I never know how to start these kinds of posts.
I have been putting off writing about this for weeks and weeks for precisely that reason. How do you sum up a weekend like that?
In all honesty, I didn’t want to tell people that I was going to the Taboo Show in Vancouver. I thought that people would either condemn me for being involved in “taboo” anything or that they would condemn me for bringing my beliefs to a secular industry.
Fear makes you do stupid things.
My mom had called me during that weekend in January. She had no idea that I was a part of this. Our conversation went something like this...
Mom: “What are you up to?”
Me: “I’m downtown.”
Mom: “Are you shopping?”
Me: “Nope. I’m an exhibitor at the sex show.”
My mother loved that.
For those of you already thrown into major confusion about what this all is, let me give you a refresher ;)
I teamed up with XXXChurch back in January and I was part of their “exhibit” at the 2013 Naughty but Nice Taboo Show. We had shirts and decorations stating our message: “Jesus Loves Porn Stars”--a sentiment I support 100%. We were simply there to talk to anyone who wanted to about what porn addiction can really do to a person as well as to spread the simple message that Jesus loves everyone. He doesn’t love porn, but He does love the people who are part of the industry. We were there for four days, January 17 - 20 and (in groups) did a 3-4 hour shift each night.
And wow. Was it an INCREDIBLE experience!! We gave out stickers with our “Jesus Loves Porn Stars” motto plastered on it to everyone who passed by. Those stickers were a hot item let me tell you. People searched out our booth just to get a sticker. We also gave out “Jesus Loves Porn Stars” books --2000 of them!!-- made up of the gospel of John interspersed with stories of people in the industry. What an incredible way to reach this industry eh??
I got to talk to so many people about life and about Christ’s love. One woman looked at me and said, “I’ve never heard anyone say Jesus loves people before...”
And unfortunately, that wasn’t a rare occurrence.
People have been so incredibly hurt by the Church--a body of imperfect people representing a perfect God. We’re human, we’ve made mistakes. All we can do is love people to Christ. We can’t argue or hate or debate them into a relationship with their Saviour. That’s not how it works. That’s not how He works. It was so LIBERATING to just be able to talk to people and love on them without judging them but also without changing what I believe. There are so many hurting people out there searching for something to fill a void. I loved being able to just BE there--to be available to those who had questions or needed to talk. I wasn’t there to “convert” people. I wasn’t there to preach at people. I was there to LOVE on people. And by our love and our listening ears, I believe we made a much greater impact than any protest ever could.
Moral of the story: It was an incredible weekend that really forced me to consider, “What does it mean to represent Christ in the darkest of places?” I saw things that I definitely don’t want to remember, but I’ve met people that I never want to forget. I was able to make friends with some of the vendors and hear their life stories.
I had my hair done in a 1940’s pin-up style (can that PLEASE come back in style??) by a girl around my age and we had the best conversation. We talked about how people can look so upright on the outside and yet be so filthy on the inside and vice-versa. We talked about life, tattoos, our passions. And, the best part is, I’m gonna go and see her to get my hair cut in the near future. I love building relationships :)
Please be praying for those we talked to and those that walked by. Pray that they would search and find what they’ve been needing all along.
Thank you SO incredibly much for all of the prayer support that you’ve given as well as the encouragement!! I still have about $850 yet to raise to cover the books as well as the booth rental and whatnot, so if you’d like to help out with that go to https://www.myxxxchurch.com/campaigns/view/vancouver-2013-taboo-naughty-but-nice-show.html
And if there are any issues, please let me know!!
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