Church replaces strip club

April 8, 2007

By MARK KELSEY

Frontiersman

MEADOW LAKES - Call it an extreme makeover of biblical proportions.

After months of renovations and cleaning, the former Showgirls exotic dance club is set to be resurrected this morning to Easter worshippers as the West Valley Family Church. Under the leadership of Pastor Paul Trissel and his wife, Pam, a small band of kindred spirits, mostly volunteers from the area, has been busy scrubbing, painting and reconfiguring the formerly controversial landmark near Mile 52 Parks Highway since October.

Their hard work culminates this morning in a public celebration of Easter, the most important holy day on the Christian calendar.

&#8220It's a series of miracles, as far as I'm concerned,” Trissel said.

Betty Vehrs, who represented the Meadow Lakes area on the Mat-Su Borough Assembly for two terms, was instrumental in fighting to get Showgirls out of the largely residential area. She said she was surprised when she and her husband drove by last week and noticed a church was moving into the building.

&#8220We were just really blown away,” Vehrs said.

She noted that the new church balances out the cultural dynamic in the vicinity, which is home to two bars and another church. She said it reminded her of growing up in Nome, where there were seven bars and seven churches.

&#8220Now there's two bars and two churches,” she said of the Meadow Lakes neighborhood. &#8220We'll have to see who wins.

&#8220We welcome them to the neighborhood,” Vehrs added. &#8220I think the church is a wonderful addition.”

Trissel, of course, agreed.

&#8220I think it's a better use for the building,” he said.

A veteran of 42 years in the ministry, Trissel is affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene, which he described as &#8220a strong bible-believing church, that believes that scriptural holiness is lived out in the actions of its people.” Essential to the church doctrine is an emphasis on going to where people are and trying to meet their needs there, Trissel said.

&#8220We want to reach into our community and be able to give to the community,” he said. &#8220We're inviting anyone we can find to come worship with us.”

Today's worshipful debut is just the beginning of West Valley's mission in the Meadow Lakes area. Trissel said plans are already under way for a full-time soup kitchen, which he expects to be up and running in May.

Trissel said his previous seven years of service at Wasilla Church of the Nazarene and its adjunct Wasilla Lake Christian School opened his eyes to a need in the Meadow Lakes area.

&#8220A lot of people out there are just trying to scratch out a living,” he said. &#8220For whatever reason, there are many people out there that can use the style of ministry I want to share.”

That sharing will include daily meals at the soup kitchen, including a special program that will serve lunch to schoolchildren in the summer.

At 65, when many begin to think of retirement, Trissel is heading down a different path. After years of &#8220regular” ministerial service in Wasilla and Anchor Point, and previous service as chaplain for the Albuquerque, N.M., police department, he said he was ready for something new. Drawing additionally from his avocation as a magician, he had an epiphany.

&#8220I've discovered I have a great joy working with little children and helping them understand the Bible,” he said. &#8220It just kept growing on me.”

As such, Trissel said his pastoral style is family-oriented.

&#8220It's all people who need a family-type atmosphere,” he said. &#8220I want to be as simple as I can be in my work. I want to keep it to a level where kids understand what I'm saying.”

This morning, that will show itself in an Easter sermon titled &#8220Jesus said ‘here I come, ready or not.'” Trissel said the focus of the sermon will be on what Jesus was thinking when he first encountered people after his resurrection.

The message, he said, fits in with the motto of the West Valley Family Church - &#8220love, acceptance and forgiveness.”

&#8220All my emphasis is on teaching the word of God and living it,” he said.

The Easter service begins at 11 a.m. and is preceded at 10:30 by a continental breakfast. Brunch will follow for any who want to join in.

Contact Mark Kelsey at 352-2268 or mark.kelsey@frontiersman.com.