LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — Crews have been busy at work on the future home of one Indiana church.
Lead Pastor at Lafayette Community Church, Jeff Mikels, said the search for a bigger building to fit the growing congregation began last spring. After deciding to save money by purchasing an existing building, Mikels said his associate came to him with an option for their new home.
“He said, ‘Hey, I found an interesting building that might work for us, but it’s right next door to a strip club,’” said Mikels.
The building sits next to Filly’s Gentlemen’s Club and an adult gift store on Concord Road.
Although Mikels said he was reluctant, the building was an inexpensive option that fit their needs. He said the congregation was a little nervous at first, but is excited about their new church home and the possibilities that come with it.
“The more and more we talked about it, the more we felt like we could find ways to be a blessing to the people who come to this part of town,” said Mikels.
Filly’s co-owner Ed Gobel said the new neighbors have been respectful and kind, even bringing gift baskets to employees during the holidays.
“It’s been a very, very good working relationship,” said Gobel. “And I think they respect our viewpoints and we respect theirs.”
The first renovation project was tearing down the old fence that ran between the two properties and replacing it with this one, but Mikels said the barrier is not a representation of the relationship between the church and the business next door.
“The fence is just there because we’re trying to build an aesthetically pleasing environment here, so we want to make sure people feel comfortable to be in this space because we want them to feel love,” said Mikels.
Gobel said he’s already feeling the love from his neighbors and hopes it sets an example for others.
“It’s a wonderful thing because it’s the fact that we’re all sharing together because we want to all prosper,” said Gobel.
Gobel doesn’t believe having the church next door will impact his business.
Construction is set to be complete by April, with the goal of its first service by April 10.
Replies (15)Latest
Hmmmm two takes...
OR
It's good to see the two businesses can get along even though they are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Maybe congress should take note.
I like this story. A church and a strip club peacefully coexisting.
When I saw the title of this discussion - I was reading and waiting to see where things would take a turn for the worse. It seems like it's working nicely. Glad to see both groups respecting each other.
The point of shadowcat's title is that if a strip club tried to move next to a church, there'd be hell to pay and everybody would be all up in arms.
I would have loved to see the church really save money by trying to lease the club on Sundays until 2pm.
Win-win scenario until a used condom gets found in the altar.
Many thanks to gmd... now my over taxed brain doesn't have to figure that out on its own
Thanks to gmd too. Everything makes lots more sense now!
Props to Shadow for posting a feel good story
Is it possible that the lead pastor is "feeling some love" from his neighbor's? Lead Pastors lives matter, too.
I do not approach religion with a live and let live attitude, and I do not consider their groups to be above the law. I am one of very few people I know who are willing to stand up and oppose them.
And I've gotten into lots of trouble on online forums over such matters.
SJG
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Notice, door is on wrong side.
Anyway, for a strip club parking lot you really need a small motorhome. Unless you can just get your trailer in there and keep it there. :)
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Strip club/church mashups are apparently not that uncommon. I already knew about one Portland club that has been turned into a church: oregonlive.com
Here's another in Seattle: christiantoday.com
Here's one in Georgia: m.ajc.com
And here's a church in Ontario, Canada that meets in a strip club: m.huffpost.com
I have heard about several churches that try to reach out to dancers in a positive way. I see no problem here.
SJG writes: "I do not approach religion with a live and let live attitude, and I do not consider their groups to be above the law. I am one of very few people I know who are willing to stand up and oppose them."
What an understatement! You are dogmatically anti-Christian to a remarkable extent. You seem to be, dare I say it, religiously irreligious. Did some church members piss in your Cheerios? Feel free to copy and paste your usual drivel about how "Born-Again Christianity" is as destructive as drugs and narcotics.
@MrDeuce: "'Born-Again Christianity' is as destructive as drugs and narcotics."
What an understatement! Hell, remove the "Born-Again" part, and it'll be just as accurate. At least drug and narcotic users aren't trying to take away my rights.
"Did some church members piss in your Cheerios?"
No Mr. Deuce, because if they had you'd of read in the newspaper about the guy from San Jose who disemboweled a bunch of Born Again Christians, almost as if he had claws like a lion. I don't let them do stuff to me. I stand up to them.
You aren't really hearing what I am saying. I face Born Again Christians down in public arenas, these being the separation of church and state and the use of government owned properties and the endorsement of religious groups and programs by government entities.
These Born Again Outreach and Recovery Ministries exist to legitimate child abuse. Most of the leaders and volunteers in such ministries have children of their own whom they have designated as the scapegoats. The put on these ministries so that they can go after the scapegoats from other families. They convince the people who have lived the hardest of lives that it is all their own fault, and that Jesus has so much pity for them that he wants to give them another chance, just so long as they admit that it is their own fault for screwing up the first chance.
And I helped put one such outreach ministry volunteer into San Quentin, for sexually molesting his daughters. In my final communication, to the Court and the DA, I emphasized that if the three girls had not come forward and told the truth, but instead had listened to the member of their church and acted like nothing had ever happened, then it would have been quite possible that some years down the line, failed marriages, failed attempts to get an education and build a career, that these three girls would have become targets for that church's outreach ministry.
I also told the girls that besides suing their parents, they should also sue their church. Treat that church as a hate group, rather like the KKK. The only difference is that instead of being based on racial prejudice, it is based on prejudice against children.
See, the blacksheep child is a continual theme in that church and in their pastor's sermons. Having a blacksheep child and showing pity is one of the best ways to gain status in that church. And this is what drew me into becoming involved in this guy's case, the huge amount of emotional energy he had invested in blacksheeping his eldest daughter, and the huge amount of support he was getting from his church over this.
And yes, I agree with georgemicrodong
SJG
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