September 12-14, 2008 a team of us headed to NYC for the firt ever EXXXOTICA NYC. We had a great time. Below are some of the recaps and above this post is the video from the trip.
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This was my first porn show, so I was kinda’ nervous, still not sure what I was really in for. Before we got to the XXXChurch booth, we passed a cage with girls posing for pictures, several sky-high posters you can’t help but look at, and numerous booths with not-so clever names. But it wasn’t as shocking as I expected. I think the only surprising thing was the spectrum of people in attendance………from Grandma & Grandpa to Ron Jeremy……and everyone in between. It really just made me sad, to see women on display, parading around with their “pimps”, while men followed them around with video cameras. In any other place, it would be natural to be angry at that sort of thing, but the porn show is where they go to do it without shame.
I was afraid of being confronted or challenged and not being sure of what to say, but most people didn’t really feel threatened by our presence. I think it was because we were such a contrast from the protesters outside, basically hating them to hell. I loved handing out the Bibles, with a cover that made people laugh, but probably made it easier to throw it in their bag of porn. This was a great way to get more involved with XXXChurch. I was glad to be there with Clint, doing something together that mattered. It’s something we both feel strongly about, but I had really only been supporting from home. It was good to talk to people and make a real connection with them. Although what you see at a porn show isn’t real, it made me realize how real it is to some people. It was easy for me to leave the show and return to my reality, but I guess the same show drew others deeper into their addiction. It’s the saddest place with hot pink carpet.
-Heidi
This was my fourth show with the team, but the first with my wife Heidi Jo by my side. It was a different experience, seeing her reactions to our surroundings, and hearing her thoughts on them. Every show is a reminder of God’s grace and love for us all. I was reminded of how each person in there has a story, is unique, is named and known. I wanted to ask so many of them, “Is this what you were designed for?”. From the girl being used as a one trick pony across the aisle from us, to the guy I talked to who only attends the shows because he feels God doesn’t have any woman for him. Having my wife there was a constant reminder of how important she is in my life, how much of a blessing she is and how I wouldn’t want her to feel second to anything that the porn show has to offer.
-El Clinto
This is my 9th show overall. This is crazy to think about as well. I guess at this point it is a blur. Every show the thing that stands out to me is the endless amount of people you have the privilege to talk with. And many times I have the privilege to present a glimmer of hope and a reminder that no matter what they are loved.
The NYC show was no exception. I heard from a girl in the industry that has our Bible on her bookcase to this day, it was in her collection. She said this proudly. She proceeded to explain that her picture with the JLPS banner was her most commented on photo on her myspace. She was so genuine and appreciative of us.
A guy named Phil hanged out with me at the booth on the last day of the show and asked all kinds of questions about heaven and hell, raptures and why he should not be at the show and why he should go back to church. He was, as he said “born again.” He had not been to church in three years…
A gal from a couple booths down that simply sells vacations came down to Craig and I on the last morning of the show and asked for a few more Bibles. She explained that last night she had started to read the Bible and found it amazing. She had tears in her eyes in her eyes as she explained this, She thanked us for simply being at these shows..
Finally, I handed a guy a Bible and he said this “Man I am going to hell,” I do not know where he heard that message in his life, as I handed him the Bible and he walked off I assured him to read it and Jesus loves him no matter what.
Every person that I get to speak with has a story and it is a amazing to hand them a bible and talk about life and hope in midst of all the craziness that is the show.
– Brandon
It was the first show for Richard and I, and I have to say we were very nervous about coming. Not because we have issues with pornography, but I think because we were worried that maybe we were inviting one.
However, the worries were put to rest within 5 minutes of getting to our booth. People were taking Bibles as quick as we were able to hand them out. Many did not even wait to get one from us, but drew from a large stack we had on the floor leaning against a pillar in the aisle where people were
walking by.
There was a porn star in the booth across from us who worked the crowd the entire time we were there. She posed for every picture and seemed to have this built in sensor where she would sense someone taking a picture of her from behind and would automatically stick her butt out for the camera. She seemed to be friendly with her fans, but during her break, she immediately
put a shirt on and plopped down with a bag of chips.
A playboy girl took a Bible from me and asked, “Does Jesus really love porn stars?”
“Absolutely!” I responded, “Jesus loves everyone…”
She came back later on and I felt like there was more I wanted to say. Nothing came to mind, so maybe the simple message on X3’s Bible’s says it all.
The deal with a porn show is that it is all about fantasies for sale. Sure, everyone has the potential to get caught up in their imagination – especially when there are girls walking around in tight little things. I think the thing that made it easier for me is realizing that this is not how any of these girls really want to be treated or live their life. It is not real and not appreciated.
I think a deeper root to the addictive part of a fantasy (aside from the obvious sexual stuff) is that porn paints a picture of a world where one gets what one wants when one wants… even if it is at another’s expense.
Lord, help me to dream about how I might serve others rather than fantasize about how I might be served.
-Tom
We travel 3,000 miles to a porn show and the thing that stood out to me the most was a conversation I had with a travel agent. She markets her company at trade shows all across the U.S. She grabbed a Bible on day 2. On day 3 she came over and said to me, “Can I have another one of these? I started reading it last night and I started to cry and wanted to share this with someone else at my booth.”
God’s word is powerful. It is easy to forget that or take it for granted when you are around it so much. For someone new to it, it can bring you to tears.
We had just over 3,000 bibles that we handed out. They were all gone by 5pm Saturday. Heard some great quotes today. Thought I would share some of those with you. More updates to come:
“Will it help me or save my life?” – Person who just got a bible at the booth
“I got one email this week about you guys at my show. One guy was upset that I allowed you in. I just hit delete. He did not know what he was talking about.” – J. promoter of show
“None of my porn friends bring me a turkey sandwich.” – Ron Jeremy
“The picture of me next to the Jesus Loves Porn Stars display on my MYSPACE is the most commented picture on my site.” – Porn Star
“Thank you for coming” – Consumer
“I don’t need Jesus…I got Jesus and I am not backsliding.” – Consumer
“Jesus was the reincarnation of Adam.” – Consumer
‘How come you guys always run out of Bibles?” – Consumer
“Oh, is this a parody of the real Bible?” – Consumer
-Craig
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I didn’t know what to expect, but it ended up being a lot tamer than I thought. The booth was in a good spot and well protected from most visuals. The girls who were working at the event were dressed similarly to how they would if going to the beach…but at the beach, it’s not expected for guys to be gawking and taking pictures and video of the girls. At the expo, it was expected. Guys were able to do all this without dirty looks or slaps to the face. The day had this surreal feeling to it, and by surreal I mean fake. It just seemed like the girls really really deep down just didn’t want to be there. They would smile, but it wasn’t like a smile that was on the inside at the same time. One girl posed suggestively with guys for hours and hours on end, as if programmed. She did take a break in the middle and covered up to have a light snack. It was when she covered up that she became more attractive, if that makes sense – like she was more herself, more real. I wondered if she goes home at night and lays awake in bed, numb to all this, contemplating how God could ever love someone like her, or if there is a man out there who could see her as God does and treat her like the princess she is. Does she even know God sees her like this? I wondered if she could even cry anymore.
We handed out over 3000 Jesus Loves Pornstars Bibles to anyone who would take them. Some simply walked past without taking notice, others held up their hand as if to say no. Some laughed or made jokes as they passed by, reacting to the bold statement of “Jesus Loves Pornstars,” like that could ever be the case. Some people asked if we were for real, or just joking around, and when we said we were serious, responded by saying, “You’re just being facetious, right?” Others took the Bibles, not realizing what they were, and put them into their “goody” bags. Hopefully they will find Truth if they end up reading it later. Some people took an extra for a friend; others came and requested the Bibles when we were out. A few people we talked to actually knew some Bible stuff and/or claimed to be Christians. I saw a Jesus fish on a car in the parking lot… at least its going to Heaven right? The important thing is that there were people who were affected positively by God’s love and message of hope as a result of us being lights in a dark place. Jesus Loves Pornstars indeed!
-Nathanael
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The NYC porn show is this week September 12-14. The team is gearing up to hand out 4000 JLPS Bibles in three days. We are excited to head to a show on the east coast for the first time.
Stay tuned for updates right here, starting Friday.
The show has already been moved once because local officials tried to shut it down. But as we know the show must go on….the good porn people found a way to make it happen and they moved it to a bigger venue.
If you have not heard we just launched XXXchurch.tv and the NYC porn show is episode #2 of the new video podcast. Stay tuned it will be released early next week.
A couple things you can do to be involved…
1 Pray – please pray for the team, the industry folks and all those attending the show. Pray for every Bible that goes out and every conversation that will happen at the show.
2 Give – The main cost at porn show outreaches are the Jesus Loves Porn Stars Bibles. Buy a Bible or give to the porn show outreach fund to support the NYC show.
God Bless,
-X3TEAM