"Can Strippers Use Your Centre?": A Report from 24-7 Ibiza

Tracy Heasley, July 10th, 2008

“Is it okay for strippers to use your centre?” This was the question we were asked by a beautiful young lady who had popped into our prayer room and drop in centre in the middle of the west end of San Antonio. Our answer of course was a resounding “YES!”

It’s been two months since we opened our new premises, and all I can say is that it has been an amazing success. We are having on average 125 people a week pop in and it's not all about the free computers and internet. People love playing pool or having a go on the Nintendo Wii. As a team we have many opportunities to build relationship and have great conversations with people and have also been able to pray with quite a few people. People love going into the adjoining prayer room and spending some quiet time in there. Prayers are starting to appear on the wall; most written by people who would not call themselves Christians. I don’t know why but I am always surprised by the fact that the prayer room works and that no one openly thinks it is that weird. People know we are Christians but because we don't preach at people or judge them they are fine. We are not frightened of saying what we believe or offering an opinion if asked but because we have relationship with these guys it's okay.

So I have quite a content feeling that after all the stress of the set up we are now doing exactly what we intended to do; that is provide a great place for the workers of San Antonio to connect and hangout.

The street work has become increasingly busy. We walk around 4 nights a week from midnight to whenever! We chat with people, offer prayer and take people back to their hotels. We take drunks home in the vomit van and as the summer progresses we are getting busier and busier with this. We have 8 short term teams this year and they are a total blessing. One of their strengths is that they are great for talking with holiday makers and taking prayer requests.

We have great relationships with many of the workers although, as usual, there are some who won't talk to us and probably think we are just some weird cult. That’s okay! I understand how they could feel that way. There are enough people who do like us and respect what we are doing. We have beach cleaned, given out oranges, danced, worshipped and prayed in a number of clubs, which has all been great. The oranges we give out for free on the beach have gone really well this year one of our teams even went and bought some cherries that people loved. We have been able to do a few prison visits, dropped some burnt out workers at the airport and a few other bits and bobs which has been all good.

Increasingly as a team we have a desire to connect with the many prostitutes that work in our area. We feel the need to really pray into this and tread lightly and gently and see what God makes happen. At some point we might need an intentional plan but right now we will continue to pray and ask Him for the way forward.

We seem to have got a much better community rhythm this year so weekends are very chilled and give us plenty of time to hang out together, have fun and recover. In the midst of our busy-ness, we make space to pray regularly together, eat a community meal once a week and generally be the community we are meant to be. We definitely don't feel so tired this year.

God is with us and we are confident of this. We have a long hot summer ahead, yet we know if we stay close to Him and each other he will lead and guide us into new and exciting adventures.

Please continue to pray for all we do.

*Want to see more?  Check out the 24-7 Ibiza video at 24-7shorts.com