But contrary to what passers-by might think, the scores gathered daily since May 27, most wearing blue blindfolds with the revolution logo, are not protesting the store crammed with all flavors and sizes of sex toys, movies and edible apparel.

These folks on the sidewalk — "prayer warriors," they call themselves — are on a campaign to purge pornography not just from stores but from their hearts and those of other church people.

"We want for the church to come clean, get real, get honest," says pastor Scott MacLeod. The first targets are the Christians who sample such wares while claiming higher moral ground. He doesn't think churches should be finger-pointing if pew-sitters are "entangled in pornography."

Hustler employees "have been fine with us," he adds. "We've been talking with them, building a friendship with them."

During a stormy day, a worker brought out garbage bags for the revolutionaries to use as raincoats. Hustler employees, citing company policy, refuse to be interviewed. They do allow that the protest has been good for business by drawing attention to their friendly neighborhood sex shop.

"There's a good respect both ways," says MacLeod, pastor of the Provision International inner-city ministry on nearby Clinton Street. "We are not happy with what they are selling here, but we've developed a good rapport with them."

The store and nearby gay-oriented clubs weren't the only draws. The Church Street address played a major role.

"It's a call to the church to come to Church Street to repent and to pray about the pornographic plague, come clean of the Hustler and the Hollywood that's in us," McLeod says of the 21-day "Stand for Purity on Church Street," a coalition of churches and ministries.

With almost a week to go, McLeod, a 41-year-old father of two, predicts "huge swells'' of reinforcements will join warriors such as Jeff Richfield, who reads Scripture to the blindfolded "vision fasters." He also goes on incomprehensible, upbeat rants of encouragement. "I'm speaking in the spirit. Some call it in tongues. It can sound like gibberish, but it's a joyful sound when the Holy Spirit fills you up."

Pure Life's previous campaigns have had these warriors praying outside the state Supreme Court, reading Scripture by the "Musica" statues on Music Row and rallying on the Shelby Street bridge.

This latest gathering is similar in that "We've been praying for God's destiny over Nashville," McLeod says. "When the Christian conferences come to town, the (in-room hotel) porn rentals go higher than at any other time. … It has to be dealt with. If there's anyone we can call to a moral code, it's those who profess to Jesus. …

"But we believe Nashville is a special city. If the church arises and shines, there's hope for Nashville to be a city of light."

Dialogue, not confrontation, is one goal. And some, who exit the store with bags of bedroom paraphernalia and fetish films, chat hospitablywith the blindfolded.

Since this is a major thoroughfare, there are plenty of one-sided drive-by offerings from rolled-down windows and motorcycle seats.

McLeod says some honk horns and "give us a thumbs-up."

Others offer a different digit. "We get ladies who throw their shirts up, showing everything, and say 'Praise Jesus and we love porn.' ''

It's almost enough to make a pastor laugh, if he didn't think the stakes were so high.

"We aren't here to impress people. But there's perversion in the church. We've got mega churches here. Tons of churches. It's 'cool' to go to church."

MacLeod simply wants churchgoers who either enjoy or ignore pornography to come to Jesus, as the saying goes.

"We are appealing to heaven, to the Lord, so we can have a pure city, a clean city.

"This is the battle for Nashville."

More ...

Excerpts from The Cause USA's 21 Day Turn Off
by Lou Engle, http://thecauseusa.com/articles/21-day-turnoff.htm

I believe the Lord has given us guidance as to the geographic flashpoint where we are to strike weapons, to engage the enemy, and to mobilize repentance and intercession in the face of this issue of sexual sin in the church, and it is not where you would think. You might expect the location to be in the pornographic capital of Southern California. But the place we believe is the prophetic worship city of Nashville, Tennessee-"The Buckle of the Bible Belt." Here on Church St. in Nashville, Hustler Hollywood has taken a brazen stand along with a proliferation of homosexual clubs and strip joints to defy the city’s chief of police and the prophetic calling of the city- to be a voice of worship and a pure prophetic sound to disciple the nation. Jezebel seeks to contend with the prophets to silence their voice by seducing them into sexual immorality and idolatry. The church cannot tolerate, bear with, and live in peaceful co-existence with that spirit. Larry Flint, owner of Hustler Empire, has made this family friendly sex cafe and store a spear point of an intended invasion into the south. With "Relax- It’s Just Sex" as its motto, Flint has set his face like flint to make its Nashville store a successful beachhead with the view that from there he can multiply his empire throughout the southern Bible Belt.

We are calling front liners to join us in Nashville, May 28th through June 18th. Give us 30 holy volunteers, from the Volunteer state of Tennessee, 18 through 30 years of age, who will gather together, live in community and pray night and day for breakthrough. They will take a daily stand on Church St. across from Hustler Hollywood not with religious anger and self-righteousness but to stand as intercessors for repentance in the Church. At the same time they will lay siege in a spirit of humility yet with authority, declaring the victory of Christ over the principalities and powers that are seeking to assert themselves through Hustler Hollywood.

Adult Novelty Store Opens As Religious Convention Arrives

NewsChannel 5, 7/17/05 - The Hustler Hollywood store in downtown Nashville opened Thursday, just as the Southern Baptist Convention is about to begin in town.

About a dozen customers were in line waiting to be Hustler Hollywood’s first customers when it official opened Thursday afternoon.

Store manager Jimmy Flynt, brother of Hustler founder Larry Flynt, said Nashville was a logical choice for the chain’s seventh store, and he wasn’t worried about the timing of the store’s opening.

"This is a chosen city. Everybody wants to be in Nashville. I'm sure we'll get a lot of those shoppers. I know we do in other cities, when there's a religious convention, we get a lot of those shoppers."

This is the first time in 91 years that the Southern Baptist Convention will be held in Nashville, and while the timing of Hustler Hollywood’s arrival seemed ironic, the manager of one religious business downtown said he felt the adult store had its place.

"I'm sure they did their market research and feel they're filling a need. But we think there's a greater need, and that is for the human heart to know God," said Rob Phillips of Lifeway Christian Stores.

Religious and community groups have picketed some Hustler Hollywood openings, but a Southern Baptist spokesperson said the group had no plans to protest the new Hustler store’s opening because they’ll be busy with their convention, which starts Friday morning.

Hustler Hollywood Hits Nashville

Business Wire, 7/ 7/05 - Hustler Hollywood, the retail merchandising arm of Larry Flynt Publications' (LFP, Inc.), is pleased to announce the July 15th grand opening of its newest retail outlet in Nashville, Tennessee.

Located at 14th Avenue North and Church Street, just off Interstate 40, Hustler Hollywood Nashville joins seven other upscale, adults-only superstores dotting the United States. The successful chain sells everything from XXX videos to Hustler Apparel, and has been offering discriminating consumers a bright, refreshing alternative to the seedy adult bookstore since its first store opened in Hollywood, California in 1998.

Special guests at the Nashville opening include Larry Flynt and adult film stars Jessica Jaymes, Veronika Raquel, as well as Ron Jeremy. Also on tap is a live performance by Hustler Hollywood Records' own SuperUnknown.

Owner, founder and pop-cultural icon Larry Flynt is excited about the new Nashville location. "I marvel at the success of these stores. They attract folks from all walks of life, from soccer moms to NASCAR dads to celebrities killing time between wrap parties."

New Orleans and Lexington, Kentucky, this new link in the chain gives Hustler Hollywood a bible belt trifecta. Quipped Flynt, "We've got a southern strategy, too."

Hustler Store Eyes Nashville Site

The City Paper, 9/15/04 - Hustler Hollywood, a store chain fueled by adult entertainment mogul Larry Flynt, is eyeing a location in Nashville at 14th Avenue North and Church Street, just off Interstate 40.

With existing stores in Hollywood, San Diego and Gardenia, Cal., as well as Monroe, Ohio, and Lexington, Ky., Hustler Hollywood is more reminiscent of a clothing store or a nightclub than a pure adult entertainment venture.

An upscale one-stop superstore of "leisure activity for the very discriminating customer," the store includes tall ceilings, bright colors and a coffee bar with high-end gourmet foods and pastries in existing locations.

The 1400 Church St. property was last home to an Amoco gas station in the heart of what is now loosely termed as Nashville’s Gay Business District.

Hustler Hollywood, which first opened in 1998, offers a line of clothing that includes sophisticated lingerie and separates — essentially every color of thong underwear in addition to Hustler baby T’s and ball caps.

Flynt and Larry Flynt Publications (LFP, Inc.) are individually guaranteeing the leases on the proposed bookstore that would include International Best Sellers and the latest video releases and magazines, according to the property listing on the Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Brokerage Company Web site.

In addition to Nashville, new locations are scheduled for Ft. Lauderdale and New Orleans. The Lexington location opened July 16 and was followed by a federal lawsuit from Jimmy Flynt II, the store's operator and the brother of Larry Flynt.

Flynt’s suit, which is ongoing, alleges the city violated his constitutional rights when the Lexington City Council passed a zoning ordinance in April that prohibits adult bookstores, adult video stores, adult cabarets, sexual entertainment centers and adult dancing and entertainment establishments at interstate highway exchanges in Fayette County. The Hustler Hollywood store is near an interchange off Interstate 75.

While Flynt opened his store without adult merchandise, he added it less than two weeks later.

LFP, Inc., the company that created Hustler magazine, began in 1976 and currently publishes more than 30 titles.

The Metro Board of Zoning Appeals heard a case in October of 2003 to put in a new 9,700 square feet retail building on the property. The property is zoned CF (Core Frame District) and a Hustler Hollywood store would not be classified as an adult business if under 50 percent of the floor area is used for adult material, according to Metro Codes’ Rick Shepard, who serves as secretary to the BZA.

Hustler Hollywood Nashville Help Wanted Ad

craigslist.org, 5/5/06 - Retail Co-Manager
Reply to: kalexander@lfp.com
Date: 2006-05-05, 6:46PM CDT
HUSTLER Hollywood is the world’s finest erotic boutique. We specialize in: Apparel, Lingerie, Personal Care, DVD’s, Novelties, Adult Toys and Household Products.

The ideal candidate will have at least 2 years retail management experience. The candidate must be knowledgeable in all facets of store operations including but not limited to: Merchandising, Scheduling, Inventory, Shipping and Receiving, Point of Sale Software and Training

The pay range for this position is $29,000 to $35,000, based on experience.

HUSTLER Hollywood is a fast growing company with a substantial amount of upward mobility for those that choose to excel. We offer: Medical and Dental Insurance, Generous Discounts on Products, Cost of Living Increases, Merit Raises, and a fun and exciting atmosphere.

Pornstudent Comment ...

Religious Anti-Porners Wearing Blindfolds

Why are they covering their eyes?

One reason is that it's a reaction to what the XXXChurch is doing. They object to how some evangelicals are going into porn conventions and handing out "Jesus Loves Porn Stars" Bibles.  They think this is casting the pearls to the swine (Matthew 7:6). By covering their eyes they are not, in one sense, actually in the presence of the sinners as they demonstrate against them.

Another reason, I think the one that they would say, is that they want to remain pure. They don't want to be defiled by what they consider the filthiness of porn. They don't want to see Jezebel's hornies enjoying their sex across the street at Hustler's.

The blindfold is an indication of how they view the human ability to think. Our ability to inquire and reason are good for many reasons. Those putting the blindfolds on may agree. But their Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:18, "For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." The blindfold hastens what they think is the will of God. Their views are dangerous to the human spirit and degrading to our nature.

See also ...
Hustler to Open More Stores in the UK
Hustler Opens Store in South Beach
Hustler Store Hasn't Hurt Town

Hustler's Website (adults only)

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