Last Tuesday my small group guys (6 college freshmen dudes) was sitting around before small group and discussing life and such. Then all of the sudden one of my guys brings up the struggles of internet – and how he is tempted on a daily basis…We all agreed to this temptation and decided to do something about it.
The first thing that popped into my head was the ministry of XXX Church – a ministry who “…exists to help people of all ages who are being assaulted by pornography. [They] prevail through awareness, prevention and recovery”. I have known of these guys for a few years – and really have enjoyed their ministry. Getting to see their hearts – and their passions for rescuing those who are addicted to pornography and the industry itself.
I first heard about XXX Church by a booth at a popular music festival – seeing their edgy stickers and shirts all over the festival “Jesus Loves PornStars” and “XXX Church” stickers literally EVERYWHERE I looked…I just had to go meet these people and see what they were about. (I was also 17 years old…and well – you know. So it was a no-brainer that I wanted to check it out…obviously.)
I walked up to the booth with a brightly colored pink and blue banner background – and a man in groovy aviator sunglasses handing out stickers and buttons…I walked up to the guy and started to talk about life and their heart to see people changed. It also helped that at the time I as drenched and chained to the sin of pornography – hearing that there IS hope and there ARE people who are out there willing to give you resources to help yourself out of the addictions (and get this – with JESUS!!).
I followed their ministry by checking out their website and cheering with them when they posted about ex-pornstars coming to Christ! And I cried with them when people drifted away and also when I saw the industry that has invaded so many churches and Christian homes.
Then big news!
X3Watch came out! A software designed for accountability groups that you download to your computer to help your online integrity match your talking in a church building. This stuff is LEGIT. You plug in 3 dude(ette)s e-mails and they get an update once a week to once every 3 weeks…for the free version. There is a paid version ($7 a month) that will send LIVE UPDATES to these dudes – WOW!
And NOW there is X3Watch for your popular smart phone (because I know that if I have the options to slip – I will 100% slip – 100% of the time). That is $7 to download – and well worth it.
Personally – being a professional blogger and social media addict – this software is a Godsend for me. I spend over 4 hours a day on my computer – and a majority of that time, I am alone in my room with nobody around for hours…you can imagine the temptations I get. So – this software is something great. It is going to remind me that I have a group of godly guys that are willing to lay it on me hard and be stern (a great quality to have in your accountability group) – after all, it isn’t the software that corrects you…it is only a bridge for your accountability group (and ultimately Jesus) to change your heart for your future wife and family’s sake.
I highly recommend that you check out this ministry HERE and you can download the software for free HERE if you want to for your accountability group – I personally recommend it. Get it today…and follow these ministries on Twitter:
(XXXChurch Twitter)
(X3Watch Twitter)
johnwylie.co 
John, you are such an amazing young man. I’m so impressed everyday with your heart for God.
Thank you for sharing this. I’m going to tell my 18-year-old (on Saturday) son about this. I have no idea what he’s viewing on his smart phone and I don’t like that I have no control over that. I can only pray he’s keeping his heart pure.
It made my heart leap with JOY to know that I could remain pure even with my phone. Thank you so much for your encouragement. And I’ll be lifting your son up in prayer! :)
Thanks for the post, John. I’ve been acquainted with XXX.church for a few years. I think its not only refreshing but downright necessary when obvious “people of faith” choose to expose their weaknesses and struggles as well as their triumphs and revelations. Glad I found you in the Twitterverse!
I think this is just an issue that has been needed to be addressed for far too long – we need men and women to stand up and say what’s really going on!
I agree. This comment and your answer to Lily (below) really hit the nail on the head. It’s an issue, a huge issue, and it should be dealt with openly and honestly in the church/by the church. When it’s swept under the rug, the enemy just goes, “yeah, that’s right, there’s no issue here. Move along.” I think Craig and the folks @ XXX Church are so effective, especially at the porn shows they attend, because they’re willing to be honest, open and not, NOT, confrontational. What a concept!!
Imagine that, open and honest…sheesh – seems too hard for me ;)
You have encouraged my heart and soul John, thank you! Like any addiction, it’s easy to get into it, but very hard to get out of it. I just learned Monday of this week not to say negative words into life over Porn or anything/anybody, but speak a positive blessing over it/them. This has helped to turn me around in my thinking and living in a big way.
Because when I spoke in a negative way, that was speaking a curse and I only want to speak a postive blessing out of my mouth!
‘Porn’ is such a ‘buzz word’ in the Christian Church today – and I don’t like that. We can talk about getting divorces all day – but when the issue of porn comes up, it is often swept under the rug and ignored (here’s the deal: ITS THE SAME SIN!)…we need people to step out and LOVE on these folks who are chained. More people than we think struggle with this issue.
Thanks so much for stopping by the blog, you have blessed me! :)
Great article, John. There are a lot of men out there (myself included) who struggle each and every day with the temptations of the internet. Pornography is rampant in today’s society and is available to literally anyone. Thank you for writing this. Great job!
Thank you for being so vulnerable in your comment, John! And thank you for checking out the blog! :)
XXX Church is an amazing site and ministry, and one I recommend to students all the time.
Working with High School and College students, along with young adults, I have done a number of talks, workshops and sessions on overcoming porn temptation and addiction. I even did a session on it while I was in Czech this past July and have seen that guys all over the world are: 1. ashamed to talk about it, 2. need to talk about it, 3. are waiting for someone to be brave enough to bring it up.
Thank you for posting on this!
(PS – if you ever want to host a seminar on overcoming porn, or want to lead it yourself, let me know. I have done sessions on it like crazy and would be more than happy to work something out to either help you do it or to come down and do it for you).
Jason, that is good to know! I will keep you informed on this! :) Thanks man!
Thought provoking. Great article!
Thank you so much, Faiza! :)
As a blogger and volunteer for XXX CHURCH I thank you for sharing.
It is an honor and a privilage, Steve!
Good stuff! It’s a “chain breaker” when we confess or talk about our struggles. The enemy wants us to keep it a secret. And when we do keep it a secret, that’s when he has us in bondage. If we confess it and talk about it, he has no hold on us! We then can become a testimonial weapon against him, as you have demonstrated here! Fight on, you’re kicking in the gates of hell!
Thank you so much for the encouragement, Greg! :) God bless you!
Thank for all of the resources and for sharing!
You got it, Quinton! :) God bless.
Interesting post and thought. I have heard of this before in the porn industry but I can’t remember where.
these guys actually travel to porn conventions and chat with people there! pretty cool!
Great post. I love X3watxh. It’s on my computer and phone! Such an awesome ministry. Great post. Hope all is well!
Love the ministry, too! :)