So this is the secret I couldn’t wait to tell you about…my church is hooking up with XXXchurch.com to shine the spotlight on America’s dirty, little secret. Pornography is a world-wide epidemic affecting countless families, destroying the innocence of youth and hurting marriages. I’m excited to have been appointed to lead this event at the church because its just too devastating an issue for churches not to talk about it. I love it that I am part of a courageous church! Go PCC! It’s especially wild that Hiram and I always wanted to bring xxxchurch.com down for our own church and now God gives us the opportunity to do it with another church plant. Is that a coincidence? I don’t think so.

Why is this such a big deal? Here are some facts:

·         The average age of first Internet exposure to porn is 11 years old. That’s my son Sam’s age!!!

·         The largest group consuming Internet pornography is the 12-17 age group.

·         48% of Christian families admit that pornography is a major problem in their homes.

·         The porn industry brings in $57 billion world-wide. Its revenue is more each year than all professional football, baseball and basketball franchises, combined. 

Think it’s only a “guy” thing, think again: 

·         1 out of every 6 women including Christians struggles with a porn addiction.

·         70% of women keep their cyber activities secret ·         1 of 3 visitors to adult webs sites are women

·         9.4 million women access adult web sites each month!

·         13 of women are so addicted to porn they try to get access to it at work

·         Now this is the really scary part….

o   Women far more than men are likely to act out their behaviors in real life! 

The church can no longer pretend it doesn’t exist.

And I am proud to say my church doesn’t have their neck in the sand! 

Just because we pretend it doesn’t exist, doesn’t make it go away. Pastors, ministers, lay leaders and as we have seen government officials have been disgraced because of some type of sexual addiction. Usually porn is at the root of it all. So……….on Sunday, April 20, 2008, Craig Gross, founder of XXXchurch.com, will speak at The Pursuit Christian Church Celebration Service at 10:30 a.m. Craig is a nationally known communicator who has been featured on CBS Evening News, Nightline, “Good Morning America,” GQ and many other news outlets.

While exposing the tragic impact pornography has on people and communities, Craig’smessage shines God’s love onto the topic, bringing freedom and healing from use andaddiction. The message will be appropriate for middle and high school students. In fact, weencourage them to attend. We will also provide resources for parents about how to talk toyounger kids and answer their questions about this issue. The Pursuit invited Craig to present his story as the third in a four-part message series called “Hooked.” Hooked will address the danger of addictions and how God can set us free from them. In conjunction with the series, The Pursuit will provide information and resources about all the topics it addresses, including prayer, counseling, Community Group studies, books and audio/video resources.

If you live near Pembroke Pines and don’t have a home church, come out to the Hooked Series at the Pursuit (PCC) and find out about the stuff that keeps us messed up and far from  the joyous life God intended for us.

If you DO have a home church, see if you can come out to the special April 20^th event.

And finally, if you don’t live near the area but have friends who do, please let them know about the event.  We all have to pull the covers off this dirty little secret.

Please pray that God move in the church and that people bound by porn (or other addictions) will find hope and healing through Jesus through our Hooked Series.