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With a blush, church accepts strippers' collection of gifts
St. Petersburg Times ^ | December 23, 2001 | SUSAN THURSTON

Posted on 12/23/2001 5:37:26 AM PST by JZoback

TAMPA -- In the end, it came down to the children.

Leaders of Without Walls International Church in Tampa decided Saturday to accept gifts gathered by strippers at a Brandon club who flashed their breasts for a toy donation.

"We do not condone the way that they were collected . . . but we appreciate the donation," church spokeswoman Jennifer Mallan said. "We'll bless it and we'll distribute it."

Church officials didn't know what to do after learning Friday how the gifts were collected. Radio disc jockey Bubba the Love Sponge Clem promised them a truckload of toys, but they had no idea he had told listeners they could get a sneak peek if they brought their donations to the Deja Vu strip club.

When church leaders found out, they weren't sure whether they should keep them.

Mallan said that after talking it over, church leaders agreed it was best to pass out the gifts as planned.

"There is a tremendous need in the community," Mallan said. "The stories we've heard are heartbreaking. There are a lot families who don't have anything."

The large church off Columbus Street in Tampa distributes new toys and food every year to families in need. For many children, the gifts are the only ones they will get for Christmas.

Between 700 and 1,000 parents registered their children for age-appropriate gifts and picked them up Saturday as part of the church's ninth annual Christmas Extravaganza. Remaining toys will be distributed today.

Several parents said they didn't care how the gifts were collected or that strippers were involved.

"Whatever they did, it was for a good cause," said Darlene Brown, a mother of three from Tampa. "They were trying to show compassion."

Listeners of WXTB-FM 97.9 (Rock 98) brought more than a 1,000 toys to the strip club, where dancers flashed them in the parking lot. Gifts included everything from Barbies to board games to bicycles.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
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I drive past this strip club on the way home from work and it was the first time I have ever seen traffic backed up a 1/4 mile trying to get into the parking lot.

Now, I know why......

No, I have never stopped to check out the strippers with hearts of gold.

Why pay to see hamburgers when you can go home and have steak.....

1 posted on 12/23/2001 5:37:26 AM PST by JZoback
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To: JZoback
Looks like Satan has found a way to enjoy Christmas.
2 posted on 12/23/2001 5:44:00 AM PST by Cvengr
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To: Cvengr
Why? What kind of toys were collected/
3 posted on 12/23/2001 5:45:58 AM PST by Henchman
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To: Cvengr
Looks like Satan has found a way to enjoy Christmas.

I think it's pretty sad that it takes flashing strippers to get people motivated to give toys to needy children.

The radio station could have just as easily asked for donations to be brought to the church itself.

4 posted on 12/23/2001 5:47:44 AM PST by JZoback
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To: Henchman
LOL!! Batteries NOT included!!! :o)
5 posted on 12/23/2001 5:49:44 AM PST by Georgia_JimD
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To: ALL
When church leaders found out, they weren't sure whether they should keep them.

WWJD?

6 posted on 12/23/2001 5:50:08 AM PST by JZoback
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To: JZoback
WWJD?

Probably just thank the donors and pass the gifts to the children.

Are we not ALL sinners? Does your church complain about gifts from liars or coveters or those who do not love God with all their heart and soul and mind or love their neighbor as themselves? If my church accepted gifts only from those who are without sin, then they couldn't accept any gifts at all.

7 posted on 12/23/2001 6:00:16 AM PST by P-Marlowe
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bump
8 posted on 12/23/2001 6:00:19 AM PST by JZoback
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To: P-Marlowe
Are we not ALL sinners? Does your church complain about gifts from liars or coveters or those who do not love God with all their heart and soul and mind or love their neighbor as themselves? If my church accepted gifts only from those who are without sin, then they couldn't accept any gifts at all.

Whoa, there buddy. Take a chill pill.

My WWJD was not a condemnation, it was rhetorical......

I'm not real sure what I would do myself if I was the pastor or in leadership of the church.

The biggest problem I see is the strippers and church were manipulated by the radio personality. "Bubba, the love sponge"

Strippers want to be seen as good hearted people and the church was promised a gift without the explanation of how it was being raised.

Both seemed to me were used and it would have been just as easy to ask people to doante to the church.

9 posted on 12/23/2001 6:16:20 AM PST by JZoback
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To: JZoback
Well, Miss Melly did accept Belle Watling's money too...
10 posted on 12/23/2001 6:33:30 AM PST by Paul Atreides
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To: JZoback
Clinton's Legacy Lives!
11 posted on 12/23/2001 6:39:23 AM PST by drstevej
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To: JZoback
Imagine if all those encouraging the gift giving and those driving in, had simply stared into the eyes of the strippers without any lust. Two things would have occurred. The kids would have had presents, and those encouraging whore-mongering and fornication would have been simply exposed to shame. Additionally, another series of temptations would have gone unanswered except in rejection.

Imagine the angst of the Adversary or those of his minions to such free will. All it takes is individual resistance to temptation.

I agree, that in a leadership position, the radio station probably should have referenced a church as a collection point. But perhaps the event and attention paid to it will give cause to pause for those flippantly considering such arousal vice a more ethical behavior.

For those who reject it, it might be the only heaven they'll ever know.

12 posted on 12/23/2001 6:46:42 AM PST by Cvengr
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To: P-Marlowe
Amen
13 posted on 12/23/2001 6:59:54 AM PST by Delta 21
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To: JZoback
You really have a problem with naked women don't you. Everyone had fun, toys were collected and mission complete. So what is your problem? Believe it or not strippers are mostly just regular people. Better way to make a living than shooting a mother holding her baby as in Ruby Ridge.
14 posted on 12/23/2001 7:15:20 AM PST by willyone
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To: JZoback
OK, you're posting priveleges are going to have to be reviewed. YOU know the rule, no articles about strippers unless they are accompanied by pictures!!

How can I craft intelligent responses if I am not aware of all the "assets" involved. :)

15 posted on 12/23/2001 7:25:23 AM PST by FatherTorque
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To: JZoback
There are just so many great line this story could have....

I guess it wasn't only Santa Claus's belly that was shaking like a bowlful of jelly this year....

16 posted on 12/23/2001 7:29:53 AM PST by Celtjew Libertarian
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To: JZoback
Without Walls International Church whatever that means?

Haven't these people ever heard of:

The 2001 Toys for Tots poster, "Giving Hand," was the final work of Ted Drake, a World War II veteran. Mr. Drake, who passed away May 25, 2001, also created the Fighting Leprechaun image used by Notre Dame University and the image for the Chicago Bulls' mascot. The cover illustration is used courtesy of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

17 posted on 12/23/2001 7:39:06 AM PST by SMEDLEYBUTLER
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To: JZoback
I guess this is just titfortat or is that tot.
18 posted on 12/23/2001 7:43:41 AM PST by wattsmag2
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To: willyone
You really have a problem with naked women don't you.

No and stop trolling. I love to see my wife naked. At what point did I ever condone what the strippers were doing? Bonehead.

Everyone had fun, toys were collected and mission complete. So what is your problem?

I don't have one. If men want to go see strippers flash their boobs at them to get them to give a toy, I could care less. What bugs me to a certain degree is the fact the church was put in a position of being being told they would be getting toys, but not in what fashion.

Believe it or not strippers are mostly just regular people.

Believe me, I know it far and away better than you do.

Better way to make a living than shooting a mother holding her baby as in Ruby Ridge.

O.K. I agree, as a matter of fact I think almost everyone would agree taking ones clothes off is far better thing to do than shoot someone in cold blood.

Any more dumbass statements would you like to add?

19 posted on 12/23/2001 9:45:05 AM PST by JZoback
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To: FatherTorque
Here you go, she's one powerful machine with lot's of assets

You can stop drooling now.

20 posted on 12/23/2001 9:49:00 AM PST by JZoback
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