February 2008
Porn Nation
 Press
Release
"Porn Nation - The Naked Truth" features
Michael Leahy, author, speaker and recovering sex addict. It's the critically
acclaimed, 90 minute multimedia-based lecture and Q&A that explores the impact
living in a hypersexual culture is having on today's college student. As
featured on ABC's "20/20" and "The View", Michael shares the amazing story of
his struggle with sexual addiction and his family's battle to survive what Oprah
Winfrey calls "America's #1 addiction." Featuring captivating video segments and
interviews with experts and everyday people who share their personal struggles
with out-of-control sexual behaviors. Students are challenged to consider the
"bigger questions" about porn that nobody's asking: "How is my exposure to porn
and our hypersexual media effecting me and my relationships?" Michael concludes
by providing clear action steps any student can take now to set themselves up
for success in relationships. A message every student needs to hear!
Pornography is affecting the vast majority
of college students, and not only men. It leads to broken families, loss of
jobs and worse. Yet, the university officials cannot come to an agreement on
whether pornography is dangerous and mental health professionals cannot agree
whether sex addiction is truly an addiction.
We decided over a year ago to pursue having
Michael Leahy come in to address this issue which is hurting the students on our
campuses including the students within our movements. He has spoken on hundreds
of campuses around the country, talking not just about the effects of
pornography but also sharing his own story of defeat and divorce before coming
to Jesus Christ and finding renewal and redemption.
In the course of getting ready for this
event it became clear that if we do not bring up this subject on campus, nobody
will! We pursued a number of organizations and university departments to
co-sponsor the event, knowing that other CCC movements who have done this
outreach have had good success in getting these groups to partner with them. One
after another women’s groups, the Sexual Assault and Prevention Committee, and
other groups we thought would want to highlight the dangers of this media turned
us down. The reasoning: they could not agree whether it was really a problem or
they simply did not want to take a stand.
Not only did we face that rejection, but we
also faced opposition to our publicity and even had posters torn down in some
buildings on campus. It seems that the enemy did not want this subject brought
up, let alone have the potential for students to find freedom from their
addiction to sex.
On Tuesday, February 12 at Eastern Michigan
and Wednesday, February 13 at the University of Michigan we held this outreach
event. 300 students came at EMU and around 450 came at U-M, in spite of a
popular event that draws over 4000 students happening at U-M the same time —we
were unaware that it was going on until it was too late for us to change.
Half way through the event Michael gave
students a chance to leave before he shared the spiritual solution to this
problem, in order to respect their desires if they came not knowing there would
be a spiritual component. At EMU most of the students stayed, and at U-M all but
20 students stayed for the spiritual part of the program in which Michael
clearly shared the gospel and gave students a chance to pray a prayer with him
to receive Christ into their lives. At EMU 19 student indicated a decision for
Christ, while 5 did at U-M. Praise God!
We will have a chance over the next few
weeks to follow up these students as well as students who want to talk more
about this issue.
Sorry, I did
not give most of you more heads up on this event! I meant to write about it
prior to the event, but failed to realize that the date of the event would
require me to put it in last month’s newsletter. If you did not get an email
alert for this event from me please send me your email so that I can add you to
our update list.
Kids' Column
I am 8! I got to have a slumber party with
a few friends. We had a great time. Mommy was gone to a conference for 4 days
and our substitute teacher didn’t have much work for us to do—maybe Mommy can go
away more often!? I have a feeling that we will get to make up that school time
when Daddy is gone to spring break.
I have been enjoying swimming lessons. My
friend Kristy is in my class. Mommy isn’t allowed to stay and watch any more so
she doesn’t know if I am spending more time talking to Kristy or listening to my
teachers.
While Mommy was gone I was a big helper
with Caleb. He is so fun to boss around! Sometimes he doesn’t like my help. I
get to go to speech therapy every week now—my therapist is really nice and we
get to play on the toys when I am done. And it is exciting because now I have
homework and I really like that!
I am glad Mommy is home. Daddy was fun but
I sure do like my Mommy. I hugged her for a long time when she got home, just
like Lindsey did. Daddy took us to a children’s museum and to McDonalds and lots
of our friends were there. It was so much fun!
Caleb
Nate Headed to New Orleans
I am leading a group of students to New
Orleans for spring break starting February 23. Though it is out of the news, New
Orleans is still very much a broken city and much work needs to be done.
Christians have been and will continue to be the key volunteers in helping to
rebuild this city. We have over 50 students going from U-M and EMU. Pray for
safe travels, fruitful work and the conversations we have with non-Christian
students coming with us. |
