We aren’t just called to easy and convenient ministry; we are called to the marginalized, broken, and often neglected areas and sects of society with the message of Jesus Christ that has the power to redeem and transform lives. In 2021, we felt convicted and compelled to bring the gospel into the sex industry in Seattle. Through this weekly ministry, we were invited to have a booth at the annual Exxxotica Expo in Miami, D.C., and Chicago. This expo is a 3-day adult-themed event with vendors, performers, and consumers.

Each of these opportunities brings incredible spiritual warfare. Awakening Church and partners have committed to giving, going, and praying desperate, bold, and persistent prayers as we enter the battlefield. Read below a short testimony from this past expo.

“I spent the majority of this trip focusing on building relationships with the performers and other vendors at the convention. I did this by walking through the expo to visit each booth and see if there were any needs we could meet. I brought dinner to some performers, snacks, and hydration to others, and often I would bring a bag of candy with a note that said how loved they are by Jesus and by us. Most people were amazed when I told them what we were there and why we were serving them in this way. One vendor looked up after receiving the candy and the note with tears in his eyes and said, “Wow, we never get this. We never hear this from your people.” These words utterly broke my heart. This man was saying that the people in the sex industry never hear a message of love from the Church but rather a message of hate and condemnation. Needles to say, this opened the door for deeper conversation and broke down the wall of deception of what the gospel is and what it isn’t. The man continued to seek me out throughout the convention to ask questions about Jesus and His love for people. This is what it’s about. The root of everything we do has to be love, just as the Father sent the Son because of LOVE. If we aren’t starting from love, we are doing it wrong. He draws us in and accepts us right where we are. This is the seed that we plant at these shows because we know that His kindness draws us to repentance, and when people know they are loved, they want to learn more.”

Casey Flagg – Awakening Church, Light of Love

Quotes from Exxxotica staff:
“…if no one tells you often, you should know that you are doing a tremendous job for everyone you are coming in contact with. Being around sex workers for the years I’ve been around them, not all feel loved. It’s important to know we are all loved, and I’m a relatively religious person, and I know Jesus loves you, me, and all of us regardless of the lives we choose to lead. Letting a sex worker know that it’s crucial.”

“Thank you for all you and [your team] do for us. We love having you at all the shows, and it makes such a big difference when you’re around. Hope to see you at the Chicago show.”

Thank you for partnering with us as we strive to reach Seattle and beyond by living the life of a Jesus follower. With every step of faith, we are in desperate need of God’s redeeming grace, and he is deepening our love and passion for His Kingdom in Seattle, The West, and The World.

Would you please continue to pray, give and encourage us on the battlefield? We need you and are grateful to God for you.

Please take a moment to pray for:

1. Our endurance through daily spiritual warfare
2. New doors of opportunity during the Christmas season
3. Deepening community/personal relationships