'...but now I see'
In her life so far, Julie Taylor Shematz has gone from pastures to perms to Purdue to the pole to the pulpit.
The 44-year-old grew up on a farm outside Burnettesville, and in her 20s worked as a hair stylist. After a divorce, she went back to school, but found herself doing 19 credits per semester and working four part-time jobs. It was then that she began dating a man who exposed her to strip clubs.
The relationship eventually turned abusive, but Shematz initially thrilled to the notion of “the art of striptease.” She was tired of the student life, of working as a school bus driver, aerobics instructor, bank teller and restaurant hostess, so she paid a visit to Brad’s Gold Club. Within a week, the then-31-year-old was stripping.
“I tried to rationalize it the whole time, even though I knew it was something I shouldn’t be doing,” she said. “But that first week I made enough money that I was able to go home and tell both my roommates to move out. It was like, ‘I am woman, hear me roar.’”
Shematz spoke to Indy.com last week from Florida, where she is co-founder of Beauty from Ashes Ministry, a nonprofit, nondenominational faith-based organization. The 4-year-old ministry tries to help women escape from the sex industry. Shematz’s dog, Jehu — a miniature dachshund puppy named for an Old Testament warrior who slew the evil Jezebel — barked into the phone as if to reiterate his master’s point.
Stripping was supposed to be a two-year deal. Shematz planned to switch schools and finish a fine-art degree at Herron, but her profession became a bigger priority — as did partying and drug use.
“I ended up stripping for seven years,” she said. “My life started eroding. It’s the shame and the pride — I was ashamed of what I was doing, but then it balanced out on the big nights, when you made money and held your head high.”
After spending the better part of a decade bumping and grinding to “Brick House” or the latest Madonna track — in clubs in Indiana and Florida, and on the road throughout the country following major events — Shematz finally left. She started reading the Bible again.
“I knew in my heart I was a professional tease, that it was all a game, and that it was wrong,” she said, “Someone had given me a Scripture, explaining that we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be slaves to anyone but the Holy Spirit. It was like a light came on.”
A licensed minister, Shematz’s next goal is to become an ordained pastor, so that with her husband — a recovered porn addict — they can take Beauty From Ashes Ministry to a new level. Recently, the group joined with Word of Life Church.
“Our goal is to reach and rescue people in the sex industry, and teach them to embrace the destiny God has for them,” she said. “We meet them, assist them with everything from life skills to basic financial assistance and practicalities.”
At first, Shematz didn’t want anyone to know that she had been a stripper. Now she knows her story is a key not only to the salvation of others, but of herself.
“I had to be transparent about the decisions I had made. I couldn’t just show people the good Christian girl college graduate. I had to come clean. And there’s freedom in that.”
“Saved by Grace & in His Grip”
Julie Taylor Shematz produced this self-portrait oil painting in 2005, two years after being “set free of the sex industry and the bondage of sin.”
Shematz wanted to show how Jesus rescued her when she was “drug addicted, divorced, hopeless and exhausted from trying to live life my way,” she said. “The fact is, he never left me nor forsook me even when I chose repeatedly to live in rebellion to him and his word. The figure in white, representing purity and holiness, is obviously Jesus Christ, my hero, savior, redeemer, deliverer, healer and the only being that ever loved me unconditionally.”
Shematz said she never had a purple outfit like the one above, but she chose purple because it is, biblically, the color of royalty, and because we are made royalty by accepting Jesus, she says.
“By his grace, Jesus rescued me when I called out for his help and saved me from the destructive lifestyle in which I was entrapped and from an eternity in hell. In his grip is where I am; safe, protected and secure as I continue to put him first in my life. … As the old hymn goes, ‘Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.’”
Thank you Julie for being the bold person that you are to share your story and offer help to women that are seeking a way out of the sex industry. Most of the women in the sex industry need to know that when they want to leave there is another way. But most of all that there is LIFE AFTER STRIPPING!
I know what its like to be in this lifestyle and the good things and bad things it offers. I was a stripper for 5 years before leaving it in 2003. I’m now married and have 2 children, plus a ministry named 4Sarah that reaches women in the sex industry as well. Our website is www.4Sarah.net. There is a network of organizations throughout the US that are successfully helping women leave the industry permantently!
I’ve noticed that her website was not listed in the article so if you need help or want to encourage Julie please visit her website at www.BeautyFromAshes.org
Zombiegrrl : RE: '...but now I see' More..
Stripper Putting Herself Through Life
JUPITER, FL—Nina Meyer, a young, strong-willed exotic dancer at the Klassy Dolls Gentleman’s Club, informed patrons Monday that she only plans to perform nude for as long as it takes to get through the remainder of her existence on earth…
It sounds like she stripped until she got too old to get a booking, and then turned to another age-old profession that strips gullible men and women of their money: religion.
Young people in any career that is high paying are prone to getting involved with drugs and partying…look at Wall Street. If you’re weak, you’re weak. Don’t blame the occupation.
celtic.cross : RE: '...but now I see' More..
Thank you so much for that Onion article. It is very funny and whoever wrote it is very astute, as tragic as the situation is for many real life Nina’s. I’m not a sex industry survivor, but that article really does seem to capture what a dead-end the sex industry is, and the human tragedy that the sex industry preys on.
What a beautiful story of God’s restoration! I wish her the best.
EastSider1 : RE: '...but now I see' More..
FINDLAY, OH—Local resident Owen Pritchard’s recent downward spiral into drug addiction, unemployment, and complete and utter hopelessness has sparked the intense interest of several top world religions, each of which is vying for his services as a devotee, the 39-year-old uncommitted prospective convert reported Monday.
http://www.theonion.com/content/...
Ugh. I can’t think of anything more depressing or hopeless than thinking that you need Jesus to save you. Julie, Jesus didn’t fix your life. You’re the one doing the work. You’re the one making changes. The story of Jesus might have inspired you but, good or bad, your life is changing because of you.
It is all about “choices” — AND “relationship.” To say Jesus didn’t save her is to say your boss didn’t save you from starving. An employee chooses to accept their bosses’ opinion that they are valuable, and they choose to engage in the relationship by following through with his requests. (Wash this, sell that, create those,… .) A Christian chooses to accept Jesus’ opinion that they are valuable, and they choose to follow through with his requests. (Love me with all your heart, and love your neighbor – as yourself.) The difference is that a relationship with Jesus never requires only the best resume. Every request is accepted, and all prior actions done outside his unchanging scope of desirable behavior is wiped from his memory with a sincere appology. Viola, a fresh start. Julie chose the right man to follow, and her working relationship with him will indeed inspire her to continue repeating what he did for her.
Good choice, Julie!
JulietheArtist : RE: '...but now I see' More..
Hey everyone,
Thanks for your kind and encouraging comments. Thank you also to those of you that have contacted BFA showing your support.
Konrad – Kudos to you my friend for writing this story. I can only imagine the heat and raised eye brows you received. I appreciate your willingness to tell the Truth. The TRUTH that set me free to be who I am today.
It was my decision to choose the way of the Lord. Fact was I had tried to do it ‘my way’ every way I could and it just wouldn’t work. I was a backslid Christian (carrying offense and unforgiveness) when I made the decision of ‘maximum amount of $$$, minimum amount of time’ in a feeble effort to acquire my college degree.
My objective is NOT to tell anyone what they are doing is wrong. I don’t have to for their conscious will direct them in that regard. Our objective as a not for profit is to let those that want a lifestyle change know that there are resources, organizations and people that will help them transition out of the sex industry. It’s about letting them know we are available and they are not alone, nor hopeless. We have the largest network of organizations nation wide and will do everything we can to assist them. View our network @ www.BeautyFromAshes.org under Links & Resources.
If you know of anyone that feels stuck in the industry and are ready to receive help, please contact us. Our International Toll Free Help Line is 877.4BFA SOS (423.2767). If everyone you know in the industry is doing great, when they get REAL with you, they will admit there are those that need help. Please encourage them to pass on the information about Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries: Offering Hope & Making a Difference.
God bless you all!
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