Brenda Matyis
I have been blessed to live and love in Austin, Texas for the past 14 years. I have been going into the clubs for the past five years. Years ago I came home one night from visiting several of the clubs and wondered, does anyone else do this? And that is when I found Heather through the internet. In 2007 Heather came to Austin and visited one of the clubs with me. It was so funny, because we were both kind of leery about the other one. I was wondering if she was going to be real preachy and she was wondering the same about me. We were both at a Mexican restaurant prior to going to the club and we both wanted to order a margarita, but didn't thinking the other person might be offended. The visit to the club put us both at ease. We could see the love the other had for the women, and we knew we had the same heart. Later that night, even though we were told Heather could not stay out late due to speaking engagement she had the next day, we sat in my car talking into the morning about many things. Heather was telling me how amazing she thought what we were doing in Austin was. I kept telling her, no, it's not like that, we aren't some big ministry, we only have one single mission, and that is to love these beautiful people like Jesus loves us. And Heather would tell me that it was okay to have only love as your mission. I tried to explain further that we don't set out to get women to leave the club, that we stop at the love thing. She still said it was okay. I then told her that we don't even talk to them about Jesus unless they ask, that once again, we just love them. No matter what I said, or tried to explain away the insignificance of "just love" Heather wouldn't budge, she insisted that what we were doing was awesome. She wouldn't budge, she said, Brenda, I know your heart, that's all that matters.
Some of my best friends have been people I have met in the clubs. I believe in a huge, magnificent God, and I have seen Him show up in the clubs over and over again. When I walk into a Strip Club, I feel the presence of God. There is this song by The David Crowder Band titled, Can You Feel It. It has this crazy disco kind of groove to it. Every time I hear that song, it transports me to the club because I know, that I know, that I know...the love of my King is heavy in there. I have learned more about the love and grace of God in strip clubs then I have perhaps anywhere else.
I love my team, they are right in the middle of it all with me. They are the beautiful Melanie Devereaux, Krendi Harmon, Bethany Hronek, Celina Lane, Angela Martin, and sometimes my beloved daughter Lauren Matyis. I have too many to name that bake cookies, donate time and money, pray, and support me in all my insanity. I am forever greatful for them all.
Please feel free to contact us at austin@jcsgirls.com
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Texas is multiplying!
A year ago this October I met Heather Veitch in person when she came to Austin to speak on the University of Austin campus. I had actually found Heather years before through the internet when I came home one night from a club and wondered if anyone else out there was loving on people who work in the Men's Clubs. I did a search and found Heather's JC girls site. So when she came to Austin I asked her if she wanted to go to the club with me. She did and our hearts were knit together from that night on.
I remember telling her that night that I really wanted to go to another club in town. Within weeks of telling her that, a God thing happened and I was in. After that I young woman contacted Heather through myspace in Austin, Heather told her about me, we got together, and I helped her get into a club here in Austin.
This past February I went to visit my sister. I ironically went to have dinner with a friend while there who suggested I get something going in Fort Worth. On the way to meet him, his wife and kids for dinner, I passed this small Men's Club and prayed, Dear Lord, please let someone go to that club and love on them. This past weekend I went to Fort Worth to share my love for the men and women who work in Men's Clubs and we went to take presents for the first time to the very club I had passed and prayed for. We had a great time. It was just a blast!
So, bottom line, since Heather came in October, we have multiplied and I really want to say thank you to Heather for all her support.
This club in Fort Worth was tiny. One of the women had been dancing there for 17 years. This place has been around a long time. When Heather went with me she went to one of the biggest and nicest clubs in Austin. When talking about the tiny little place in Fort Worth, someone said to me, Heather would really stick out in a place like that. And I thought about that and said, Heather would fit right in, she is that kind of person. She would feel just as at home in this tiny little place as she would some big slick club. That is what I love about Heather. Thank you Heather, in less than a year, from one club to four. Pretty cool, pretty God.
babies
Two of the women I know from the clubs are due this summer with babies. Last April I was there by two of the women while they gave birth to babies. I am so excited for these new babies!!! I can't wait to see them!!!
Tonight was fantastic. Always is. My life is so full for so many reasons, but one of them is live my life from my heart. I don't know that that many people really get to do that. I do, and I am very thankful for that.
Hi C, good to talk to you tonight. You are beautiful!
God is contantly showing up in the most unexpected ways.
This last week I took cookies to one of the clubs I go to. One of the women had died in a motorcycle accident along with one of the customers. Everyone was pretty down. The last time we went, we had a blast with this young woman. A big Texas storm blew in while I was there. When I left, it blowing wind and crazy rain. The manager let me borrow his umbrella to get to my car. I drove around to return it and a young man asked if I would drive him to his car. He asked me what I was doing there and I told him. He started telling me about all these dreams he had. How he prayed every day. We had a great talk about what it means to walk with Jesus. We sat in my car with the crazy storm around us talking about God, the enemy and it was just one of those divine appointements. He knew it, I knew it. We were both knew we would never forget this night.
What I do is based on 1 Cor 13. We are nothing without love.
The way it is..
I just went to a conference for the arts. I constantly thought of the many women I know in the industry that are very talented. There were a lot of smart people at this conference with lots of degrees. The conversation was pointed, in your face, wild, and often full of it. I saw a woman who mentored a young lady who I met in the club years ago. It was so good to hear how she is doing.
Another young lady called to check in. I am what she calls her adopted mother. Her mother committed suicide when she was a teenager. I am glad that she has someone to call mom and I am glad it is me. I love her so much, one night she said something that just stuck in my heard, well, kind of in my heart, and I wrote this poem about it.
Hurt
it hurts not to be loved,
her words tripped,
then slipped
through the phone...
then land like a stone
on my heart
i have nothing
can't fix this...
all i have
are sleepless nights
where
i whisper her name
in the dark
and hope that somehow
it will ignite,
take flight
and land in the city of light.
love expands
I have spent the last two nights at the clubs. I had so much fun hanging out with the women. It's funny, but I am the only person I know who heads up something like this that is not a former dancer. I am a very dorky white lady, sigh, it's true. So, I decided that I might do a little strip thing in the dressing rooms with the girls and be an honorary stripper. I tell the girls this and they are rooting me on. What they don't know is I have hidden some hideous shiny spandex biker shorts under my jeans. I make a big production of sexily taking off my belt, then slowly lowering my jeans and they start screaming and laughing when they see what is underneath, and one says- WHAT IS THAT?! And I turn and say in my sexiest voice (which isn't all that sexy, but work with me on this) This? This is my Baptist Thong! And the entire dressing room dies laughing. I love them unconditionally, and they love me unconditionally, it is so amazing! Happy Easter everyone!
Misunderstood
Today one of the women from the club shared the first chapter of a book she is writing about being a dancer. She feels very juded by so many as you can well imagine. Another woman I know works in a shoe store now. She shared with me how several families came in that day and their children were not just misbehaving, but hitting their parents. She talked about how it made her think that even though she never wanted her daughter to grow up and dance, she would rather her grow up and be a well behaved dancer then some kid who is so spoiled they slap their parents in the face. And yet another has a wonderful job yet her boss is acting not so wonderful.
And it was really ironic because many times when I am at the club, well, it is such a great feeling to be in this group of women, and we are all sharing and loving on one another. And I was thinking of how confusing this must be. What they know of Christians is often negative, and I even know some of the girls have had Christians reach out to them and they are hurt by them. I was thinking of how could they possibly find what I believe all that attractive- they just know Christians are the people that for sure are going to look down on them. And yet, they don't see a lot of Christians behaving much better. You know, which would you choose- mean and drunk, or mean and sober? Ouch!
But, here I am today, there is a little rain coming down, and all that are still home are still asleep but me, and all I could think of when I woke up is I can't wait to spend some time with Him. The dark rain makes the day cozy, I grap a throw to wrap up in, and I am so excited about spending time with Him that I feel like giggling. I am madly in love with Jesus! I so want others to know that kind of love.
Do you friend? I hope so. There is nothing like it.
loving rocks....
I hate the stereo types people put on exotic dancers. I can assure you, these men and women that work in the clubs are no different then you or me. I am deeply saddened the way so many Christians make this an us vs. them situation. We are all, ALL created in the image of God. There are so many ways people reach out to others. There are some that feel you must shove it down their throats and if they don't recieve it then they are bad.
I don't do that. I have friends who will never believe what I do. It is not a reason to stop the friendship. I wish Christians could open their eyes to this. I have seen so many cases of making friendships in order to get someone saved, and then when the person didn't jump on that they stopped the relationship. So what was that about? It was never a friendship at all was it? Who can blame people for not trusting us.
If you have ever been hurt, I am so sorry. Please know that this is NOT the way of Christ.
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