Citing Atlanta as one of the most notorious cities in the country for the commercial sexual exploitation of children, the Ethics and Public Affairs Ministry of the Georgia Baptist Convention (GBC) and TeenPact are teaming up for a briefing on the topic.

The briefing will take place Tuesday, July 14, from 2-8 p.m., at the Georgia Baptist Missions and Ministry Center, located at 6405 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.

Phil Burress, the keynote speaker, has been instrumental in shutting down dozens of adult-orientated businesses through creative mechanisms.

"Just because it is legal to operate a sex business doesn’t mean we have to accept it," says Burress. "You have to be proactive. If not, then sexually dysfunctional males and the sexually addicted will frequent these places."

Burress will instruct Georgia citizens how to work with their local governments to enact local legislation that will regulate their adult businesses. In Cincinnati, Burress was able to foster legislation that would ban strip club patrons from getting closer than six feet to the dancers, and the dancers would have to be on a stage two feet above the floor.

Also speaking will be Mary Francis Bowley. She serves as president of the non-profit organization, Wellspring Living (wellspringliving.org), based in Tyrone, Ga. In 2001, Wellspring Living became aware of Atlanta’s problem with the forced prostitution of children and began working with victims of childhood sexual abuse.

Kasey McClure will also share her story. Kasey was employed as an entertainer at two local adult establishments before she became a mother in 2004. After her daughter, Sarah, was born she had a vision to provide resources to women who want to leave the adult entertainment industry.

"Adult-Oriented businesses are a blight on our cities and havens for criminal activity," said Tim Echols, founder of TeenPact. "Once our citizens here in Georgia begin to fight fire with fire, we can clean up some very ugly parts of our state," he said.

"We look forward to the information we will receive at the Public Policy Briefing to make members of our churches aware of what can be done to meet the needs of those people who are trapped in the adult entertainment Industry," said Ray Newman, Specialist, Ethics and Public Affairs Ministry of the GBC.

Contact Newman’s office by calling (770) 936-5314 for pre-registration. Cost for the event is $15 and includes dinner.