I get the honor and privilege to be the photographer for everything Scarlet Hope, but much more than that I participate in this ministry several hours a week.   (Ha, that sounded like a hair club for men commercial.) It’s true though;  I just love this ministry so much that I spend a lot of my time and energy in that direction.    Scarlet Hope is a ministry that reaches out to share hope and love to women who are in the sex industry.   Because of this ministry, lives are changed – not just the women who we come in contact with but ourselves as well.  Last night at an old movie theater in New Albany called the Grand, we were able to celebrate those women who lives have been forever changed because they found freedom in Christ.  The name Scarlet Hope is inspired by Matthew 27:27-31, the event on the way to the crucifixion when Jesus was stripped of his clothing and put in a scarlet robe to be mocked by Roman soldiers.  One of the x-dancers put it like this, “On our chest we all wear a scarlet letter.  How could I even walk into a Church?”  The women in the clubs carry shame and our often mocked and shamed by the people around them.   It’s only in Christ, that our shame can be taken away and true beauty restored.   Everything about this night was a celebration, even having all the women come earlier to get dressed and all dolled up together.    Literally and figuratively, exchanging our rags for beautiful clothes.  

While we were getting beautiful, the room was being decorated for elegance.  The colors of Scarlet Hope being red and white to symbolize our scarlet sins being washed white as snow.   The Scarlet Hope Gala was quite the affair.

This piece was donated by a former dancer – the artwork was made out of the clothes she used to wear before she found a new life in Christ.  She wanted the viewer to see that there can be hope in the midst of chaos and darkness and she found it in Christ with the help of Scarlet Hope.   She was thrilled to see that she could use the clothes for good and to glorify God.

With over 225 people attending, we were so excited to see what God would do with this night.   So many supporters came to celebrate what God is doing in Scarlet Hope and we were so grateful to have them partner with us. Scarlet Hope began simply with a young girl’s heart who wanted to bring hope to people who were hurting.  At the age of 23, God began to stir Rachelle’s heart towards reaching women in the sex industry.  It began simply with prayer and she shared the vision with friends who felt as if God was stirring their heart as well.  Her husband stood with her in this vision and soon prayer was not enough.  Therefore, Rachelle and her best friend Sarah entered a local strip club sat down at the bar and began a conversation that has since opened the door to 8 clubs in Louisville.   Scarlet Hope just celebrated two years of being in the clubs on September 8, 2010.  Two years later, there are now over 40 people involved in Scarlet Hope on a weekly basis either cooking meals, or delivering the meals, acting as security or praying for us as we go into the clubs.   There has been so many lives touched by this ministry and over 31 women have left the clubs as a result.  With 27 clubs in Louisville, there is still more to be done to bring hope to the women who feel they are stuck and forgotten.   The hope is to build a home for Scarlet Hope – a home where women can find the resources they need and a place where Scarlet Hope can provide 5,000 meals a month for the women at the clubs.  The Gala was a start to making that dream become a reality.

I never would have dreamed I would be a part of this ministry.  About four years ago (ironically around the same time that Rachelle was praying about this ministry), two other women and myself went into a strip club to bring presents for some of the dancers.  I remember the club manager wondering what we were up to and he told us that many church people don’t walk through the doors, they only yell from the street.   He told us that he would give the gifts to the girls but we were unable to see them.  Then we just kind of fizzled out and didn’t keep anything going because it takes time and energy and well,  you can’t do it alone.  Life got in the way and other things as well.   Apparently, God was going to have someone there since he was stirring other hearts in the same direction, and I am thankful to women like Rachelle who were obedient to the call.   I am also thankful that God brought me back around again and allowed me this season in my life to devote myself to this ministry.  I can’t really tell you all this means to me personally.  I don’t really think I have words for it.  I do know that I see how God has fashioned my life so that he could use my past heartaches for his glory.  I do know that I have been reminded that friendships go the distance in good and bad because we live that out everyday – you don’t give up on people, you love them, you fight for them.  I do know that I am happy to spend my life and resources on things that are eternal, and if I never become a big time photographer – I’m cool with that – as long as I have enough to do what really matters.  I do know that anything accomplished through this ministry is not because of anything we can do but because there is one greater than all of us already working.  I also know that this is exactly where I am supposed to be though it’s hard sometimes.  Loving people is never easy, but it’s worth it.   I do know that I still have much to learn, but thankful I have a team – literally a team of people to keep me in line and to encourage me.

I love everyone of them.  This group has truly become a community – a family -people I rely on and trust -and on this team are some of my closest friends.   I am so humbled to be a part of this group – the women and men who serve with Scarlet Hope are top notch – and they inspire me and keep me focused on what is truly important.  THEY ARE SUPERFLY :)  I’m bringing it back people.. one blog post at a time – haha.

If you’d like to partner with Scarlet Hope in some way, you can donate or contact Rachelle for more information on involvement.  To view all the pictures from the gala – click here.