager thought we were joking when we said we wanted to come in to distribute gifts to the girls. He asked us: "Are you serious? Is this some kind of a joke?" We reassured him we were very serious and everything was free. He then took us into the club and started calling all the girls around to receive the bags, and even went into the dressing room to bring the rest of the girls out. We went back to that club later in the night, and one girl called Julie over and asked her if someone could pray for her. Three Power of Love team members gathered around her for prayer, and afterwards she asked us if we could pray for a friend of hers. She called over another girl and we were able to pray with her as well. The girls there were so open with us and wanted us to stay longer, but the manager came in the dressing room and said: "I don't mind that you're in here talking to my girls — we don't have any customers anyway — but that church van outside ain't good for my business." The team had a good laugh over that!

There are six strip clubs in Daytona Beach and God led us through five of them. The team chose not to enter one of the clubs because we didn't feel a peace about the place. Something was unsettled in our spirit and we decided it was best not to go. The name of the club is Molly Brown's and is located on Seabreeze. Please keep this club and the employees in your prayers.

The outreach team would like to thank you for your passionate prayers, your love and support. We all prayed, believed and expected God to rain down His Spirit, to open the hearts of the lost, for His glory to be revealed .... and He was, is and always will be faithful. He answered our prayers and exceeded our expectations.

Note: Jennifer may be reached via e-mail here.