Charlotte ministry reaches out to exotic dancers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Volunteers prayed as they were about to enter Leather and Lace on South Boulevard in Charlotte before the men’s club opened to talk with dancers.

"So many people make assumptions and put ladies like this in a box and say, 'This is who you are, here is your identity,' instead of getting to know their story and who they are," said Jordan Keen with the outreach ministry, Rise Up. "Our goal is really just to get to know them, so that if they need help, then they can reach out to us."

They go to multiple venues every month, touching the lives of more than 100 entertainers, offering gift bags, conversation and support.

Club owner David Baucom has welcomed the group and the visits for more than a decade, asking only that they "don't judge" women who work for him, many of whom, he says, are single mothers.

“We have women who are married that need that extra source of income, school teachers, real estate agents, nurses, college students,” Baucom said. “They come from all walks of life.”

Dancers can take home $100 to $500 a night, on average, Baucom said.

He's OK with them hearing about their options in life.

Rise Up members also visited The Gentlemen's Club on Woodlawn Road and talked to a dancer in the dressing room about everything from family, to where she's from, to makeup and shoes.

The ministry leaves cards with a hotline number just in case the women decide to call.

They also want more people on the other end of the line to answer.

“We need more volunteers to reach more girls,” Keen said. “We need more support, more people to get on board with a vision that we can go into dark places and build relationships with people that are beautiful. To know that every life truly does matter to God.”

The next Rise Up volunteer training is April 7.

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