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XXXchurch.com
FoundedJune 5, 2001; 23 years ago (2001-06-05)[1]
FounderMike Foster (2001-2004)
Craig Gross (2001-2020)
TypeReligious charity
HeadquartersDeptford, NJ
Location
CEO
Carl Thomas
Key people
Jeanette Gross (2001-2020), Michelle Russell (2004-current)
Websitexxxchurch.com

XXXchurch.com is a non-profit Christian website that aims to help those who struggle with pornography. It ministers to porn industry performers and consumers. The organization describes itself as a "Christian porn site designed to bring awareness, openness and accountability to those affected by pornography."[2]

Organizational history

The organization launched in January 2002 when the founders, Mike Foster and Craig Gross, set up a booth inside the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas to promote the website as an alternative to porn, and it continues to attend porn conventions worldwide.[3] The group has given out thousands of Bibles with "Jesus Loves Porn Stars" on the cover at these conventions, a facet of their ministry which has been featured in American national media.[4][5]

The organization has received support from prominent Christian pastors such as Bill Hybels,[6] Craig Groeschel and Rick Warren.[7]

Pornographic film director James DiGiorgio took photographs for XXXchurch and lost business as a result of becoming affiliated with the organization. DiGiorgio was not a Christian, but said that he was helping XXXchurch because the sex industry is "always trying to preach freedom of speech [so] anyone in this industry who has a problem with [XXXchurch's] message is a fucking hypocrite. You can't have it both ways."[8]

Mike Foster left the organization in 2004.

In 2005, the independent film Missionary Positions was released, produced and directed by Bill Day, which documented the origins of XXXchurch.[9]

In March 2021, XXXchurch was acquired by Live Free Ministries. Live Free Ministries founder, Carl Thomas was once employed by the 501(c)(3) organization Fireproof Ministries[10] and left to start his own nonprofit.

Programs

Porn debates

Craig Gross, a cofounder of XXXchurch.com,[11] regularly debated with porn star Ron Jeremy in an event called "The Porn Debate"[12] on college campuses across the United States. In 2008, the debate was featured on ABC News' Nightline both on air and online, with the segment becoming the most watched in Nightline's online viewing history.[13]

X3watch software

XXXchurch.com produces accountability software (specialized web-surfing monitoring software) called X3watch. The software maintains a log of questionable websites that a user accesses based on content type, and then sends a report to an "accountability partner" of the person's choosing. Such software can be useful for individuals trying to avoid pornography use.[14]

Podcast and radio

In 2008, the organization launched a video podcast that documents the current campaigns of XXXchurch, which is released every two weeks on XXXchurch.tv and iTunes.[15] It also has several radio public service announcements airing across the US and abroad on various radio stations and syndicated programs such as RadioU,[16] Refuge Radio,[17] Malone University Radio,[18] The Full Armor of God Broadcast[19] and Fuel Radio.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ "XXXChurch.com WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info - DomainTools". WHOIS. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
  2. ^ Hoolihan, Megan (2011-11-15). "God and Porn: A pastor and a porn star debate to provide diverse discussion". Eagle News. Fort Myers, Florida. Archived from the original on 2013-06-19. Florida Gulf Coast University.
  3. ^ "The Game Plan". xxxchurch.com. Fireproof Ministries. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-04.
  4. ^ Kingsbury, Kathleen (2006-05-07). "Saving Souls in the Porn World". Time. Archived from the original on January 3, 2007.
  5. ^ Bashir, Martin (2008-08-01). "XXXchurch: ABC News Nightline" (Video). Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  6. ^ Foster, Mike; Gross, Craig; Stevens, Jarrett (2002). "Faith for the 21st Century, Part 2: XXXCHURCH.COM". willowcreek.com. Willow Creek Association. Mike and Craig give encouraging words to those who struggle and those who want to do radical things for God. They share what it really means to be a light in a dark place
  7. ^ Schniper, Matthew (2007-09-13). "XXXtra credit: By venturing into the belly of the beast, Craig Gross earns respect". Colorado Springs Independent. [We've] had some pretty good endorsements. In the Christian world, Bill Hybels and Rick Warren have given us quotes.
  8. ^ Wood, Gaby (2006-02-12). "What would Jesus do? Former $2000-a-night stripper Heather Veitch, now a born-again Christian, tells Gaby Wood why she's bringing the gospel to the 'adult industry'". The Observer. Guardian News and Media. Archived from the original on 2014-05-23. Retrieved 2014-09-15.
  9. ^ Missionary Positions at IMDb
  10. ^ "Fireproof Ministries | Pasadena, CA | Cause IQ". www.causeiq.com.
  11. ^ Faris, Paula, and Claire Pedersen (2013-05-17), "Ron Jeremy and Anti-Porn XXXchurch Pastor, America's Ultimate Odd Couple", ABC News.
  12. ^ Gross, Craig; Jeremy, Ron (2010-11-15). "The Great Porn Debate". porndebate.com. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  13. ^ Gross, Craig; Jeremy, Ron (2008). "Nightline Face-Off: Is America Addicted to Porn?". ABCNews. Archived from the original on 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  14. ^ Clark-Flory, Tracy (2013-07-10). "Porn blockers — not just for kids". Salon. Retrieved 2014-09-15.
  15. ^ "XXXchurch.tv". XXXchurch.tv. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  16. ^ "The R!OT Archives >> RADIOU.COM". Tvulive.com. 2009-05-19. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  17. ^ [1][dead link]
  18. ^ "Malone College Radio". Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2009.
  19. ^ "full". Fullarmorradio.com. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  20. ^ "Christian Rock, Christian Metal, Christian Hard Music". FuelRadio.fm. 2011-05-26. Retrieved 2011-05-30.

Further reading

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