Jesus told me to go to the Strip Club

I used to live right in downtown Red Deer. Actually for the most spiritually productive time in my life I managed a hotel that my pastor was turning into affordable housing. This hotel/bar had a reputation as being the seediest place in town. So naturally I was not too far away from other bars, casinos, strip clubs and liquor stores. This was ok by me because at the time I was a bouncer at a busy nightclub two blocks away. I had recently broken my elbow and was on “Jesus Compensation” because I believed that he would take care of me better than the WCB, which is a whole other story. So I was living day to day, not knowing when I would have money and when I would have food and so on. This is actually a very exciting way to live because you never knew what was going to happen. But the trick was listening to God and trusting him even though sometimes he would tell me to do weird things.

Of course I had friends in all the bars and clubs in town. There was another bouncer who was a believer. He started off working for me at the nightclub, but then turn-coated and worked for the competition because they paid better and it just so happened to be a strip club
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One night, I think it was Tuesday amateur night, I was praying and studying in my prayer closet. All of the sudden I get the impression that I have to go see my friend Sean who worked at the strip club. I have to go encourage him and show him my support. I knew he was working that night so I was really having trouble thinking that what I was hearing was from my Lord. After all, that was a forbidden zone for me, someplace I hadn’t been in a long time.

After first dismissing it, the impression got heavier and heavier on my heart. “Go see Sean! Go see Sean”
“Okay, Okay I will go” I knew where he would be standing and I figured I could walk in with my head down, hopefully it would be between shows, etc etc. I had it all figured out how I was going to walk into a strip club and not see any naked women. I imagine I was going to look pretty funny but I believed I had a mission. So off I went.

I am walking down the street and I hear “Scotty! Scotty!’ I look up and there he was; A block and a half away. He had got off work early. (First miracle because amateur night is usually pretty packed). So that was good. We begin chatting and catching up. He wants to know about my elbow, I share with him how God was healing me and used me in the hospital. (Another story for another time) He looks at me and asks how I am doing? I reply I am doing well. “No Scotty, how are you DOING?” I feel this is the time to share my needs with him, although I usually make it a practice just to tell the Lord what I need. I look at him and share my needs. He reaches into his pocket and puts a wad of cash into my hand. (Second miracle) It turns out to be five dollars more than I needed. Coffee money. I invite him over to my place, we each share honestly what God is doing in our lives. We pray, we encourage, we laugh, we agonize. A little bit of the Kingdom was experienced that night, all because God wanted me to go to a strip club.