KENNEDALE, Texas -- Customers of sexually oriented businesses near Interstate 20 and Mansfield Highway might find a surprise in their mailboxes after their next trip to one of the triple-X stores. A Kennedale pastor recently started a "camera crusade," photographing license plates in the stores' parking lots and mailing postcards acknowledging visits to the customers' homes.
Jim Norwood, pastor of the Oakcrest Family Church around the corner from the businesses, said he isn't trying to shame the patrons. Instead, he wants to invite them to attend his church.
"Observed you in the neighborhood … didn't know if you knew there was a church in the area … would like to invite you to attend one of our services," Norwoord read from a postcard. "We also offer counseling and classes on sexual addictions as well as drug and alcohol addictions."
The postcards are personalized with a photograph of the individual's vehicle in addition to the invitation. Norwood said personal guilt delivers a subtle message when the cards are received. "If they're embarrassed by it, if they feel intimidated by it, then there must be something wrong with it," he said.
Representatives of the stores declined to comment. In fact, most of the businesses are involved in lawsuits with the city, which wants the businesses to relocate.
Customers of the businesses, though, had plenty to say about the pastor's crusade. "People go where they want to go. They shouldn't have to be worried about if somebody's taking pictures of their license plates, sending them cards and all this other kind of stuff," one unidentified customer said.
Norwood maintains he doesn't pass judgment on the businesses' customers. He just wants to open people's minds and change hearts. He believes he is qualified to minister to "lost souls" because he spent nearly 20 years participating in a prison outreach program.
"The Bible says, 'When I was hungry, when I was thirsty, when I was in prison, when I was sick, you visited me,' and that's what we're to be about. We're not to be looking down our noses at people." Norwood said.
The cards carry one more message. "Please stop by next time you're in the neighborhood. Would love to have you visit. God be with you," Norwood read.
The city also is trying to get the sexually oriented businesses to relocate.
What an a-hole. I hope someone hires a P.I. to follow this pastor and dig up some dirt on him. Just because someone gets a porn video they need to be invited to his church? This guy is a jackass.
I don't mind the church thing, it's just this jerko trying to push his idelogy off on people and to try and embarass them. If this guy has nothing to hide, let's put a webcam in his house.
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, diet coke in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
Inside me lives a skinny woman crying to get out. But I can usually shut her up with cookies.
A friend is someone who thinks you're a good egg, even though you're slightly cracked.
06-08-2004 10:54 AM
