Laci's Story

I walked right into a strip club all by myself, carrying a bouquet of flowers. It was afternoon and the bouncer was very suspicious. He began interrogating me. I told him I had a delivery for one of the dancers and it would only take a minute. He said to wait there, so I did. Finally, as I was being urged to leave, the girl God had put on my heart came walking past. I approached her and handed her the flowers and a card. I said “These are for you because God wants you to know how much He loves you.” She received them with a surprised smile and a hug. I ran out of the club that day filled with joy and hope. 

See, I knew all about strip clubs. I knew about dancing, about using sexuality to get attention and money and drugs. In fact, I was in the sex and entertainment industry for five years of my life. The drugs made it all seem exciting and harmless, but I was soon addicted. For years I had believed my only value was my looks, my sexy clothes, my seductive dancing, my ability to manipulate people to get what I wanted. I had learned at an early age that this was all people wanted from me. Family members and friends of family had sexually abused me for years of my childhood. Even as a 12 year old, when I went to the stables to ride my horse, the teenage boys working there joined the parade of my abusers. Did I have a target on my forehead that said “Take what you want”?

Years later, working in the clubs and selling drugs became my life. At the age of 19, I became pregnant, and that soon ended my dancing and modeling career. Everything changed. My identity was destroyed. Even my boyfriend lost interest in me because I was no longer “cute and sexy.”

Then when my baby was one month old, I “had” to go back to dancing and selling drugs. I told myself it was the only way I could support us, but the reality of this sad lifestyle was beginning to get to me. It wasn't exciting, it was just survival. When I endured a horrific rape, I hit an all time low. Around that time I was caught and arrested for dealing drugs. I will always be thankful for that, because when I was put on house arrest, I finally had to face life sober. In sobriety I saw how I had destroyed my life. I even thought the world would be better off without me in it. Desperate and battling suicide, I cried out to Jesus. He met me in that dark place, and I felt the evil that had been surrounding me for so long finally leave.

Always, I had been spiritually sensitive. Even as a little girl, when I thought “monsters” were attacking me, my Mom had taught me to say ”In the name of Jesus, leave.” And they left. But Satan wasn't done with me yet. I could actually feel spirits attacking me but now when I said “In the name of Jesus, leave,” they would go away – only to come back and harass me again with their tormenting thoughts and frightening manifestations.

It wasn't enough to just say the words. God wanted me to believe, to give my whole heart and life to Him, to know Jesus personally. On that day in 2010, on my knees next to my baby girl's crib, wearing a clunky house arrest ankle bracelet, I cried out to Jesus for salvation. From that moment, my old life started fading away, and my new life with God began. I learned about grace and forgiveness, instead of penance and condemnation. By 2013, I had truly surrendered all; Jesus had set me completely free. Oh, He was sending me back into the strip clubs alright, but this time to tell others about Jesus.

My heart was being healed, my past was forgiven, and I could not be quiet about the Lord. When I found out about Eve's Angels, I knew I was called to minister to the women trapped in a dark lifestyle. I was ready, I had a testimony prostitutes and strippers could relate to. I joined a chapter of Eve's Angels and later broke off into an independent ministry founded in Indianapolis called “Unconditional.”

God knew what I needed in order to do this, despite the late hours and sometimes dangerous settings. I prayed for reliable child care, and He provided it. I prayed for finances and He provided them. My church, Church for the Nations, donated to our ministry, and my children and I were even given a house and a car through God's provision.

It has only been one year serving on team with “Unconditional.” During that time, I have seen God tear down the walls of religion that bind hearts and hide the true face of Jesus. I have seen girls  weep as their True Father tells them how He sees them.  I have held hands in prayer circles that include dancers, servers and bartenders as we pray for their loved ones, right there in the middle of the strip club. Jesus can go anyplace, and He was always there. Now “Unconditional” has several women ministering. Some of the women we prayed with have made miraculous life changes, been set free, and given their lives to Jesus. I even had the opportunity to open my home to one of these amazing women, during a season of transition in her life.

Did I ever dream during those dark days when I was a slave to drugs and sex, that God could make it all work together for good? I found out He still transforms lives. And sometimes even sends flowers!