Star Light Ministries

I can’t pretend that I understand it, I can’t feign to know what it feels like, but the women who I love, women who are exotic dancers face violence in their lives a lot. Whether it be random or in a relationship, violence is a problem. Now that’s an understatement, eh?

I’d like to bring your attention to the fact that December 17th is the 5th Annual International Day to End Violence against Sex Workers. Check out here for more information.

I also will ask that you pray for the women (and the men) who work at Club Wizzards in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A recent shooting there left the DJ critically injured, and the police shot and killed one of the shooters. You can find out more information here.

My thoughts, and prayers are with the young people who work here. And for all the women who are exotic dancers. I pray that you will find peace, not violence, love, not hatred, acceptance, not exclusion. May it ever be.

One of my favorite writers, Anne Lamott, says that there’s only two kinds of prayers she says. The first is “Help me, help me, help me,” and the second is “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Seems like a good time to do the Thank You’s.

I am grateful for the church that I trained on November 17 to start their own ministry to sex workers. I am thankful for their enthusiasm, their grace, and their willingness to accept the women we’re working with.

I am grateful for the church that I pastor, Richmond Mennonite Fellowship, in Richmond, Virginia. I am honored to be a part of their life.

I am grateful for my family, for turkey, for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I am grateful for my friends. All of them. They are all amazing.

I am grateful for my godchildren. The two cutest girls you’ve ever seen. Yes, I’m biased, but they really are the cutest.

I am grateful for all the wonderful, amazing people out there that care about Star Light. Our amazing volunteers, board members, donors, and friends of Star Light.

I can only say, to all of you, “You ROCK!”

November 15, 2007

I spoke this week to a Special Victim’s Unit police detective. I just wanted to get his perspective for a training I’m doing this weekend. But what I walked away with was great advice for sex workers.

I hope you read my last post. Find it here. I asked the question, “Can a sex worker be raped?”

The police officer and I talked about how difficult it is for a sex worker to prosecute a rapist. He told me that many times sex workers will come in with the story of having been raped, and the police can’t do anything. Why? Because the sex workers don’t tell the truth about what happened, and how they happened to be in a situation where they were raped. She may not admit that she’s a sex worker. She may not want to confess what she thinks will get her in trouble.

The officer was clear about this–a case cannot be prosecuted based on a half-truth or a lie.

According to the officer, they want to be able to respond to the real needs of the sex workers. They want to get rapists off the street. They want to treat the sex workers with respect. The police officer was very clear on this point. He said, “We can do something. We can help. But the sex worker MUST be honest about what happened, about how they met, and her profession.”

November 14, 2007

Wondering why you couldn’t leave comments? You can now. To do so, follow these steps, and yes, I really, really want to hear from you.

1) click on the archive month
2) click on the comment post
3) post your comment

Yippee!

Now, want to contact us? The contact page is working, too! Just fill it in, and in case you’re wondering, 2+2 = 4 (that’s a security question). Send me a note!

And, did you notice, there’s also pictures??????

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Yippee!

Did I mention, Yippee!

November 12, 2007

A recent article, found here, recounts the story of a sex worker who was gang raped at gunpoint. She had agreed to a “date” with 2 men, but when she arrived at the appointed place, there were 4 men and a gun.

She tried to prosecute the rapists.

Her case was thrown out by the judge, who charged the rapists with only “theft of services.”

Can a sex worker be raped? Absolutely! Does a sex-worker have the right to say no? Absolutely! Is there something wrong with the decision of the judge? Absolutely!

Let us never forget that the women who are sex workers do not give up their basic human rights because they are sex workers. Let us never forget that they deserve the protection of the law.

And let us please, please pray for sex workers who have been raped. May they feel God’s love and comfort. May they recognize that it’s not their fault. May they get justice.

November 6, 2007

I haven’t written a blog for just over a week. It’s been too hard to be creative. I’ve thought of things to write, but by the time I sit down at the computer, nothing comes out. I’ve been dealing with some sorrow, some frustration, and some just basic weariness.

Sometimes life just grabs you by the cajones and just won’t let go. It seems like everyone around you is sick, angry, sad, or miserable, and even sometimes all of the above. Frankly, it’s just real life. And sometimes real life gets in the way of feeling creative. And it gets in the way of praying, preaching, writing, sleeping, nearly everything.

Do you ever feel this way? It’s okay. Just cut yourself some slack. I’m trying to cut myself some, and I’ll be seeing you when the creative bug comes back.

In the meantime, here’s a piece by Kahlil Gibran that has been meaningful to me this week:

Joy and Sorrow

Then a woman said, ‘Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow.’

And he answered:

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven?

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, ‘Joy is greater than sorrow,’ and others say, ‘Nay, sorrow is the greater.’

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.

Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.