Power of Love Ministry

Congratulations to the Power of Love ministry! They have reached their 2 year mark and have grown incredibly since their inception. For those who don't know, the Power of Love ministry's mission is to witness to women working in local strip clubs through monthly outreaches where they give out gift bags and have also done food outreaches. They have successfully reached 7 of the 8 strip clubs on a monthly basis in Volusia County in just 2 years! This year alone they added a new strip club to their mission, began an on-site prayer team to cover their outreach team while on the field, and had 2 food outreaches in 5 clubs. They also began their "Breathe" support group for women who are working or who have worked in the stripping industry. Congratulations to the team on their 2nd anniversary and for boldy taking the gospel to those who really need to know God's love.

To participate in the Power of Love ministry you can email Jen Colella here.

Pure and Faultless Religion

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

I received a newsy e-mail from Barbara Shoner, who leads a Tomoka ministry to foster children, Rock Fashions. In partnership with another ministry, Rock Fashions won a storefront lease for a year and will use it as a free clothing outlet for foster families. Here is Barbara's message:

“Hi everyone!! I have a praise report — the Volusia Parent Magazine did an article on on our ministry. And, someone just donated $5,000! This is so exciting because we were struggling with some initial operating expenses and now we can move forward to get the store opened. We are tentatively planning an October 23rd work day (possibly the weekend after, we are still working out logistics). We are going to rent a UHaul to pick up all the items at the storage units and then pick up the display racks, etc. from Bealls. Bealls has donated 20 rounders which hold 100-125 pieces of clothing each, so we have enough for over 2,000 items of clothing!! We are also getting jewelry cases, mannequins, etc. Oh, and 2,000 hangers also, so the store will look uniform. We have someone that is going to paint a "Fruits of the Spirit" theme on the walls, but he's in the midst of another project so we may need to open before that's done. All we want to do right now is get the utilities on and the clothes on the racks so we can start servicing clients. We've still been meeting needs, but it's been tough working out of storage units. This store is going to be wonderful. Please let me know if you are interested in helping out on our work day. Thanks!! Please continue to pray that the Lord will continue to pour out His favor on this ministry.”

Contact Barbara Shoner for more information about Rock Fashions.

The Power of Love

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." 2 Corinthians 4:14-15

I received an e-mail from Jennifer Colella, who leads Tomoka Christian’s ministry to strip clubs called Power of Love. She and her ministry team went on an outreach on Friday. “Each time we go out, we can see the hearts of the lost being drawn closer to God,” Jennifer said. “Little bit by little bit they become more comfortable around the 'church ladies.’ They engage us in conversation and we can see God building the trust necessary to open the doors for relationship.” Below is Jennifer’s report from the night.

We had such an exciting outreach Friday night. God's favor was amazing! At the first club, as we waited for permission to visit with the girls, a young lady approached us and began a conversation with us. She told us she wanted out of the business and is only there to complete her college education. She went on to tell us that her father was a preacher and had died of a rare disease and hasn't been to church since he passed away. She explained that she wanted to complete college so she can work with children who died of the same disease her father did. She seemed to be struggling deeply with her father's death and with God. Once we received permission to pass out the bags, we gave her a card and invited her to call us and suggested meeting for coffee so we could talk some more. Please pray that she would be moved to call us and be willing to meet with us outside of the club. Pray for God to provide the income she needs to be able to leave the business. Please pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to soften the manager’s heart. Pray for the other employees to come to know Jesus as Savior, and for continued favor at that club.

At the next club, most of the ladies were new, but the bartender recognized us and stretched her arm out over the bar and asked if she could have a bag. She said: "I'm not dancing tonight, but I still want my bag!" We laughed and happily handed her a bag. The atmosphere overall was unusually very heavy. On the way out we chatted with the new owner, who thanked us for coming and wished us well. Please pray these women and men would come to know the saving grace and healing power of Jesus Christ.

At the next club, we began passing out bags and on the way out of the dressing room we gave a bag to a young lady who seemed to be in a hurry but curiously searched through the bag asking a lot of questions. It was the first time we had met her, she'd only been working there about 4 months. We told her there was a card in the bag with contact information if she needed anything or had any questions. At the bar we met a woman who was very friendly and grateful for the bags. She said she regularly attends church but she looked very weary and in need of the Lord's comfort. Please pray for both ladies to know God's truth and surrender their lives to Jesus.

At the next club, we began passing out bags and one of the ladies at the bar cheered: "Hey, it's the church ladies!" as she smiled and reached for her bag. Everyone was very friendly and seemed happy to see us. We talked with one woman in the dressing room who thanked us for the bag and explained that she had a daughter who was having a birthday tomorrow and said she was going to give her the bag as a present. On the way out, we handed her an extra bag and said: "This one is for you." She smiled and gave us a hug and thanked us again. We stopped at the DJ booth to give the DJ a bag of treats. Please pray for the women at this and all the clubs who have children. Pray for God's protection over those children. Pray for the Father to provide the financial relief these mothers need to support their children without having to work in the strip clubs. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the male employees towards God and His Word.

The end of the night led us to the doors of a club that only allows us to leave gift bags at the door for the ladies. We were again denied permission to pass out bags, but we left the bags at the door with the manager and one of the dancers. Although the manager always seems to be bothered with our persistence in delivering gifts to the ladies, our hope is that the women will know we have not forgotten them. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the owner, managers, dancers and other employees at that club. Pray for God's will to be done in that place. Ask God to have mercy on the lost inside those walls and for the saving grace of Jesus to transform their lives.

As we closed out the night, we were in awe of God's immense favor and the power of God's Spirit working to soften the hearts of the lost we so desperately want to see know His love.

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.

Power of Love ministry highlights

Below is another report from Jennifer, who leads Power of Love, Tomoka Christian’s ministry to women working in area strip clubs.

Praise God for another wonderful outreach. The team began the evening with a powerful time of prayer, then set out.

At the first club, the owner met us at the door. He was very friendly and invited us in. One of the girls would not accept a bag from us, but the rest of the ladies were very friendly. After we passed out the bags the owner invited us to come back later when more girls were working. While there we had quite a conversation with the owner, reminding me how much the men employed by these clubs need our prayers as well. They are caught up in a world of sin and bondage and are just as lost, trapped and hurting as the women.

The owner of the second club was outside when we arrived. He was very friendly and welcomed us in. One woman we conversed with told us she goes to church every Wednesday and Sunday and was embarrassed to be stripping. She knew it was wrong, but had recently been diagnosed with cancer and was working to pay for her medications. If that weren't enough, her daughter was recently killed by a drunk driver. She said she was stripping because she feels she has no other choice. She was crying tears of desperation. We need to keep her in our prayers.

A third club allowed us to give out bags to the bartender and two dancers that were working. The atmosphere at the club was very dark and depressing. Please keep this club and the employees in prayer.

Two other clubs did not allow us in. Another club’s management allowed us to leave five gift bags. We left a gift for that manager, too.

We thank our Heavenly Father for His favor and timing on this outreach. Our next ones will be in October and December.

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

You Never Know!

A few weeks ago, I once again had the rewarding experience of serving as dean during a week of camp at North Florida Christian Service Camp in Keystone Heights. Eighty third and fourth graders, a dozen sold-out adults and 10 teens spent a memorable week serving our Lord. We loved the swimming, diving, archery, BB guns, basketball, carpetball, sno-cones and cotton candy. It was a lot of fun.

Then there were times of memorized Scripture. I can only imagine what our God will do with His Word now planted in these young minds. Which ones will become church planters, pastors, missionaries, Sunday school teachers? Who will be that Christian doctor, nurse, teacher, mom, or dad? It was long ago that I was the one running around at camp and enjoying all the fun. Once God's Word is unleashed in someone's life there is no telling what will happen.

Eternity alone will unfold the stories of these young boys and girls who spilled blue sno-cones all over me. Maybe one of the children will translate the Bible into a new language that will reach thousands for Jesus. Investing in the future and eternity is always exciting even if there is a lapse of time before you see the results.

Keep praying for our children's ministries, camp weeks and teen ministries. After all, you never know what God is going to do.

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.