Day 108: Churches and Strip Clubs

Again...I ask the question "and I have to be associated with these people under the name of 'CHRISTIAN'".

The Columbus Dispatch...Warsaw, OH. "Pastor Bill Dunfee of the New Beginnings Ministries in Warsaw reports some, too.

The inquiries center around a feud between the church and a strip club.

Dunfee and members of his congregation have been protesting in front of the Foxhole North on U.S. 36 in Walhonding almost every weekend for four years. In the past, they have taken photographs and videos showing the license plates of the club patrons and posted them on a now-defunct website and once used an amplifier to shout at the patrons. Their intent has been to deter patrons from entering the club and to introduce the exotic dancers to Christianity.

This feud made national news recently when Thomas George, the owner of the club, and his dancers decided to turned the tables by sitting outside the church during Sunday morning services."

"Dunfee was one of the last people out of the church. He went straight to stripper Laura Meske, who identified herself only as Lola in a Dispatch story last Monday.

"You think I'm a whore," Meske told Dunfee before finally accepting his embrace. "I'm not. I'm trying to take care of my kids."

Although both sides agreed to sit down together Wednesday, neither leader seemed willing to declare the end of the moral war.

Dunfee said he now has a better understanding of the Foxhole employees but will continue his "ministries" every weekend outside the club and push for the club to close.

George said he wishes Dunfee would walk away and call a truce. But as long as church members try to curb business at the club, George said, he'll keep going to the church on Sundays with carloads of friends and strippers."

In other stories being reported, this church has had people with megaphones, etc. out there week after week to try and shut this place down. This church has to realize that all of the obnoxious things they are doing to shut the place down in only bringing more publicity to the strip club. This may actually result in more revenue being made for them. NOW....

I think it is sheer genius of this strip club to picket the church. It is about time these places show the same level of disrespect to the churches acting in this manner. It is my opinion that churches/Christians who do things disrespectfully ought to get a taste of their own medicine. Can you imagine coming to church while the local strip club is protesting it?

This topic is near to my heart because a few years ago I sent out a letter to all of the bar owners and strip club owner in our town inviting them to church...this is what I wrote to the strip club.

Dear Club Owner;

Hello, I hope you are having a great day. I realize that it is not probably everyday that you receive a letter from a local church here in Waupaca. Or, if you do, it may not be a very pleasant one which is unfortunate.

Please allow me to introduce myself to you, my name is Bob Adams and I am 34 years old and lead pastor of Radiant Fellowship church here in Waupaca. It would be my observation that when you are in the field you and your entertainers have chosen that you may not be welcomed at most churches. But, the fact remains the same that there are those in your field that still have spiritual needs to be met and God loves you and them very much. It is for that reason I would like to invite you or any of your entertainers/staff to join us on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. We are located at 420 N. Harrison St. (W. Fulton St. to hwy. 49 which is also Harrison St. go north, we are 4 blocks down on the right.)

If you or anyone else from the club would choose to visit us, we never ask where you work unless it comes up in conversation. We do like to send e-newsletters to the people so if they would like to fill out a visitor form, it is always welcomed. We are a church that is geared towards all walks of life no matter who they are. Please feel free to redeem these coffee vouchers on any given Sunday as we have a café in our building as well. Feel free to give them to your staff.

Again, I hope you are not offended by this letter. I just want you to know that we at Radiant Fellowship are here to meet yours and everyone’s spiritual needs and that God loves you and your employees.

For more information you may contact us at 715-258-3005 or visit us online at www.radiantfellowship.net.

God Bless;

Bob Adams

Lead Pastor

Do you know something? We got a loving response from a couple bars. Want to know something bigger? About 6 months later the manager of the strip club called me to talk. Her child was going through a life changing predicament and they needed some loving pastoral counseling. YAY GOD!!!!

In all things we have to show the love of Christ. Let this be a good lesson to those churches picketing something rather than talking on a professional level. We must reflect the love of Christ in all things.