Today we’d like to introduce you to Bonnie Gatchell.
Bonnie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Route One Ministry is a non-profit (and program of the Emmanuel Gospel Center) that serves women sexually exploited and trafficked by commercial sex industry. In 2010 I had a conversation with two friends. We talked about social justice and work being done on the North Shore to address trafficking. One of my friends asked the question, “What is one thing that high school students can do to address the issue of trafficking here in the United States?”
The reply, “Make baskets and take it to strippers working on Christmas eve.”
This resonated with me. The next day I Googled strip clubs that were located near my church and found a few. I picked one and called the manager, he agreed to let my church bring baskets on Christmas Eve. We gathered enough fun, girlie items (like; nail polish, earrings, journals, cute-socks, etc.) to fill 25 baskets. On Christmas eve the dancers received the baskets with tears, hugs and words of gratitude.
Some of the women stated that this would the only gift they received that year. Some of the women wondered why anyone would remember “a bunch strippers”. From this one event, a ministry was launched. It was clear that women who worked in the strip clubs were not as excited to work there as movies have portrayed. From there I found a group in Kentucky working with women in strip clubs, drove to Kentucky and entered my first strip club.
I met my first stripper, she was 62 years old. She looked 62, with C-section scares and crows feet. She had left home at 18 with a plan to work one summer in a strip club, make good money and start over. She never left. In meeting this granny I knew that there was a real need. I knew that I needed to repent of my view on women who worked in the strip clubs. I needed to unlearn all that movies and music and The Church had taught me about women in strip clubs. Some of those myths are:
For one, 42% of women who work in the sex industry enter at age 14! Another, 90% of dancers have been sexually abused before turning 18. Most people, like myself, believe that strippers make lots of money. The truth is they have to pay a fee to enter the doors of work. They often have to pay a fee to the “house”. But, one positive statistic is the number #1 reason women leave the sex industry is through a trusting relationship encouraging them of their gift and talents.
At that moment, I thought “why not me?” From there, my friend and I spent a Saturday afternoon writing the vision statement for what would eventually be called Route One Ministry. That first Christmas ONE church brought 25 baskets to 25 women in one club.
This past Christmas, more than 20 churches and small groups brought 170 baskets to 170 women in 11 strip clubs, 1 private home and 1 aftercare program. Throughout the year connect weekly with 70 women across the state of Mass.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road. First, the struggle was being new to the issue of trafficking in the United States and being pioneers in addressing this issue by entering strip clubs. Route One Ministry was the first strip club ministry in all of New England.
When we started we did not have a building to meet in and met instead in the parking lot. There were four women and three husbands. We gathered, prayed and entered the club. Now we have three buildings; one, in Boston (EGC); one in Worcester and one in Springfield. With 18 outreach volunteers and three staff serving 70 women weekly.
A second struggle is money. When we started I worked a full-time job to pay the bills and did Route One on the side. Very quickly working 60 – 80 hours a week. It would not be until year four that I would be paid full-time. About two years later I hired a second part-time staff to run our Springfield site. Money continues to be a struggle.
The final struggle has been helping people, including the Church, understand trafficking and exploitation differently. We often think of trafficking happening “over there” to “them” but the truth is American girls are being exploited on American soil. Shame and fear are a bigger factor in exploitation than chains and ropes.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Route One Ministry is a program of the Emmanuel Gospel Center. We reach women and girls sexually exploited and trafficked by the commercial sex industry in two ways; one, by entering clubs and building trusting relationships and two, by educating the Christian leaders and the general public on the reality of trafficking in the United States.
It is our hope that by entering strip clubs we can be a bridge for the women and resources needed to leave the sex industry. We also strive to help churches and church leaders understand the systemic issues happening in the church that leads to trafficking and sexual abuse.
What were you like growing up?
I am one of two kids with an amazing younger brother who is far more generous and kind than I. I have learned a lot from him both as children and adults. Even as a kid I had a social justice bend. I would rotate my stuffed animals so everyone had a fair chance of sleeping on the bed instead of the floor.
Since 6 years old I wanted to be a pastor (and I am ordained today with the EPC). I use to pretend to be a pastor, my mom and stuffed animals were my congregation.
Pricing:
- $60 buys hot meals for 24 women trapped in exploitation
Contact Info:
- Address: 2 San Juan Street, Boston, MA
- Website: www.lovedbyrouteone.org
- Phone: 9789303136
- Email: bonniegatchell@gmail.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/routeonemin/
Image Credit:
Elijah Mickelson, EGC
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