Good News - July 2019

• Spending a significant portion of time viewing porn, thinking about porn, or en- gaging in activities that will enable access to porn. • Neglecting family, social or work obligations to view porn. • Continuing to use porn despite experiencing negative consequences. • Passing up opportunities, or considering passing up opportunities, to have more time to use or view porn. • Feeling anxious, stressed, or irritable if unable to access porn. Who is the most vulnerable? The average age for exposure online is 11, and the most extensive use of in- ternet porn is 12 -17. • Children under the age of 10 now comprise 22 percent of online porn viewing of children under the age of 18. • The under 10 years old group accounts for 10 percent of all visitors to porn video sites. • Over a quarter (26 percent) of 13-to-17-years-old teenagers admit to viewing pornography at least once a week. The Church isn’t immune. • 87 percent of Christian women have watched porn. • 57 percent of pastors say porn addiction is the most damaging issue in their con- gregation. And 69% say porn has adversely impacted the church. • 70 percent of Christian youth pastors say they have had at least one teenager come to them in the last 12 months for help in dealing with pornography. • 68 percent of church-going men view porn regularly • Of young Christian adults 18-24 years old, 76 percent actively search for porn. Barna 2016 What can we do? As a society, we reach out to the alcoholic and the drug addicted. We provide opportunities in our churches and in our communities at large to come alongside those struggling with addictions. We give them a safe place to reach for help. We're patient, kind and compassionate about their struggles. We refer to them as dis- eases, a medical issue. Sadly, we don't typically respond the same to the porn ad- dicted. We react in horror and shame. The first line of defense is opening the door for a safe place to openly discuss the struggles to find help. Begin the age-appropriate conversation with your children, so they are aware of the dangers. As adults reach for help through your church, counseling center or online. Consider preventative and protective software for digital devices. Below is a short list of recommendations: Fight the New Drug offers an online (ftnd.org ) anonymous recovery program. Many churches offer recovery programs such as the Conquer Series. Locally, Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale offers help and can be contacted at MySAFEgroup.org and Spanish River Counseling in Boca Raton. Preventative and Accountability software for digital devices: Covenant Eyes, X3watch, Accountable2You, NetNanny, K9Web Protection and Lion. Lastly, remember Philippians 4:13: “ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Lisa May is the Executive Director of Live the Life South Florida etc. She can be reached at [email protected] or by mail at 5110 N. Federal Hwy. Suite 102, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308 www.goodnewsfl.org 39 JULY 2019 THE POWER OF US The Pathway to Choosing Pixels over People: Pornography (Continued from pg. 14) We Solve Roof Problems #"! ! ! ! ! " ! ! !"! ! ! ! ! ! (954) 941-9111 www.bestroofing.net