Pastor Comes Clean About Pornography Addiction
(Nashville, TN) – April 30, 2008 – Pastor David Erik Jones remembers the morning he decided to reveal his pornography addiction to his church congregation at First Baptist Church in Jayton, Texas. He knew there was a very good chance he would lose his job that day. But he also knew that his admission might bring others to face their own problems. Either way, he was determined to tell the truth about his life.
His congregation not only supported him, but encouraged him to continue to tell his story. His new book entitled, My Struggle, Your Struggle: Breaking Free from Habitual Sin, details the beginnings of his battle with pornography that would find root in his childhood and follow him into marriage.
"I felt that some of the members might not respect me or want me to continue as their pastor," says Jones, "but I was willing to take that risk. I talked about it with my family and they supported me all the way. I did believe there was a possibility that I could be asked to leave. But I knew it was worth the risk, and I trusted God to take care of us either way."
Pastor Jones knows he is not the only person in church leadership that deals with a porn addiction. The statistics are startling. Fifty percent of Christian men and 20% of Christian women admit that they are addicted to pornography (Christiannet.com June 07). Fifty-one percent of pastors say cyber porn is a possible temptation; 37% say it is a current struggle (Christianity Today Leadership Survey, December 2001). Of Promise Keepers attendees, one of the largest Christian men's conferences in the U.S., 53% admitted to viewing pornography regularly (Internet Filter Review, 2006). Forty million adults in the U.S. regularly visit porn sites on the internet (Internet Filter Review). Forty-seven percent of families say pornography is a problem in their home (Focus on the Family Poll, October 2003).
Pastor Jones' confession is the antithesis of what usually happens to church leadership. In the past, church/ministry leaders who struggle with sexual sins have been "found out" and typically lose their ministries in the process. But Pastor Jones voluntarily admitted his problem and has found support within his congregation. He hopes his desire to find healing and hope in his own life will be an encouragement to other men and women who struggle with the temptation of pornography.
"I felt compelled to stand up and say 'You are not alone and there is hope' in this book," says Jones. "I want to see men and women break free from pornography and other habitual sins. I want to see marriages saved, families restored, and people healed from sexual abuse. Christians are not immune to sexual sin and the church needs to respond in ways that offer people healing and restoration. I hope this book is a catalyst for all those things."
My Struggle, Your Struggle is available at Target.com, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Amazon and bookstores around the country. To view a recent interview with Pastor Jones, click here: David Erik Jones. The book website is www.MyStruggleYourStruggle.org.
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