Pornography is a plague all around the globe that is wrecking marriages, families, and the severely impeding the witness of the church. Even the faculty crisis we faced 6 months ago had at its origins, long-time pornography addiction before it evolved into even more destructive behavior that destroyed a marriage. Porn is just as much of a challenge in Asia as the West. And, despite being known as Asia’s “Christian nation,” the Philippines has been shown to be perhaps the Asian country most enslaved to pornography.

Longtime evangelist Josh McDowell visited IGSL a couple weeks ago to help us address this growing area of crisis and discipleship in Asia. Josh is a Campus Crusade/CRU long-time fixture who has been focusing his ministry on this area in recent years. We hosted an event that had around 600 in attendance, including most of our students and it was a great conversation starter.

First – it’s a tough issue anywhere, but pretty tough in such an honor/shame context. Some of our students and wives of students shared that they felt shamed even just hearing others talk about such an issue – being present when the topic was being addressed directly. Pastors talked about being rebuked by their elders when they’ve tried to address it in their ministries.  There’s so much resistance to getting this topic in the light and discipling people how to think about this issue and understanding what it means for Christian discipleship.

It was a great catalyst for conversation with our small groups and mentoring relationships. Many confessed some hidden areas of their lives and others experienced an open and honest environment where they could be honest and be accepted for the first time. Christine and I both led conversations with our small groups in the aftermath of Josh’s presentation and have been helping them as individuals as well as them as families make plans for protecting themselves and their children from the devastating effects of pornography.

Please pray for our students and their families as they develop foundations for holiness and lifelong purity as they learn how to lead through this area as well. Personal and corporate integrity and holiness through Christ is central to the witness and expansion of the church!

You can view the whole seminar here:  https://youtu.be/tSWIduHXeqQ  and access Josh’s resources and research here if you are wanting to explore more for yourself or your own family or ministry.

In Christ,
                                            Brian for the Virtues