stripping?

[BlondieLashes]

Hi Athalia! My heart goes out to you my dear sis! I know what the pressures of needing money and needing it yesterday feel like! I also can relate to feeling like there are no "real" Christians around...I am proud of you for thinking this stripping thing through before acting on it.

Athalia, I am a former stripper /porn model. My story is very long, but to sum it up I came to know the Lord when I was 19. I fell away from the Lord about 5 years later. I fell head-long into serious sin and went into the porn/stripping industry. A huge part of my reasoning for going into the sex industry was a need for cash. I was beyond broke and had been for years. I found out I could make more money working 3 nights a week than I made in a month at a "straight" job. I thought I was strong enough to come out of it un-scathed. I was wrong. Athalia, I was never more wrong in my life. Even if you set out to be a "dancer" that doesn't allow "touching" and set out not to abuse substances, etc. I have found out the hard way that both are nearly impossible. There are so many land-mines in the strip clubs that are so easy to fall into. I ended up addicted to substances, addicted to the constant praise for my looks (which lead to having to spend more and more money to upkeep my looks and image), addicted to spending in general, and feeling like there was no where else I could ever work that I could make as much money. It's a horrible trap to fall into! I ended up by the grace of God getting out of the industry with my now husband (I married the manager of the strip club I worked at). I came back to the Lord a few years ago and God through His grace brought my hubby to Him as well. My hubby had managed strip clubs in LA for over 16 years! We are both still healing from our years in the industry. It is an industry that it full of deciet, pain and more pain. If there is anything either of us (my hubby and I) can do, please let me know. I am BlondieLashes here on CF and he is L1rider. Send us a PM if you'd like and I'll send you my phone # - or I can call you- whatever works....I just really hope and pray that you will reconsider going into stripping. That world eats people up alive!

Much love in Christ

-Courtney

 

[jenptcfan]

Hang in there.

You are worth more than anyone could possibly pay you in one of those joints. You are a precious child of God and your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.

It's OK to ask questions like this, so don't feel bad that you asked. It's good to hear from other Christians about why or why not you should do something and what the bible says about it.

What are some types of jobs you have applied for? What kind of experience do you have.

Many campuses have positions for student workers...you might be able to inquire with your financial aid office to see if they have any suggestions for you.

I went to a small Christian university, and was able to baby sit for some of my professors for extra cash. A lot of people I knew also had part time jobs in offices or other places around town that gave them flexible hours so they could work around their course schedule.

Don't give up. Keep looking and keep seeking God.

 

[MetalBlade]

Pray and God will show you the way!

 

[Princess Leia]

sorry sorry sorry about this post. but sometimes hearing someone else stating firmly something helps keep us on the right track or something....

I am in college, have zero money.... and I can't seem to get a job. If I don't get one soon I am kicked out of school because i can't pay. anyway I know I should trust God and I do. but I have made soo many mistakes lately concerning what i thought was "God's will" that I do not trust myself to discern what i should do. I mean in some cases I waited years to make sure I was doing right and when i was sure and I acted, it was sooo wrong.

so ok. this is embaressing because I do not want to be judged in a bad light but here it goes. The only place that might hire me is this strip joint. Is it wrong I mean really wrong to do it? because I can't find any other way.... it isn't even that i want to do it cause i don't. but with the amount of money I would be payed I could work there for a month and then I would be able to quit. I am confused. I know that most people would consider it a sin, but if you need something - gah i don't know. I am wavering in more then this desion. help, and please don't be harsh

Hey there --
I know what it's like to be in your position and have no money and no idea how you're going to pay for college. I too have thought about stripping, cause I mean on one hand think of all the money I could make! At times the idea of stripping has been attractive to me, and I'm not sure why but I could never do it... Anyways I'll stop my rambling now...
I will be praying for you and please feel free to IM/PM me if you need someone to talk to or pray with.
In His love,
Princess Leia/Kendra

 

[Athalia]

ok. Me be Good. I swears it.

I hate that I wavered over something as serious as all this. But I did it. I am glad that for once I talked about it instead of maybe doing it, which I have done stupid things in the past before. Which is one of the reasons I can't go home.

On the upside, a couple of guy friends who I throughly mothered last year like taking care of when they were sick and helping them with homework and cooking have realized how strapped I am for cash and now I have food at least .

 

[Lucianus]

i'm glad you're resolved about the issue. and the food thing is cool too i would have said something earlier, but there wasn't much more to say than what was already said, i thought.

 

[chocolateloverjen]

couldnt you get another job? where u get tips-like loads ov em too?

 

[Johnnz]

Can your church help you in some way? That's what family is meant to be?

John
NZ

 

[humbleservant86]

Pray that God will find a way for you to ease your money problems. He will deliever!

 

[Argent]

But you don't even want to go down that road. It's pure self-destruction.

Absofreakinlutely right!

Don't do it! Please! Once the money starts rolling in, and money can make our lives a lot easier and more pleasurable, it will be very difficult for you to quit. Sure, you tell yourself that you'll just do it for a little while and then stop. This ain't gonna happen, sister! Once you get into the vice/sex industry and taste the money it becomes very, very difficult for a person to walk away, even a strong person. You say you have trouble discerning God's will. Do you think taking your clothes off in front of men to incite their lust is his will for you? You and I both know the answer to that one. And this is just one very, very small step away from prostitution, which is actually the final destination for most of these women. Is that what you want? Of course not, but neither did a lot of the women in the sex industry. Can you imagine what it's like to take a part of a man's body into yours, repeatedly, with many different men, most of whom, by the very nature of the relationship you probably won't find very attractive or perhaps even find repulsive? What are you going to do when the manager of the club or his "silelnt partners, read:mafia!" decide that they won't take "no' for an answer? Maybe you just want to strip, but they might decide you need to do more for their company. How are you going to get out of that? You have no idea what you're getting yourself into. Yes, you think that you're just going to get up on stage on take off your clothes down to a swim bikini and that will be it. Unfortunately, for a lot of young women your age, and you're not a girl anymore, you're a woman, entering into the sex industry started with stripping, then "modeling" for a photoshoot or two and then it goes on from there. Big money in your pocket, but as another poster said, the devil never shows YOU the pricetag you'll pay.

Now, to deal with the cost of school.

What kind of school are you in? Are you in a dorm or living on you own or with the 'rents? What kind of financial aid are you getting from the school, from your state? Did you apply for financial aid? Did you complete the FFAF (Free Financial Aid Form) from the College Board? All accredited schools require it for financial aid awards based on need. Get your butt down to the Finacial Aid office of your school today and tell them what's going on! The school doesn't want to lose a student they've accepted just because of exspenses! Have you done everything you were supposed to do? Be honest! If not with your brothers and sisters on this board at least be honest with yourself and God! If you are really trying to walk with the Lord he's pretty good about working things out for His will. Do you really think He wants you to be in school right now? Could it be that He wants you in a different school? Don't make all this descening of God's will so difficult. You pray about it and then trust God to work it all out, but you have to do some of the foot work for Him. How can He get you scholarships based on need if you don't fill out the Financial Aid applications? Do your part and God will do His, just don't go into the sex industry to solve a money problem. There's actually plenty of money in the world for God to use for His will for us.

God bless you,

Peace
Argent

 

[Cooter]

Athalia, before you jump into a situation like that, you should really think about where that kind of job might take you. The money might be nice, but there are always other ways of getting needed cash for needed things. You may think that you will only do it for a month or so, but once you meet a few friendly co-workers and the money starts rolling in, you may stick with it for four months. Ya know, just to pay for the next semester of school. And then, before you know it, three or four years have gone by. All the while, being ogled by men (and women) in dark, smoke-filled bars, being sucked into doing drugs and all the other things that come with that--health hazards, promiscuity, loss of faith, illegitimate children, boyfriends/husbands that see you as only their stripper-girlfriend/wife. A good friend of mine went that route and her and her new "friends" have basically turned out just that way. This is not just a decision of a month-long venture into a sinfully underworld, this is a life-long decision. Please make it a wise one. And may God bless you.
Kory

 

[white dove]

Thank you so much for posting, Julie & Courtney... Both of your testimonies are just incredible. I'm relieved & overjoyed that the Lord has shown you both the love, grace & mercy that comes with knowing Christ...praise God


It is just amazing what the human mind will think of out of sheer desperation, though....scary. In my own life, I've stumbled across some economic difficulties (along with some pretty comfortable economic plateaus) & had thoughtlessly-considered some very, very damaging ways to make money. It's hard....I had a conversation with someone about this just the other day....it can be incredibly difficult to make an honest living..when it's honest. When your back is against the wall, it can appear that the only thing left to do is to sell-out....to live out a life that is not really you at all (my God...I mean, how many people who know me know that I absolutely abhor the sex industry right now??!?). It can be easy to go out & forfeit your future, "forget" that you have a conscious & pretend that God and your family & friends wouldn't be hurt at the choices you are making....it's easy to forget that you are a role model to some pretty special people out there....to forget that there are those who look up to you....that's easy, when compared to living a godly life....to live a life of a servant of God, a life of responsibility for your actions; that your hands, your voice & your body is where God lives...that's what's hard.

 

[rockwell]

I dont really understand how difficult your circumstances are at the moment but what i can say is that if you do work at a strip club you have to options:

1. You will drift away, God will seem distant; you will be seen and an object, a worthless piece of flesh, and you will lose all self respect.

2. you may feel none of the above but You will regreat it for the rest of your life. remember that your body is the temple of the Holy spirit and once you defile it, things will look ugly.

Also thing about your future husband and your kids, thing about your future generations. as you can see, it is a lose-lose situation.

I wish i could help you in any way but from the distance all i can do i pray for you, pray that the Lord will show you his ways, and that He will provide you with a job and security. The Lord is our provider and he will not fail you. He always arrives on time.

I promise i will be praying for you!

 

[HighLighter]

stripping is not cool.

better to be a hooker (just kidding)

you will be surrounded by pigs and bad energy.

 

[LegomasterJC]

Lord please give direction to this young lady. Raise her faith and discernment. Let her hear your voice. Show her the way out of her troubles. Set around her, upright people to give her wise counsil. Bless her. Meet her needs. Show how trustworthy, good, and Loving you are. Amen.
I'll be praying for you further... It might help if you Private messaged me to remind me though. I have a lot of people I pray for and I'm just a regular joel.

 

[~Beauty_from_Pain~]

Hmm...you say that you are trying to follow God, right? Then keep on trusting Him! Consider this a test of your faith! You are right about strip clubs being immoral..for the girls that strip and the people that watch. It is a degradable thing to do. I've been in tight places....and must admit sometimes it seems that "dirty" money is easier to come by....but will you be able to still follow God? Will it make you feel good about what you do? And don't say there is nothing else to do! Even working for McDonalds would be better!

 

[tamtam92]

You know you're not the first one in that situation... but God is faithful and He rewards those who obey Him.
There's a lot of good biographies you can read that will be encouraging to you. Hudson Taylor, Isobel Kuhn (By Searching), D.L.Moody, and many many others. I advise you to read such books, they are really edifying (personnally i've re-read Kuhn's bio several times !).

 

[WITNESS8]

Hmmm...

 

[WITNESS8]

No Compromise