Pussycat Preachers
Mar 3rd 2008Jeremy MyersChurch & Mission
I read about this on Vince Antonucci’s site, which he gleaned from the MMI Weblog.
When young pastor Matt Brown announced he was supporting a ministry for women in the sex industry led by an x-stripper, he was expecting applause. Instead, he got cold stares and an e-mail inbox filled with angry letters. At issue was Heather Veitch, an x-stripper turned evangelist. She looked too much like a stripper and was leading Christian women into the dark world of strip clubs for so-called “outreach.” Capturing it all, was documentary filmmaker Bill Day for his new film “The Pussycat Preacher.”
“Most Christians know that Jesus spent time with prostitutes and tax collectors because that is where the word was needed. But believing the ideal is one thing and living the reality is another,” says Day.
“If we all took a vote on being Biblical versus being respectable , we would all vote for Biblical,” says theology expert Professor Sarah Sumner PhD from Azusa Pacific University in the film. “But the reality is many churches are more concerned with respectability.”
Pastor Greg Laurie from mega-church Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside was one of pastors who didn’t believe Heather’s method of winning souls was worth the risk. He warned Brown to stay away from Veitch.
“When a Pastor you look up to tells you something like that it’s scary,” Brown confesses. “I’m a pastor and I am supposed to love people. But I didn’t love strippers. What Heather did was she birthed that in me and my congregation.”
Instead of backing away from Heather, Pastor Brown put up $50,000 of church money to support the ministry. But in no time at all, a rumor got started that the $50,000 was being used by Brown to buy lap dances for himself. Brown suddenly found himself on the verge of losing his church facility housed on the campus of Southern California Baptist University.
For her part, Heather Veitch claims she is winning souls and that is what matters. For evidence, she has the documentary which shows a number of strippers making their first venture into church. “Now comes the hard part,” Heather smiles.
Day says the film is not rated but very ‘’PG’’ It has no nudity or offensive language. It will be available on DVD, pay to download , or ‘’watch free’’ with advertising at the film website http://www.pussycatpreacher.com/ starting Feb 15.
What do you think about this kind of ministry? What do you think about Greg Laurie’s response? Is this kind of ministry too risky?
6 Comments »
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Stripped
Jo Ann on 03 Mar 2008 at 10:07 am #
Jeremy, I applaud young Pastor Brown for his desire to reach all kinds of people, as Jesus did, and an ex-stripper is the best kind of person to reach these women. I would love to see them going to church for the first time; I would be deeply moved. That is the place where they should hear the Word of God and grow to Christian maturity. Hopefully the Christians there will lovingly nurture these new babes in Christ. Miss Veitch certainly needs a support group to assist her in the work. She cannot do it alone.
Spreading vile rumors is about as ugly a sin as I can imagine.
I guess we all struggle with ‘what will people think’ but we need to break away from that as long as what we are doing will please The Lord Jesus Christ.
It is good to read about your passion for reaching people with the gospel, Jeremy, but I feel so disappointed that you are no longer with GES. I don’t know any details, but GES is my lifeline for good teaching and messages. I certainly don’t get much of that here in small town Canada.
Jo Ann
Jeremy Myers on 03 Mar 2008 at 12:30 pm #
Jo Ann,
Thanks for the comment. I wonder if most churches would even be able to accept these women in church? Most churches I know, even those who proclaim grace the loudest, would require some radical life changes to occur in the lives of such women before they were made to feel welcome in the typical church. I do hope that Pastor Brown will be able to help Miss Veitch as she reaches these women who so desperately need the love and grace of God.
I agree with you that vile rumors are about as ugly a sin as there is. Though we Christians condemn most evey sin under the sun, the one which the Bible seems to condemn the most–sins of the tongue–seems to be the one which is most accepted and practiced in our churches.
Regarding me not being at GES any more, I am also disappointed that I am not there any longer. However, there are some rumors going around about why I’m not there, and it is amazing to me how many people are believing and spreading these rumors. That is what I have found to be the most disappointing. I imagine that with the conference being this week, and me not being there, such rumors will only multiply. Oh well…not much I can do about it.
Jo Ann on 03 Mar 2008 at 7:19 pm #
Well, Jeremy, I read your blog almost every day, so I am benefiting from your ministry which comes straight from your heart. Cling to the Lord and He will vindicate you. May He guide you into the work that He has planned for you as you wait on Him. I haven’t heard any rumors, but I would refuse to believe them if I did.
I know GES is going through rough waters too. God’s truth is our solid foundation.
Sincerely,
J
Jo Ann on 03 Mar 2008 at 7:28 pm #
Wow, I just went and looked at the message topics for the conference. What I wouldn’t give to be there. How can you stay away. You live in Texas, right. I am going to see if I can order the CDs right away.
J
Jeremy Myers on 03 Mar 2008 at 9:55 pm #
Yeah, I live here in Irving. The conference is 30 minutes away. The reason I can’t go is because of my new job…
Jo Ann on 03 Mar 2008 at 10:30 pm #
Oh, That is great to hear that you have a new job.
Blessings,
Jo Ann